Wow, did this post ever hit home. I am a military brat from the WWII era.
My father served in the South Pacific and then was transferred to Germany for the Berlin Air lift. We (my mom,little sister, and I) went to Munich, Germany in 1949 to join my Dad. Returned to the USA in 1953. After that, we were stationed in Japan, Honolulu, Anchorage, back to Germany,and finally my Dad retired at Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma.
I have an education that most would envy, speak several languages, and know how to "get around" in this world. Lots of positives there. But, on the downside....I have no hometown....and, at that time, never had a friend more than one year. We were afraid to get too close to anyone, because we knew it wouldn't last. A new post was always a week or a month away. But, the "Brats" were a super family. And our personal families, I think, were closer because we had to draw our strength from each other.
A parade was not clowns and floats. It was John Philips Souza, American flags, marching, precision drill teams, and uniforms. And they were wonderful.
Being a military "Brat" made me the very proud patriot that I am today.
No regrets. But now I am very happy to be able to plant a tree and watch it grow.
LOL, I was born at AltusAFB, moved when I was 6 months old. My kids still ask me about 4-5 times a year, "Where were you born Mommy?" It might as well be a foreign land to them.
But that's ok, all my brothers were born in ND (Minot - brrr!)