Where are you from? Simple question right? Not when you are a military brat. Do you want to know where I was born? Where I lived the longest? Where I graduated high school? Graduated College? Where I live now? When I was younger the list was longer…Do you want where Dad is stationed now, or Where My Dad’s Home of record is? Now do you see why I hate this question?
I was born in Texas, and have lived in New Mexico, Alaska, Germany, Maryland, Hawaii, North and South Carolina. I have Crossed the Mississippi by car twice in my life time. I have ridden the Al-Can Hwy before it was paved in a lot of places. I went to high school overseas, and graduated college here in the states. So how would you answer the question?
I would not trade a moment of my life growing up. I have amazing memories, stories and adventures. I have seen the history of our nation. I have seen the Billy the Kid Museum. The Smithsonian, Mt. McKinley. I have seen European history. I have seen the ancient roads built by the Roman dynasty still etched in the ground in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, and more. I have seen the sunrise over the Alps, and settle on the Mediterranean Sea. I have stood at the Memorial at Pearl Harbor and snorkeled with the fish in the Pacific. All this is a small price to pay to answer the question “Where are you from”. Still doesn’t mean I have to like it.
One of the symbols of a Military Brat is the Dandelion as it turns to seed. When it switches from flower to the white puff that you itch to pull up and blow on just to make a wish. One reason it is a symbol is because just like a Dandelion when you send us military brats out in the world on the wind it doesn’t matter where we land it is our home. My answer to where I’m from doesn’t matter. Because where ever I land is home.
shariew 
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