Military brats...

Today's post is in response to Michelle Ward's Street Team Challenge #15...

This is my older sister, Lois, and me in Fort Walton Beach, FLA in 1963. Lois was 17 years old when I was born and was more like a mom to me than my actual mother was... I adored her! Lois and my three older brothers lived in Alaska prior to moving to Florida with my parents, and then SURPRISE... along came Kathy! I always like to say they saved the best for last, :D. My siblings moved much, much more than I did with our parents, and I always envied them for that!

My dad was the Base Commander at Eglin Air Force Base where I was born. Not too long after my fifth birthday we moved to a teeny weeny town in northern Florida, along the border with Alabama, called Graceville. My dad had retired from active military service and had taken a post in a consultant type role at Ft. Rucker Army Base, near Dothan, Alabama. We lived in Graceville for about three years and then moved to Dothan, Alabama for approximately four months.

In 1968 my dad took a position in Civil Service working for the Air Force and moved us to Battle Creek, Michigan, home of Kellogg's cereal. I had no idea what people meant when they said we were moving "Up North"; all I knew was I was really, really anxious to see snow!

My favorite house of my entire life (so far), was the house we lived in, on Goguac Lake, outside Battle Creek, in a little 'burb called Lakeview. We lived in Lakeview through my High School years, when I went to Bronson School of Nursing & Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

It was in Kalamazoo that I met my first husband and moved to Chicago with him, where we lived for about a year and a half. I loved Chicago SO much, but my husband missed his family and friends in the Detroit area, so we moved to Birmingham, Michigan and started a family there.

We split up, and I've stayed here all these years because we had two children together, and they needed to be near their dad and his family. I've remarried and now live in Southfield, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit... my second (and best) husband has a great little Craftsman style bungalow in Royal Oak, another suburb of Detroit, that we are in the process of rennovating and possibly adding on to.

Comments

[plo]

Great pictures on your post, I can see how the Goguac Lake house would be your favorite...looks like the setting for a movie. Do you ever get back to Chicago for a visit?

[plo]

Great pictures on your post, I can see how the Goguac Lake house would be your favorite...looks like the setting for a movie. Do you ever get back to Chicago for a visit?

[Andrew Borloz]

I found this blog from Michelle Ward's 15th Crusade, and I never been to Southfield and Royal Oak, but I have been to Bloomfield Hills for a seminar at Cranbrook Academy of Art. Beautiful area, and I do noticed that many people in Detroit area go up north during the summer for vacation. Many years ago, I was up in Charlevoix to visit a friend of mine. Would love to see a photo of the Craftsman style house after the renovation is complete. Thanks for sharing! &rew

[Cath Sheard]

My sister was 13 when I was born and used to wheel me round town in a pushchair showing me off to her friends. I can really relate to your post. The fence at the front of your favorite house was lovely - all that intricate detail. Great craftsmanship.

[Janine]

Ohhh just adore the Goguac Lake house.... all of the houses I've ever lived in have been brick! Loved all the photos too.... this crusade is fabulous!

[jodi barone]

The photos are priceless and capture so much of the sentiments you expressed. It is wonderful to hear of your interesting life and the strong note of happinness you have in your life now.
jodi barone

[Any Smith]

Wow. I can't imagine moving around that much - I'm sure you got to see lots of snow in Michigan!

[Syanne Bleu]

Wonderful story. Lucky you to be the youngest and not to move around as much as your older siblings.

[Maj]

What a lovely house at Goguac Lake, I would move in tomorrow! Maybe a bit closer to home... wherever that will be in the far future!

[Chris]

Love this story! My youngest sibling was 13 when I was born, but I was virtually raised by my older brother Ray, who was 20 years older than I. My mother was so busy working and supporting everyone that she was gone a lot of the days before first grade started, but she was the saving grace of our family. Your pictures are so cool. What lovely babies!
Chris

[Heather]

Kathy ~ Wow, the house at Goguac Lake is fantastic. I absolutely would have loved to live there too! Would love to see a photo of the bungalow in Royal Oak. Having lived in Albuquerque, NM my ENTIRE life, I'm fascinated (and envious) of life in other places. Thanks for sharing!
Heather

[Michelle Ward]

Kathy - thanks for sharing your story of how you got to where you are in Michigan. (I've lived there too!) I'm learning so much about each of our teamers with the Crusade - it's been really interesting. For instance, I never knew you were so much younger than your siblings.
Merry Christmas!

[Russ]

Where'd you find that picture of Lois? Very very very cool!!!