So is the life of a Military Brat

Today while I was at work I happened to glance at one of the paintings hanging on the wall. It was of a few ships at sea. If you have seen the new Chronicles of Narnia, you will know what I did next. I stared at the painting with all my might and tried to make it move and take me to Narnia. To a place where fantasy becomes reality and you are a hero.

I have realized that I have been doing a whole lot of wishful thinking lately. One in particular is the idea of having a hometown. My dad was in the military so I moved around a whole lot. So I began thinking what if California had been my home, or even New York City?

What if instead of moving again after Alaska, we stayed in California? Well the ideal scenario I picture is one where Tera (my best friend) never moves either and we both grow up together in California. I imagine that right about now we would both have an apartment by the beach and be going to UCLA. Maybe even dating some nice surfer dudes.

What if instead of moving again after California, we stayed in New York City? Well, for this case let's say everyone I knew on the military base stayed as well and never moved. Here is where I think I would be the most happy. I actually completed the whole five years of elementary school in NYC. This is where I lived out the majority of my childhood. The friends I made here I would have loved to grow up with and see everyday. I had a group of friends on the base that mainly consisted of guys, and one other girl. I believe at this point probably the girl and only one of the guys and I would have remained real close friends and maybe have gone to college together. As for relationship wise, probably one of us would be dating the guy and the other would find some gorgeous new yorker.

The point is, I picture these scenarios in my head and sometimes I wish that they really would have played out that way. I wish that I had some place to call home. Then I think about the flip side of it all. If I would have stayed in one place, I would have never moved to Indiana. If I never moved to Indiana, I would never be at WKU and met all my amazing friends I have now. I also would have never traveled a lot, and would have never gotten to meet some of the amazing people I've encountered on those trips.

If magic existed and I had one wish, would I use it to change my life to fit one of these pictures? At times, when I am really upset, I would, but when it comes down to it, would I really? I honestly don't have an answer for that. If I could change it all, I have no clue if I would or not.

Though at times it is nice to think about the what ifs in life, it can also be very dangerous. I understand my life is what it is now and will not change. I do not have a place to call home, I have many. I do not have friends I've grown up with right next door, I have ones from all over the country.