the military brat ... :)

• Actually like the clothes at the PX and don't mind that 100 other people are wearing the same thing.
• All your former very best friends are as long gone as your last move.
• Always wish you were back at the last place you were stationed even 20 years later.
• Answer the question "where are you from" with "I'm kinda from all over the place"
• Are able to imitate others speech patterns easily
• Are amazed at people who have lived somewhere more than three years.
• Are amazed at people who have never left their hometown.
• Are amazed at people who have never seen foreign currency.
• Are amazed at people who think Frankfurt is a some kind of hotdog.
• Are asked "where did you learn to speak English so well"
• Are asked is it hard always moving around when you don't know anything else.
• Are brought to tears by military music.
• Are going to a grocery store but call it a commissary.
• Are initially confused when asked where are you from but quickly respond "everywhere!"
• At 22 you are trying to find someone in the military to marry so you can get a new ID card.
• Avoid visiting the doctor because you don't trust civilian hospitals.
• Bagged groceries at the commissary on payday.
• Can ask for a beer in most European languages.
• Can bounce a quarter off your bedsheets and have hospital corners on your bed.
• Can call up actual memories of a country while you're in Geography class.
• Can identify ranks and duty station by the stickers on the car's bumper.
• Can not speak the language of the country in which you were born.
• Can recite all the AFRTS commercials along with the elevision.
• Can remember ordering a Big Mac, fries, and beer.
• Can still convert foreign currency in your head.
• Can talk to anyone and everyone from anywhere and everywhere.
• Can't drink Budweiser without being coerced.
• Do not understand why many of your friends are afraid to be in an airplane.
• Don't feel quite right seeing military personnel younger than you.
• Don't really know how to answer the question "what is your hometown."
• Don't remember the names of your childhood friends.
• Draw a quick map of the world to show someone where you last lived.
• Ever got sick eating chocolate field rations.
• Every room you've ever had was stark white and you couldn't put nail holes in the walls
• Everyone complains about your name being the most scratched out in their address book.
• Everywhere you go you think you see someone you went yo school with.
• Expect someone else to do your housework but can't afford it.
• Feared turning 21 because they would take your id card away.
• Feel like you should be visiting the states rather than living in them.
• Feel more at home on a military base than in town even though you've been a civilian for 26 years
• Feel more comfortable living near a military base and get bummed out when a base gets closed.
• Felt like a part of history that was happening around you.
• Find that you can easily amuse yourself for hours at airports, train or bus stations.
• Graduated from a high school you only attended for a year.
• Had Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners in a mess hall.
• Have a very best lifelong friend who you have known for less than a few years.
• Have been asked just where in NY is APO.
• Have to explain that being born in Germany does not make you a German.
• Have forgotten how to speak more languages than most people ever learn.
• Have USAA as your insurance company.
• Know exactly how horrible AFN commercials are.
• Knew the rank and name of the kid next door's father before meeting the kid next door.
• Know kilometers better than miles and Celsius better than Fahrenheit.
• Know that Radio Luxembourg was the number one way to keep up with the latest rock and roll hits.
• Know the words and tune to military march songs.
• Know what "the land of the big PX is."
• Know what the "land of the round door knob is."
• Left school frequently for bomb scares.
• Listened to Armed Forces and VOA radio for the 1st 10 years of your life.
• Miss shopping at AAFES or the PX.
• Most of your Scout camping equipment had US instead of BSA stamped on it.
• Munched on hot brotchen and gummies on the way to school.
• Name schools in three countries on two continents when asked what high school you attended.
• Never quite finished decorating your place because you knew you'd be moving soon.
• Notice Tom Cruise in uniform, outside with no hat and having a non-regulation haircut in Top Gun.
• Panic when you can't find you ID or passport.
• Put your hand over your heart at 5 p.m. knowing the flag was coming own ...somewhere.
• Realize that the latest fashion in the states is not the same clothes you bought on base.
• Remember being able to watch the Super Bowl or World Series live on TV at 2 a.m.
• Stand up for the National Anthem at the start of a movie in a theater.
• Thought all pens had "US Government" printed on them.
• Thought that the quartermaster was the real Santa Claus.
• Thought vacations meant going stateside to visit the grandparents.
• Try to take out your ID card when you enter a grocery store.
• Went into hysterics when your grandparents thought of selling their house.
• Wonder if dad signed a hand receipt when you were born.
• You are confused when you fiancee talks about watching trees grow large in front of the house.
• You went on week-long field trips to England, France and Italy.
• You'd been to every Gasthaus in Germany before you were 18.
• Your ssn, home of record, state of residence, and place of birth are far from matching.
• Know PCS meant pack your toys and say see ya later