Some Duty Stations are Just Plain Jinxed

Sarah left a comment on my last post which prompted me to think about something. Two somethings, actually. The first is that her comment reflected how different each of us are. A lesson I learn over and over again here at SpouseBUZZ, and one which reminds me that our diverse backgrounds and interests are one of the many things that make military life so interesting and special. 

But the thought that came immediately to mind when I read Sarah's comment:

I'm sure it's because I was born in Oklahoma, but am I the only freak who likes the plains? (AWTM, get my back here.) I would be tickled to be stationed in Kansas...

Was this...

My husband and I were stationed in Kansas at one point, and of all the duty stations we've been assigned, that was the worst place ever. It was the one place I couldn't wait to leave. In fact, when we crossed the state line, I honked my horn in joy, waved goodbye and crossed my fingers that we'd never, ever go back.

Sound harsh? It probably does, but the reason I hated our time in Kansas had nothing to do with the state, or the assignment, or the people there, or even the weather (although I admit I hated the weather). You see, we experienced a lot of tragedy while stationed in Kansas. My father-in-law became gravely ill, and eventually died. He died in the middle of a brutal Kansas winter and we came awfully close to missing the wake due to an ice storm that threatened to keep us on the ground. 

Our dog also contracted a rare bacterial infection and almost died. In fact, the vet told us he had a 5% chance of making it through the night. He was a tough little cookie and defied the odds, but it was a horrible situation. He had to receive specialty care and was hospitalized an hour away from us. Twice a day, I was allowed "visitation" and would drive four hours a day to spend thirty minutes at a time with him until he recovered. I won't tell you what the vet bill was or you might pass out, like I almost did, but I'll say this, it was worth every penny because he lived several more years. I would have sold everything I owned to give him the care he needed. You can't put a price-tag on the joy and unconditional love that he gave us.

Our house also flooded that year (while my husband was away), ruining a lot of furniture, including one special gift my husband bought for me while deployed. It was very inexpensive, but also irreplacable. While not nearly as important as the other items described above, the flooding was a major hassle to deal with. Other minor things occurred while in Kansas, but when you add them all up (seemed something horrible occurred weekly), it was just a miserable time and I was literally counting the days until we were outta there....

So, would I have liked Kansas any better if all the bad stuff didn't occur? I'm sure I would have, but whenever I think about being in Kansas, I can't help but think about all the things that went wrong there. It evokes very bad memories.

Have you ever been stationed somewhere that you just couldn't wait to leave, or a place that you felt was jinxed?

Comments

[ArmyReserveWife]

Arkansas-Don't ever say you don't care where we live as long as we are together, God will take you at your word. I chose the worst place to live (we had been geographically separated for six months). Then I got pregnant and had a miscarriage, my had issues with my mother, then dh got deployed and we did a dity move back to our house in Alabama. Then at the end of the deployment I moved back to Arkansas this time good house. Arkansas is just not a happy time. Love Alabama though!!!

[Sarah]

OK, Andi, that makes sense. I didn't like being stationed in Germany, but that was actually Germany that I didn't like. The experience wasn't all bad -- I loved my neighbors and my job -- I just really didn't like the location. So that's kind of the opposite of your feelings towards Kansas.
I love me some Kansas. Sky as far as the eye can see...

[airforcewife]

I'm a Californian born and bred, but the last time we were stationed there I was in for a rude surprise. The East Bay area is not so friendly - even if you're a native.

Especially wasn't in March/April of 2003.

I thought I wanted to be home, but I was sooooo happy to leave.

[LAW]

Now to me, Germany is home. and I love England - but know of people who hated being stationed there. Alabama? Mother Rucker? no thank you never ever ever again.

LAW

[Wheezer]

The last time we lived in Virginia we had one of those experiences. Hurricaine Katrina, the death of Bubba's brother and father, the death of my grandmother and many other small things that made that time suck. The only redeeming thing was that Virginia is home to me and because of that we had plenty of support during those tough times. We are back and retiring here so it must not have left a lasting mark.

[awtm]

I am also going to second Army Reserve Wife.

I loved our church, and neighbors, but it was sooo hard making friends there.

I tried, I did, I am a friendly person.

It just did not work out.

[Erin]

God, I can only hope I have good luck at any of our duty stations!

[suzanne]

For us (as in ME), It was Ft Rucker Alabama. Even though our daughter was born there, it was NOT a good place for us. It was hard on us as a couple and I didn't like the people. The ONLY way I would move back there is it was THE LAST PCS move and Hell was already taken. :)
We're lucky and oh-so-blessed that Hubs holds a command position (for a long as he wants it) and it's virtually non-deployable. So we'll stay here (in DC) for 5 more years and then move back to AK....Can't wait!!

[Meranda Miller]

We were stationed in Virginia and we had things go on to us all the time. Whether it was money jobs cars exs family etc. It seemed like every week went by and little things happened. Maybe it seemed worse because we are from washington and it was my first time living so far away from family but it sucked. I was stoked to be gone from there. Though when it comes to orders no matter where we are we are jinxed. We cant get orders ever til the last minute. it is quite stressful.

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[army_wife]

I personally love Kansas, but I was born here. Someone else made a comment about the sky. I can totally relate to that. Love that prairie sky.

My husband has been here in KS for 11 years and we are only just now getting our first PCS orders so our experience is much different than most military families. We are excited for a change in scenery but I'll always love Kansas. DH is being stationed at Ft. Bragg so we'll see how that is.

I think it is so easy to link bad memories with a place. I've done so, myself. If we can separate the two and take a place without sort of "blaming" the place for the bad things that happened to us there I think we might be better served. I don't know if that is really possible though. Memories and the feelings that go with them can be triggered by odd things... a place/scenery, smells, weather, and so on.