Welcome to My Life After the Military

A Journey Through Chaos, Curiosity, and Cat Fur

By Melissa — Army BRAT, USAF Veteran, Military Spouse, Aggie Mom, and Full-Time Cat Butler

This selfie marks the moment it all began—the day I knew I wanted to create a blog and share the untold history of military spouses. Monday, September 26, 2022, at 3:27 PM—a quiet yet defining moment when passion became purpose. The real challenge was figuring out how to make it happen amidst the constraints of time and money.

Hello there, friend.

I’m Melissa—a U.S. Air Force veteran, retired military spouse, proud Aggie mom, and full-time cat butler to three demanding furballs who think they run the house (they’re not wrong).

After my husband wrapped up 26 years in the Air Force in 2021, we finally did something strange and almost mythical in military life: we unpacked. For real. No more boxes labeled "Kitchen?" that contain ski boots, or “Files” that are actually holiday ornaments. We settled down in College Station, Texas, and for the first time in a very long time, we didn’t have to ask, “Wait, what country are we living in again?” and “Who can I use for an emergency contact?”

Once the chaos quieted, reflection kicked in. I began thinking about all the pieces that made up our journey—the deployments, the family missed milestones, the “see-you-soon's that always came too fast, and the unexpected joys of base life: potlucks, porch chats, and friendships forged under pressure — and grief. That reflection grew into something deeper.

I began exploring our family's military history, focusing not just on the medals and timelines, but also on the quiet grit of the people who wore the uniform and who stood alongside it. I realized something: the stories of military spouses—especially women like my mother and mother-in-law—are rarely shared with the depth and dignity they deserve.

These are stories of humor, flexibility, heartbreak, and unwavering grit.

And they matter.

My Story, In Boxes

My Adventure: My Military Life

Military life didn’t just shape me—it built me, challenged me, and taught me that if

you open enough boxes labeled "Files," you'll eventually find the other boot..or a spoon...or two. I come from a military family, served in the Air Force myself, and spent over 26 years as a military spouse. We've lived in Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, and more ZIP codes than I can count—thank goodness for Amazon address lists!

We raised a daughter overseas, her childhood packed into shipping crates, blue bags and airport terminals. Our pets survived cross-continental moves. And somehow, my ever-growing collection of books (and my daughter's stuffed animals) always made the weight limit (barely).

Along the way, I earned a BA with a focus on Southeast Asian history, a master’s in history with a concentration in military history, became a certified Conversation English teacher, and a certified Master Resilience Trainer with the USAF. My career isn’t a straight line—it’s a world tour of skills, duty stations, lost opportunities and reinvention. Think of my résumé as a passport: stamped with experiences, packed with adaptability, and powered by a military spouse’s get-it-done energy. I’ve turned PCS moves into logistics masterclasses and “starting over” into an Olympic event.

But perhaps most importantly, I became a collector—not just of souvenirs, friendships, or books, but of moments: the tearful goodbyes, the wild laughter during chaos, drama and the quiet strength and loud loneliness that can only be witnessed in the in-between.

Finding Stories in the Silence

Every veteran and spouse finds their own thing, a coping mechanism, and mine was my camera. Photography became my therapy, my creative outlet, and eventually, my mission. I picked up the camera to preserve moments, and ended up capturing an entire way of life that often slips between the ceremonies and the airports. It was not a job – it was escapism.

Today, I’m the Curator of Military History at a nonprofit military museum, where I merge academic research with lived experiences.

My mission now is simple:

To honor the history and the people behind the service.

Not just the uniformed heroes, but the ones holding the camera, carrying the load, and finding ways to laugh when the power goes out mid-pack-out…or the washing machine floods your kitchen two days after your spouse deploys.

This Blog Is For You

Aren't we all a "Hot Mess"

This is my little corner of the internet where history meets humor, good, bad, and the ugly truth...where the past isn’t dusty—it’s deeply personal. Whether you're a military spouse, veteran, military kid, history nerd, or someone who just loves a good story (and maybe a sarcastic cat), you’re welcome here.

Let’s explore the stories that don’t always get told—the ones in the margins, the ones that kept us going, the ones that made us who we are.

So grab a cup of coffee (or an old-fashioned, wine, or tea, whatever is your fancy, no judgment here), settle in, and prepare to laugh, cry, and maybe discover what's really in that box labeled "Misc.”

AND...if you don't like it...Scroll on– It's all good.

Welcome to my life after the military.

~Mel

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