Hello there. I’m Anna Larson, AWN’s newest blog contributor. I’m a storyteller. I love to wind my way through an adventure, usually containing shenanigans and mischief galore. I’ve got plenty of material in my messy, brilliant, creative, and beautiful life. Let me tell you a story…

The Life Story

On a hot August afternoon in eastern Oregon, a 2-year-old freckle-faced country kid made his way down the road. He was angry and clutching a few toys. Running away was the last resort. His parents refused to change that baby sister into a baby brother, and today was the day she was making her way into the world. He decided to not stick around for it.

I’m that second sister, and that freckle-faced redhead is my brother.  

My dad ran on foot through the neighborhoods while my mom drove his pride and joy—a cherry red 1965 Chevy Impala Super Sport. The labor pains and contractions made her slam on the brakes every few feet. That was the first great story of my life.

As a child, I could have passed for a character from a Willa Cather novel. But, if what they say is true, about your childhood shaping who you become, I have a few highlights to share with you: 

1. When I was 8, I insisted on burning our garbage, set a field on fire, and almost burned down our house.
2. My childhood career choice was a truck driver because it meant I could travel the world.
3. The prize for reading the most books in 4th grade was to spend a Saturday catching rattlesnakes and lizards with our teacher, Mr. Wood. I fought hard for that prize—and won.
4. My first big life lesson was learned after getting caught stealing a pack of butterscotch lifesavers from Neal’s Fine Food.
5. I won the title of “Mold Master” from my 7th grade science teacher and still have that certificate proudly pasted with rubber cement in my scrapbook.

Not much has changed with me now that I’m all grown up with kids of my own. I still love an adventure, a bit of mischief, and a life lesson all wrapped up in a good story.  

The Army Life Story

As a military spouse, it often feels like the sum of who we are is tied up in our PCS moves. When we get to know each other, a laundry list of locations comes with it. It really is the best way to sum up the past 16 years of my life. 

When I met my husband, John, he was in the National Guard, then transferred into the Army Reserve. I fell hard and fast for this charmer. He made me laugh all the time, like when he wore Billy Bob teeth for an entire date. He proposed on Valentine’s Day after completing a grueling 12-mile ruck march. I can’t pretend to make it sound romantic, but I still said yes. 

Shortly after we were married, he was pulled into active duty and our life in the big Army began. Our first duty station was Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Our daughter, Bella, was born there, I saw my first live scorpion, and I got hooked on visiting creepy ghost towns in the desert.

Vilseck/Rose Barracks, Germany, was next. Our son, Jax, was born in Amberg; Christmas markets were my jam; I traveled as much of Europe as I could; and I drove really fast on the autobahn.

After Germany, we headed to Fort Campbell, Kentucky. We adopted our beloved dog, Rocco, fell in love with the Land Between the Lakes, indulged in blues music and Pickin’ on the Porch’, drove a race car at 184.11 MPH, and decided to start homeschooling our children.

We left Fort Campbell for a short stint at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB) in Washington, D.C. We full-time lived in our 160-square-foot travel trailer, devoured the exhibits at the Smithsonian museums, and endured the endless traffic by riding the metro as much as possible.

JBAB was the precursor to an Army-suggested broadening experience at the U.S. embassy in Kampala, Uganda. Our family headed to Africa. We went on safaris, ziplined at Victoria Falls, traveled into remote parts of Uganda while working for PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Fund for Aids Relief), and met some mountain gorillas.

Now we’re in Fort Hood, Texas. We’ve all jumped on a horse a few times, frolicked in the bluebonnets, and are currently making our way through yet another deployment.

Here and Now

This past year, I ditched the corporate world I’d worked in for 16 years and struck out on my own as a freelance writer, website designer, and social media strategist. I find myself in a new chapter of life. This process has included a lot of soul-searching, revamping of plans, and reality checks.

But I know I love to write. I love to travel. I love popcorn when I’m stressed. I love sarcasm. I love my family. And I love being a military spouse. 

I’ve met many amazing people along the way, and each one has something wonderful, unique, interesting, hilarious, heartbreaking, and empowering to share. I want to tell those stories. I promise to inject humor and happiness, comfort, or a boot to your backside for some motivation, as needed! So drop me a line because I know you have something to share, and let’s enjoy a few shenanigans along the way.