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Author: Scot Shumski

Experience Household 6 

Ghost Stories for Dinner Parties

Scot Shumski 1 Comment ,

In 2024, Vermont will recognize the 300th anniversary of the first continuous European settlement that was built in what would eventually become Vermont.*

During those 300 intervening years, many houses have been built with generations living and dying— sometimes dying within those actual houses. It is quite uncommon in Vermont for your home to only have two digits in its age. Saying your home is 100 years old makes your home the youngster on the block. When my wife and I bought our first home, long before deciding on a military life, we chose a two-story 125-year-old duplex. It was located in a small village, and many years previously had been a restaurant as well as an apothecary, among other things.

Oh, the history this home could tell if it could talk.

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Experience Household 6 Military Life 

Finding the American Pioneering Spirit

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If you are looking for the American pioneering spirit, you can find it all around you as a military spouse.

During a recent luncheon with my community and spouses’ club, I had the pleasure of meeting two new Army spouses. These two ladies were a perfect blend of similar and differing Army experiences. Martha was at her second duty station, like myself, and Amanda had moved many times.

All three of us have children, and the discussion turned to the unique experiences our children have while one or both of their parents serve in the Armed Forces.

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Experience Household 6 Military Life 

But Do They Appreciate All They Have?

Scot Shumski 2 Comments ,

If the title of this piece caught your eye, a number of things could have crossed your mind. Because you are most likely part of the military family, you may have thought it referred to civilians whose spouses are not at risk of dismemberment and death on their “work trips.” Or perhaps you thought it referred to other military spouses whose active duty member hasn’t deployed seven times in the last ten years.

No, I’m referring to the children many of us are raising today.

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Experience PCS 

The Never-ending War

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Every two or three years a battle happens for military families who are PCSing.

That battlefield is your home, and the casualties are not only your possessions, but your sense of calm, serenity, and sense of right and wrong.

I’m talking about moving.

Some battles are so epic, it spawns a Facebook group with thousands of members consisting of military families that have faced moving horror stories. They turn to this group not only for retribution solutions, but also to simply share their grief, anger, and bewilderment.

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Experience PCS Travel 

Thinking About Living Overseas?

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Maybe you thought about living overseas before you had kids.

Maybe you thought about living overseas before you were married.

Maybe you thought about living overseas before you stopped dreaming.

What this piece is not about are those Facebook and Instagram posts you’ve seen from your friends stationed or living overseas where the entire family is standing in front of the Eiffel Tower or in the Neuschwanstein Castle upon which the Disney castle is modeled (see featured image). If living overseas was filled with those type of moments every second of every day, then who wouldn’t want to live overseas?

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Experience Household 6 Military Life 

A Father’s Letter To His 9 Year Old Daughter: Part II

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When I did reach you there was blood on your nose, lip, cheek, and head, and there was grass in your mouth. Your arm was limp and curved slightly. My first thought was you had possibly dislocated your shoulder or had broken one or several bones in your arm. Now I know that you were simply coming out of unconsciousness, so you did not quite have control of your limbs.

I am grateful to have volunteered as a cross country, basketball, and baseball coach this school year, so my CPR and First Aid training was fresh. I know this provided some help in my initial check on how banged up you were. However, even with that training, this was something I had never experienced with either you or your siblings. This accident looked as if it could have snapped your neck, your spine, cracked your head open, or possibly all three.

Or worse.

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Experience Household 6 Military Life 

A Father’s Letter To His 9 Year Old Daughter: Part I

Scot Shumski 0 Comments ,

Dearest Eva,

It is seven hours since your accident and there are tears in my eyes as I write this. Tears of concern and tears of fear.

I was just telling your mother yesterday that regretfully I cannot agree with folks that argue those of us not infected by COVID-19 should not talk about the blessings this shelter in place world has brought us. My argument was that if we as individuals can never see blessings when others are suffering, then no one would ever have cause for celebration, as human suffering is always abundant on our planet. It does not mean we do not pray for the sick and grieve for the dying, but we must acknowledge the newfound blessings that have entered our lives.

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Experience Military Life 

A Military Spouse of a Different Flavor

Scot Shumski 2 Comments ,

While standing with my wife in a social military setting the question is inevitably asked: “So how long have you served?” When my response is, “she has served since 2016,” with the emphasis on “she,” you can see the confusion on their face as they try to process what I have just stated.

It doesn’t help that I cut my own hair using the No. 2 attachment, generally keep my face clean shaven, and run marathons often enough that my 48-year-old body is still in decent shape. I look Army.

But I’m not the active duty spouse in our relationship, nor have I ever served in any branch of the armed services.

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