Ghosts of Duty Stations Past

We’re currently stationed on Okinawa, a place pretty well known for ghost stories. I never paid it much mind, except for when our cats are staring at things that aren’t there and chasing invisible apparitions into the “ghost closet,” as we lovingly call it. But, spooky October is here and has brought with it some ghosts of duty stations past.

First, there was the faintest reminder of school loans—the worst denizens known to man and financial sanity. Thank goodness it was only a small six-dollar-and-change refund check stating we had overpaid on something.

Then came a tax audit which had us ready to run for the hills kicking and screaming. Surely, we are not the type of people who’d willingly mess up our taxes. There must’ve been some mistake, but there it was in black and white.

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Andrews: You can count on death and taxes, and while they won’t quite be the death of you, may your taxes ever be the stress lurking around the next corner.

That was a nice scare—but all is well. And good riddance to you, mister big bad tax boogeyman.

Of course, let’s not forget everyone’s favorite haunt no matter which day of the year you might find yourself taking it on—the DMV.

Well now. I’m not sure why you received that letter stating your driver’s license was going to expire and your driving privileges subsequently revoked. It was probably auto-generated by our office’s friendly poltergeist who just likes to shake things up and keep folks on their toes.

Look friends, I don’t know about you, but I find it great to share the fun experiences that new areas provide, but today, as if I’m pulling the mask off of a villain in a Scooby Doo episode, the only milspouse mystery I’ve solved is this: New locations are absolutely full of frightening experiences. They might even haunt you years later—after you’ve moved on.

Creep it real, and Happy October.