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Adventures of an Air Force Wife
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a military wife? Did you know that young military families often struggle to survive on military pay? Read the book to learn more about the adventures and struggles of an 18 year old Air Force wife. If being a young military wife wasn't difficult enough, add a baby to the family. The adventures begin at Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Illinois where the family of three lived in their first apartment. An overflowing bathtub, a missing hamster, and some too close neighbors added to the mayhem. To make life even more exciting, the young family was forced to leave their "comfort zone" in the midwest and relocate to cold, snowy Minot, North Dakota. Can you imagine moving 1,400 miles from home in the middle of winter at tender age of 18? Arriving in a far off northern tier state with no home, no furniture, and not much money presented many unique challenges. Share the adventures as a young mother daydreams about the rich people who shopped at the former fur store she lived above. Did she find any forgotten fur coats in the vault at Van de Streek Furs? This book details a young family's struggle to survive the brutal North Dakota winters, and creatively live on an airman's pay. Have you ever gone dumpster diving to provide for your family? The adventures take place in the '70s, before cell phones and the internet. Remember CB radios? In the '70s, they were a great way to communicate and meet new people. Would you entrust the care of your baby to someone you met on the CB radio? Read about the family's move to the coveted base housing, which came with a new set of rules and problems. Have you ever thought about joining the military or marrying a service member? Then this is the book for you! This book is an interesting read for current or former military wives, who will be able to relate to the challenges of living from paycheck to paycheck. You haven't shopped until you have waited in line at the commissary for an hour or more on payday! Learn the story behind the slogan, "Why not Minot? Freezin' is the reason. Ice is nice".
76 pages, Paperback
First published August 18, 2013
2 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Becky Corwin-Adams
17 books26 followersBecky Corwin-Adams was born in Defiance, Ohio. Becky is the mother of two sons and "MawMaw" to four grandchildren. She currently shares her home with seven cocker spaniels.
As a child, Becky had one cocker spaniel, dozens of cats, chickens, and a variety of "pocket pets." She started writing stories about her pets at an early age. Becky is a freelance writer and columnist for The Farmland News and the author of "Cast-Off Cocker Spaniels", "Cherished Cats and Childhood Capers", "Tails Along the Trails: Walking Adventures with Dogs", "Adventures of an Air Force Wife", "Reminiscing About Retail: Confessions of a Cashier", "Tabby Cat Tales", "Guinea Pig Tales", "Pet Tales", "The Bruners Come to America", "Vet Tales", and "Growing Up Country". Becky volunteers for Columbus Cocker Rescue as a foster parent, transporter, and Ebay seller.
Becky has been an avid reader since childhood. She especially enjoys reading Amish fiction, mysteries, and dog stories. When Becky isn't reading or writing, she enjoys crafting and walking with her cocker spaniels. She has had dozens of her original craft patterns published in various craft magazines.
As a child, Becky had one cocker spaniel, dozens of cats, chickens, and a variety of "pocket pets." She started writing stories about her pets at an early age. Becky is a freelance writer and columnist for The Farmland News and the author of "Cast-Off Cocker Spaniels", "Cherished Cats and Childhood Capers", "Tails Along the Trails: Walking Adventures with Dogs", "Adventures of an Air Force Wife", "Reminiscing About Retail: Confessions of a Cashier", "Tabby Cat Tales", "Guinea Pig Tales", "Pet Tales", "The Bruners Come to America", "Vet Tales", and "Growing Up Country". Becky volunteers for Columbus Cocker Rescue as a foster parent, transporter, and Ebay seller.
Becky has been an avid reader since childhood. She especially enjoys reading Amish fiction, mysteries, and dog stories. When Becky isn't reading or writing, she enjoys crafting and walking with her cocker spaniels. She has had dozens of her original craft patterns published in various craft magazines.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 4, 2014
I always have a problem rating a true story i mean, how can you not like a true story? Even if it is a sad or brutal one?
I have no such problems with this authors books. She writes in an every day conversational style with no thrills or fuss, no big drama it always covers the events she herself lived through. In this case it is herlife as an air force wife in the 70's.
Starting a family, starting a life together with a new job. Living a life. Now for me the most amazing thing about this authors books is what a legacy she is leaving for generations following her. Her children and grand children must be so impressed with having these books as a reference to what life is like for their parents.
The narrator, also an old favourite adds to the authenticity of the story as she relays the story as it is written, with little fuss and even less drama. Stunning.
WaAr
I have no such problems with this authors books. She writes in an every day conversational style with no thrills or fuss, no big drama it always covers the events she herself lived through. In this case it is herlife as an air force wife in the 70's.
Starting a family, starting a life together with a new job. Living a life. Now for me the most amazing thing about this authors books is what a legacy she is leaving for generations following her. Her children and grand children must be so impressed with having these books as a reference to what life is like for their parents.
The narrator, also an old favourite adds to the authenticity of the story as she relays the story as it is written, with little fuss and even less drama. Stunning.
WaAr
October 9, 2016
Where do I even start
I really really hate giving indie authors bad reviews. I hate it. But this... Is a vanity project and should have been something recorded to be given to your children, not published and advertised as anything anyone else would be interested in reading. I am an Air Force spouse too, and was very interested in this work for that reason. So much weird and interesting stuff happens in our lives! Author must not be living the same life as me because this fell completely flat. This is like one of those situations where your friends hear your story all the time and are like "man you should write a book!" But don't listen to your friends because they don't know what they are talking about. This was boring, and staunch and impossible to follow. Not worth your time. Glad I got it on kindle unlimited or I would be asking for a refund.
I really really hate giving indie authors bad reviews. I hate it. But this... Is a vanity project and should have been something recorded to be given to your children, not published and advertised as anything anyone else would be interested in reading. I am an Air Force spouse too, and was very interested in this work for that reason. So much weird and interesting stuff happens in our lives! Author must not be living the same life as me because this fell completely flat. This is like one of those situations where your friends hear your story all the time and are like "man you should write a book!" But don't listen to your friends because they don't know what they are talking about. This was boring, and staunch and impossible to follow. Not worth your time. Glad I got it on kindle unlimited or I would be asking for a refund.
April 3, 2014
Lovely little book-BIG content!
This is the second part of Becky Corwin-Adams' memoirs. I loved this just as much as the first and can't wait to read the next one. (Reminiscing About Retail: Confessions Of A Cashier). This book starts where Cherished Cats and Childhood Capers left off and Becky is eighteen, married and already a mother. Her husband, Randy, is in the Air force. The family has to move around due to his work and Becky is often on her own as her parents and sister live many miles away. Like the previous one, there are plenty of pictures throughout the book, helping to tell the story. I really like this method, rather than having a 'photo section' say at the back of a book where you have to keep interrupting your reading to flick back and forth. This is quite a short book but Becky can say so much in so few words, it's short and straight to the point just like book one. The author tells of the old days, struggles with money and making the best of things with their home and shopping for essentials. When they were first married, Becky and Randy didn't have a washer so she had to go to the Laundromat, yet people seemed happier in those times and 'pulled together' more. Becky and Randy come across as grateful for what they have and seem content. This book was a lovely trip down memory lane for me. Reminding me of the times when people were 'one car families'-not husband and wife with a car each as is the norm for most families now. Like my mum, Becky used to walk to the shops, baby in pram, no car, no big supermarkets, just small and friendly shops. I loved the humour about the gear shift!-I had forgotten that gear shifts were sometimes on the steering column-my uncle used to have a van like that. I loved reading about Becky's crafting and thought, 'just like I did!'-I also used to knit and crochet my own dolls clothes and even made clothes for the next door neighbour's grandson's Action Man dolls. I had forgotten about this and this book brought it all back to me. It's lovely to hear about all this, people just don't hand-down these activities to their children and grandchildren anymore. Rarely anyway. Lovely nostalgia all through this book for me and I also learned about what it would be like to be an Air force wife, something I knew nothing about before. Becky's books are unique in bringing back all those magical moments. Another engaging read, (I read it in one sitting), accurate and a lovely presentation all-round. A comforting read about contented times and simple pleasures. So much warmth really comes across in Becky Corwin-Adams' writing. Very special.
This is the second part of Becky Corwin-Adams' memoirs. I loved this just as much as the first and can't wait to read the next one. (Reminiscing About Retail: Confessions Of A Cashier). This book starts where Cherished Cats and Childhood Capers left off and Becky is eighteen, married and already a mother. Her husband, Randy, is in the Air force. The family has to move around due to his work and Becky is often on her own as her parents and sister live many miles away. Like the previous one, there are plenty of pictures throughout the book, helping to tell the story. I really like this method, rather than having a 'photo section' say at the back of a book where you have to keep interrupting your reading to flick back and forth. This is quite a short book but Becky can say so much in so few words, it's short and straight to the point just like book one. The author tells of the old days, struggles with money and making the best of things with their home and shopping for essentials. When they were first married, Becky and Randy didn't have a washer so she had to go to the Laundromat, yet people seemed happier in those times and 'pulled together' more. Becky and Randy come across as grateful for what they have and seem content. This book was a lovely trip down memory lane for me. Reminding me of the times when people were 'one car families'-not husband and wife with a car each as is the norm for most families now. Like my mum, Becky used to walk to the shops, baby in pram, no car, no big supermarkets, just small and friendly shops. I loved the humour about the gear shift!-I had forgotten that gear shifts were sometimes on the steering column-my uncle used to have a van like that. I loved reading about Becky's crafting and thought, 'just like I did!'-I also used to knit and crochet my own dolls clothes and even made clothes for the next door neighbour's grandson's Action Man dolls. I had forgotten about this and this book brought it all back to me. It's lovely to hear about all this, people just don't hand-down these activities to their children and grandchildren anymore. Rarely anyway. Lovely nostalgia all through this book for me and I also learned about what it would be like to be an Air force wife, something I knew nothing about before. Becky's books are unique in bringing back all those magical moments. Another engaging read, (I read it in one sitting), accurate and a lovely presentation all-round. A comforting read about contented times and simple pleasures. So much warmth really comes across in Becky Corwin-Adams' writing. Very special.
March 5, 2014
As an Air Force "brat," I never gave any thought to what my mother went through during the years my father was enlisted. This book gives an entirely new perspective to my experiences and what I remember. Later, when I (sort of) followed in my father's footsteps and enlisted (in the Army), I was single and had no children to consider.
This was an eye opening read for me. I'm not sure I'd have had the courage the author had at 18 to be on her own with a baby waiting for her husband to finish training. Then to be shipped to another part of the country so far away from everything and everyone she knew. This book reinforced what I've always known, that being in the military isn't an individual experience, or even a family experience. It's a community experience. Corwin-Adams drove home that so well. GI's look out not only for each other, but their families as well. It's an entire culture unto itself. The photos shared in this book are reminiscent of those I've seen in my father's albums.
I'm glad I had the opportunity to read this book. The life of a military wife/family isn't always an easy one. The pay is frequently insufficient and sometimes the unexpected happens and you're on your own again waiting for a loved one to come home. The author is eloquent in how simply she tells her story. Although several years have passed since then, not much has changed. Military families are still making sacrifices for what they believe in and trying to get by on not enough money. Thank you, Becky, for sharing your story with all of us. And thank you for your service, because a military spouse serves right along with their service member. A book everyone should read. I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was an eye opening read for me. I'm not sure I'd have had the courage the author had at 18 to be on her own with a baby waiting for her husband to finish training. Then to be shipped to another part of the country so far away from everything and everyone she knew. This book reinforced what I've always known, that being in the military isn't an individual experience, or even a family experience. It's a community experience. Corwin-Adams drove home that so well. GI's look out not only for each other, but their families as well. It's an entire culture unto itself. The photos shared in this book are reminiscent of those I've seen in my father's albums.
I'm glad I had the opportunity to read this book. The life of a military wife/family isn't always an easy one. The pay is frequently insufficient and sometimes the unexpected happens and you're on your own again waiting for a loved one to come home. The author is eloquent in how simply she tells her story. Although several years have passed since then, not much has changed. Military families are still making sacrifices for what they believe in and trying to get by on not enough money. Thank you, Becky, for sharing your story with all of us. And thank you for your service, because a military spouse serves right along with their service member. A book everyone should read. I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 11, 2019
Set in the 70's,I found this story most interesting. Having to move around 1,400 miles in the middle of winter, to the cold and snow of North Dakota, was an enormous challenge for an eighteen year old air force wife! Author Becky Corwin-Adams does a great job with her very descriptive inside look at the harsh realities of life at that time. The memoir of how life really was gave me some sort of idea of just how tough it really was. There are some moments that I found funny and most entertaining. I am referring to the car story, the fire and deciding to leave it down the block!
The story comes across being very natural, and realistic, and the abundance of story telling pictures all add to this enticing story. I wanted to read this book, because my late mother served in the Royal Air Force as a cook, and I felt any information would be most interesting to me.
I was certainly not disappointed. It took me a while to get through this story, due to other commitments, but I am so pleased to have read Becky’s family story. A very good read indeed.
The story comes across being very natural, and realistic, and the abundance of story telling pictures all add to this enticing story. I wanted to read this book, because my late mother served in the Royal Air Force as a cook, and I felt any information would be most interesting to me.
I was certainly not disappointed. It took me a while to get through this story, due to other commitments, but I am so pleased to have read Becky’s family story. A very good read indeed.
March 15, 2014
The book is a short read, but it was an eye opener for me. The only things I knew about military family life was from the movies, and it's always portrayed as good living until they leave the base - but I had no idea there were hotels in the bases, apartments, dorms, etc - in the movies all you see is the barracks in boot camp and nice houses. You also get a feel of what it's like for the kids to move around so much - I knew it happened, but I had no idea it was that often.
The story itself is memoir, so there is no real "plot", but rather a snapshot of the life of a family while one member is in the service. As is this author's style, there were plenty of pictures so the reader could visualize what the times, the bases, clothing, cars, buildings, etc. were like, which was pretty cool. As to the lower-rated reviews, they probably didn't know what type of book this was, but it was definitely not badly written - but it's not for everybody. It's mostly going to appeal to army families or someone doing research, or people who enjoy memoirs. I liked it.
The story itself is memoir, so there is no real "plot", but rather a snapshot of the life of a family while one member is in the service. As is this author's style, there were plenty of pictures so the reader could visualize what the times, the bases, clothing, cars, buildings, etc. were like, which was pretty cool. As to the lower-rated reviews, they probably didn't know what type of book this was, but it was definitely not badly written - but it's not for everybody. It's mostly going to appeal to army families or someone doing research, or people who enjoy memoirs. I liked it.
February 11, 2014
"Adventures of an Air Force Wife" is a memoir about one woman's life on various air force bases in the 1970's. It's a fascinating piece of Americana, and immediately transported me to a simpler time and place. Many air force bases are in small towns like Minot, North Dakota, and author Becky Corwin-Adams painted a picture of the atmosphere in such a way that I felt like I was there with her family and friends in the icy winter and the humid summer.
Corwin-Adams touches on all the aspects of being an air force wife: the rewarding ones like giving birth to her boys and the not-so-nice ones like living just above poverty level. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading memoirs, or who is interested in the culture of military wives. Cheers to the men and women who defend our country, and cheers to Corwin-Adams for writing such a great book about them!
Corwin-Adams touches on all the aspects of being an air force wife: the rewarding ones like giving birth to her boys and the not-so-nice ones like living just above poverty level. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading memoirs, or who is interested in the culture of military wives. Cheers to the men and women who defend our country, and cheers to Corwin-Adams for writing such a great book about them!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews