MWSA Review

Life travels faster than her husband’s air force fighter jets in this thirty-one year reflection of constant movement over the globe. Shirley Dobbins Forgan meets a young pilot and they begin their ride in his ’56 Corvette. Two boys and twenty-two moves later, she retires with her Major General. Whether in McAlester, Yugoslavia, or countless other locations, the author meets royalty and reality with the same graceful energy. I wondered if I could do laundry and get a bag packed in the time it took Shirley Forgan to set up a new home, move according to regulations, and set up again in another location somewhere across the world. She juggles the multiple challenges thrown her way with admirable determination. To compact her personal roles and social obligations together reveals a steady hand and strong heart. I can relate to raising two boys. But it’s hard to imagine how Shirley moved her two through nine schools before graduation! Earning My Wings had me reconsider if my own schedules were really that hectic and the author’s world travels never ceased to fascinate me. I recommend this book for anyone thinking they’ve got too much on their plate. The reader will appreciate the gamut of challenges well handled.

Reviewed by: Hodge Wood (2011)

Author's Synopsis

When Shirley said 'I will' at her wedding to Dave Forgan, she should have added 'I'll move.' At the age of twenty-three, Shirley Dobbins married an air force jet fighter pilot and took off on a globetrotting adventure, from being a first lieutenant's girlfriend to general's wife. Shirley traveled with Dave, all while raising two boys and fulfilling all the duties of a military wife with a sense of humor and dedication. Readers will discover the life of a military wife, a lifestyle certainly not for sissies. It takes a special woman, willing to make sacrifices, but the rewards are remarkable. There are happy occasions, exciting travels, sad times, hilarious incidents, proud moments, and lifelong friends to be made. Military wives and mothers will find comfort and joy in these pages, and civilian women will gain insight into this exclusive world. Join Shirley as she wings her way on this journey in Earning My Wings. It's an unforgettable ride and delight.