"Send a birthday greeting to Heather" was in my inbox this morning. Damn those people over Birthday Reminders - don't they realize Heather died three years ago?
While I'm saddened that I lost my friend - the reminder made me smile. Heather was my very first friend as a Marine Corps bride and I think of her often. We were newlyweds together on Topsail Island, NC. She had a month of marriage on her when I met her - so she was my mentor of sorts. She was adorable. Cute. Petite. Used the word "wicked" and said "idear" instead of "idea."
We had mirror image homes on the beach with these super small kitchens. (Hey, it's the beach - who's cooking?) There was a bar extending from the kitchen counter - probably a couple of inches higher than a table. She came home all excited one day because she bought bar stools so she and hubs could eat at the bar and not have to walk the extra foot to the table. The seat to the bar stool was higher than the actual bar - but she was so proud of her purchase!
Being newlyweds as well as new to the Marine Corps - neither of us had any idea most of the time what was going on. She and hubs were invited to a beach barbecue and she agonized for weeks over what to wear to this thing. A couple of decades later - it certainly seems like a no brainer - it's a barbecue on the beach for God's sake! But, this was a command function, hub's boss was hosting and they were expected to be there. And everyone knows officers' wives are snobby witches with a huge stipend for clothes. She ended up wearing this cute cotton dress with a jacket and high heals. It really was pretty and she looked stunning. An hour later she came barrelling up the drive, sand flying, words cursing and taking clothes off as she running in the house. Apparently a Tshirt and cut offs would have sufficed. Oooh, she was mad - and that New England accent turned on like nothing I'd ever heard before. We just sat back and watched the show!
We had fun setting up house side by side. We admired and laughed at each other's wedding gifts. We helped each other decorate. We tried recipes on each other. We learned we knew nothing about this new way of life. We both eventually got jobs and moved on base - but our friendship remained in tact. Our husbands deployed both together and separately. We went to dinner. Met for walks. Shopped. Cried at movies. Tackled projects with our glue guns. Looking back - what an innocent life. So young and carefree.
In the military - someone has to move - and this time it was me. We were headed for exotic Louisville, KY. She was my last stop before we left. She gave me a video cassette of a movie we had seen together. I cried all the way home at the loss of not having her part of my everyday life. This was a good decade before cell phones and email.
Life continued for both of us. We didn't have daily or weekly calls - but we did write letters. The Marine Corps took them to Panama and us to Japan. We never managed to be stationed together again - but we did see her hubs from time to time. For a couple of tours we seemed to follow each other. Email brought us close again - she would just write funny things although I think most were unintentional. "I saw three dolphins today. One in the front. One in the back and one in the middle." So simple and pure. One night I saw her hubs on CBS news. I immediately called her - "I knew you'd call" she laughed.
Heather was diagnosed with some kind of hideous, insidious brain cancer. She remained her upbeat self even having to know what the future held. Towards the end she would simply forward emails. I think that was her way of staying in touch. I'm not going to pretend to even know what her family went through. She left a wonderful husband and two teenagers.
I think back to the last time I saw her in person in 1989. The video she gave me was Beaches... a movie about two young girls that meet on a beach.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
The morning after....
I don't sing. I don't dance. And I sure as hell don't shop the day after Thanksgiving!
Nope. Never. Although the thought of listening to a football game (s) for the 72 hours is forcing me to reconsider this idea. And I say listen to football - because no matter where I am in the house - a tv is on a football game. And it is blaring. And we all know....what do I hate more than shopping the day after Thanksgiving? You got it. FOOTBALL.
I'm very mission oriented. I like to get up early and do what I need to do. I admit I'm a little Rainmanish when it comes to certain activities. If I am not at the grocery/commissary by 9:00 a.m. - I won't go. I get irate when it gets near the holidays and the commissary is always busy. This is my time! You've got the rest of the day to shop like you do the rest of the year. Why are you infringing on my time???
I'm like that with all kinds of shopping - be it Wal Mart, Costco or a mall. I get there when it opens, get what I need - and go. If I need a silver engraved ice bucket with a diamond studded lid - I get it - and go. The display of gold engraved ice buckets complete with diamond studded lids and a $100 gift certificate holds no interest for me - as that is not what I am there for. I am not a fun person to mission shop with. I admit that.
However - when I shop with no purpose - it is a lot of fun. We can take all day and look at Agent Provocateur lingerie if you want.
But the thought of getting up early and rubbing shoulders with people who never see the light of day before noon and only a partial list of things I need - I don't think I can do it. My suburban is too big to fit in most parking spots - especially when Mr Iminabighurry spots my backing lights and insists on waiting for me to back out instead of looking for another spot.
But this inane football noise complete with yelling and fist pounding may force the issue.
Do they have drive through counselors?
Nope. Never. Although the thought of listening to a football game (s) for the 72 hours is forcing me to reconsider this idea. And I say listen to football - because no matter where I am in the house - a tv is on a football game. And it is blaring. And we all know....what do I hate more than shopping the day after Thanksgiving? You got it. FOOTBALL.
I'm very mission oriented. I like to get up early and do what I need to do. I admit I'm a little Rainmanish when it comes to certain activities. If I am not at the grocery/commissary by 9:00 a.m. - I won't go. I get irate when it gets near the holidays and the commissary is always busy. This is my time! You've got the rest of the day to shop like you do the rest of the year. Why are you infringing on my time???
I'm like that with all kinds of shopping - be it Wal Mart, Costco or a mall. I get there when it opens, get what I need - and go. If I need a silver engraved ice bucket with a diamond studded lid - I get it - and go. The display of gold engraved ice buckets complete with diamond studded lids and a $100 gift certificate holds no interest for me - as that is not what I am there for. I am not a fun person to mission shop with. I admit that.
However - when I shop with no purpose - it is a lot of fun. We can take all day and look at Agent Provocateur lingerie if you want.
But the thought of getting up early and rubbing shoulders with people who never see the light of day before noon and only a partial list of things I need - I don't think I can do it. My suburban is too big to fit in most parking spots - especially when Mr Iminabighurry spots my backing lights and insists on waiting for me to back out instead of looking for another spot.
But this inane football noise complete with yelling and fist pounding may force the issue.
Do they have drive through counselors?
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Thanksgiving.....
This morning as I was removing my wedding and engagement rings to prepare for Thanksgiving, I realized I am such a cynic - I can truly find the bad in any situation, motive or idea. I can't imagine anyone's jaw hit the table upon reading that confession....so I am going to shock you by reliving happy Thanksgiving memories.
Growing up, we never went anywhere for the Thanksgiving holiday. All of my dad's family lived in town - but my dad being the youngest of 8 kids with a 20 year difference from the oldest sibling - our cousins were all about 10-15 years older than us, so relatives celebrated with their extended families - and we stayed home. That was fine with me - and I think rooted my tradition of staying home for all major holidays. My mom cooked a turkey and all the fixins. We lived in Ohio - so good hearty food - and if Mom got really fancy - we might have marshmallows on the sweet potatoes! We ate and my dad and brothers watched football. That that is about all I can remember for the first 18 years of my life. Still my favorite tradition - staying home and eating!
My first married Thanksgiving was spent on the beach at Topsail Island, North Carolina. Hubby's company commander invited us to their home for dinner. Egads! A captain, his wife and two kids! I was tasked with an appetizer. I can't remember what I took - but I do remember the dish I presented it in. A crystal heart shaped platter we received as a wedding gift. What it had to do with Thanksgiving - I'm not sure - but I was proud to use it! We were dining with another couple - from California. Talk about intimidating.....Wendy was tasked with sweet potatoes. She whispered to me she used her mom's Citrus Yam recipe. I was scared. What the heck do oranges have to do with yams - or sweet potatoes where I come from! I was pleasantly surprised. A light orange zest really does bring out the flavor in an orange vegetable! Who knew? The next day I prepared my first Thanksgiving dinner for my groom and me. With the help of a shower gift cookbook - it was a wonderful meal. His birthday was in two days so we had birthday cake for dessert. Then we took a walk on the beach. Perfect!
Fast forward five years to Okinawa, Japan. We had literally just moved to this tiny island in the Pacific. By just moved - I mean we arrived Monday afternoon of Thanksgiving week. Thanksgiving was the last thing on my mind as we deboarded the plane with a 6 month old and every possible thing we could hand carry 10,000 miles! This was the November I realized the Marine Corps is truly one family. Our sponsor on the island invited us to a potluck Thanksgiving dinner at a place called the Eagles Nest. I don't know what I took, if anything - and I'm pretty sure I just showed up jet lagged beyond belief not knowing a soul. These wonderful people took us in and gave us a reason to be Thankful. Alone on an island without a family in sight we became each other's family. As I type this - I am thinking of the people there we are still in contact with - some are even neighbors now here in Northern Virginia.
The next year in Okinawa I remember buying celery for $8 at the commisary. Ouch! But, I digress!
Several years later, for reasons still not clear - we drove back to Ohio from Cherry Point, North Carolina. We had never done this before - and we have not done it since! I seem to remember trying eat carb free at Thanksgiving. Hmm. Potatos. Bread. Pumpkin pie. Yeah. Didn't go over so well! We ate everywhere we went. Actually, the reason we went back to Ohio is that hubby had Stealer tickets for that weekend. Someone had the brilliant idea that he could go to Pittsburgh with my brother and then just fly back to NC and I could pick him up in Raleigh on Monday. I must have been in a no-carb induced coma - because I agreed to this. The kids and I drove back to NC by ourselves. A regular trip takes about 8 hours. This took 12 and we were only in Wythville, VA. So, making the command decision - we stayed in Raleigh for the night and picked up hubs at the airport as scheduled the next day. We enjoyed free warm cookies at 10 p.m. Carbs for everyone!
My favorite part about this trip happened in West Virginia. Son #2 was probably 7 or 8 at the time. We stopped to get gas and he came out of the rest room just absolutely disgusted. I asked what was wrong. He reported someone had written "my balls are humongous" on the bathroom wall. BUT - they had spelled humongous wrong. Lesson learned and we still live by this rule...if you are going to deface property - the least you can do is spell it correctly.
One year we ate at the chow hall with the Marines. Boy, talk about a throw down! Not only did they have turkey and dressing - but steak and lobster, too! By a happy coincidence - my cousin and her family lived at the same base - and my fondest memory is her husband eating at least 4 different kinds of pie. Pie. And you know how I feel about a pie!
This year my inlaws are visiting. Our first born is home from college. It's chilly outside. No citrus yams - but I am making a pecan cinnamon yam. Yum! I don't have much use for my crystal heart shaped dish except at Valentine's Day - but I am using my new turkey platter I won at Bunko. But one thing remains the same - the same wonderful cookbooks I received at a wedding shower all those years ago. Pan Gravy on page 62 is stained with flour, oil and other foods - but I rely on it every year. "More gravy, please," is music to my ears!"
As I put my wedding and engagement ring back on after doing the dishes, I take a few minutes to remember a cold Thanksgiving weekend 24 years ago. It was the year I said "yes" to all of this.
Growing up, we never went anywhere for the Thanksgiving holiday. All of my dad's family lived in town - but my dad being the youngest of 8 kids with a 20 year difference from the oldest sibling - our cousins were all about 10-15 years older than us, so relatives celebrated with their extended families - and we stayed home. That was fine with me - and I think rooted my tradition of staying home for all major holidays. My mom cooked a turkey and all the fixins. We lived in Ohio - so good hearty food - and if Mom got really fancy - we might have marshmallows on the sweet potatoes! We ate and my dad and brothers watched football. That that is about all I can remember for the first 18 years of my life. Still my favorite tradition - staying home and eating!
My first married Thanksgiving was spent on the beach at Topsail Island, North Carolina. Hubby's company commander invited us to their home for dinner. Egads! A captain, his wife and two kids! I was tasked with an appetizer. I can't remember what I took - but I do remember the dish I presented it in. A crystal heart shaped platter we received as a wedding gift. What it had to do with Thanksgiving - I'm not sure - but I was proud to use it! We were dining with another couple - from California. Talk about intimidating.....Wendy was tasked with sweet potatoes. She whispered to me she used her mom's Citrus Yam recipe. I was scared. What the heck do oranges have to do with yams - or sweet potatoes where I come from! I was pleasantly surprised. A light orange zest really does bring out the flavor in an orange vegetable! Who knew? The next day I prepared my first Thanksgiving dinner for my groom and me. With the help of a shower gift cookbook - it was a wonderful meal. His birthday was in two days so we had birthday cake for dessert. Then we took a walk on the beach. Perfect!
Fast forward five years to Okinawa, Japan. We had literally just moved to this tiny island in the Pacific. By just moved - I mean we arrived Monday afternoon of Thanksgiving week. Thanksgiving was the last thing on my mind as we deboarded the plane with a 6 month old and every possible thing we could hand carry 10,000 miles! This was the November I realized the Marine Corps is truly one family. Our sponsor on the island invited us to a potluck Thanksgiving dinner at a place called the Eagles Nest. I don't know what I took, if anything - and I'm pretty sure I just showed up jet lagged beyond belief not knowing a soul. These wonderful people took us in and gave us a reason to be Thankful. Alone on an island without a family in sight we became each other's family. As I type this - I am thinking of the people there we are still in contact with - some are even neighbors now here in Northern Virginia.
The next year in Okinawa I remember buying celery for $8 at the commisary. Ouch! But, I digress!
Several years later, for reasons still not clear - we drove back to Ohio from Cherry Point, North Carolina. We had never done this before - and we have not done it since! I seem to remember trying eat carb free at Thanksgiving. Hmm. Potatos. Bread. Pumpkin pie. Yeah. Didn't go over so well! We ate everywhere we went. Actually, the reason we went back to Ohio is that hubby had Stealer tickets for that weekend. Someone had the brilliant idea that he could go to Pittsburgh with my brother and then just fly back to NC and I could pick him up in Raleigh on Monday. I must have been in a no-carb induced coma - because I agreed to this. The kids and I drove back to NC by ourselves. A regular trip takes about 8 hours. This took 12 and we were only in Wythville, VA. So, making the command decision - we stayed in Raleigh for the night and picked up hubs at the airport as scheduled the next day. We enjoyed free warm cookies at 10 p.m. Carbs for everyone!
My favorite part about this trip happened in West Virginia. Son #2 was probably 7 or 8 at the time. We stopped to get gas and he came out of the rest room just absolutely disgusted. I asked what was wrong. He reported someone had written "my balls are humongous" on the bathroom wall. BUT - they had spelled humongous wrong. Lesson learned and we still live by this rule...if you are going to deface property - the least you can do is spell it correctly.
One year we ate at the chow hall with the Marines. Boy, talk about a throw down! Not only did they have turkey and dressing - but steak and lobster, too! By a happy coincidence - my cousin and her family lived at the same base - and my fondest memory is her husband eating at least 4 different kinds of pie. Pie. And you know how I feel about a pie!
This year my inlaws are visiting. Our first born is home from college. It's chilly outside. No citrus yams - but I am making a pecan cinnamon yam. Yum! I don't have much use for my crystal heart shaped dish except at Valentine's Day - but I am using my new turkey platter I won at Bunko. But one thing remains the same - the same wonderful cookbooks I received at a wedding shower all those years ago. Pan Gravy on page 62 is stained with flour, oil and other foods - but I rely on it every year. "More gravy, please," is music to my ears!"
As I put my wedding and engagement ring back on after doing the dishes, I take a few minutes to remember a cold Thanksgiving weekend 24 years ago. It was the year I said "yes" to all of this.
Monday, November 1, 2010
My Thoughts on Port o John Sharing
Because I'm fully aware of many of the pressing issues of the world - it is finally time for the reading public to hear my thoughts on the most important debate of modern times - Two Huge Events in Washington, DC sharing Port o Johns.
In a word. NO. In two words. HELL NO. In three words. OH, HELL NO.
I was fortunate enough to attend the Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday. I was unfortunate enough to be one of the last people to leave the Marine Corps Marathon late Sunday afternoon (and not because of my performance - so save your jokes!) The port of johns were locked until early Sunday morning - and I take a great deal of pleasure of probably being the first person in the VIP port o johns. (What can I say? I know the right people.) While I wouldn't say the VIP port o john was the Cadillac of portable restrooms - I didn't see any faux marble or bidets - I would say it was at least a 4 door sedan. However, by the time the day was over - there was absolutely nothing VIP about the accommodations. I mean - you go in, you do your business, you leave. Or you would think. And the VIP accommodations ran out of water - so that was no longer an option.
Anyway, when you gotta go - you gotta go - so I stepped out of my comfort VIP zone - and if I thought those accommodations had gone to hell - I sure as hell wasn't ready for what awaited on the other side. As I refused cubicle after cubicle while shaking my head - one of the operation officers jokingly (I think) commented "Do they not meet your standards, Miss Kate?" And the funny thing is - I don't even have standards. But no way. I ended up driving to a Shell station in Woodbridge.
My point, and I do have one, the facilities were used for about 10 hours on Sunday. I can't imagine if they had been open the day before to share with another event. I mean, there are people in my house for whom I would lovingly take a bullet - but I won't share a bathroom with them. So share a port o john with 30,ooo strangers on a two day event? I think you know my views.
In a word. NO. In two words. HELL NO. In three words. OH, HELL NO.
I was fortunate enough to attend the Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday. I was unfortunate enough to be one of the last people to leave the Marine Corps Marathon late Sunday afternoon (and not because of my performance - so save your jokes!) The port of johns were locked until early Sunday morning - and I take a great deal of pleasure of probably being the first person in the VIP port o johns. (What can I say? I know the right people.) While I wouldn't say the VIP port o john was the Cadillac of portable restrooms - I didn't see any faux marble or bidets - I would say it was at least a 4 door sedan. However, by the time the day was over - there was absolutely nothing VIP about the accommodations. I mean - you go in, you do your business, you leave. Or you would think. And the VIP accommodations ran out of water - so that was no longer an option.
Anyway, when you gotta go - you gotta go - so I stepped out of my comfort VIP zone - and if I thought those accommodations had gone to hell - I sure as hell wasn't ready for what awaited on the other side. As I refused cubicle after cubicle while shaking my head - one of the operation officers jokingly (I think) commented "Do they not meet your standards, Miss Kate?" And the funny thing is - I don't even have standards. But no way. I ended up driving to a Shell station in Woodbridge.
My point, and I do have one, the facilities were used for about 10 hours on Sunday. I can't imagine if they had been open the day before to share with another event. I mean, there are people in my house for whom I would lovingly take a bullet - but I won't share a bathroom with them. So share a port o john with 30,ooo strangers on a two day event? I think you know my views.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)