It's wonderful to relive a fabulous time of our lives. Thanks for letting me reminisce.
I had intended on writing this week about the week leading up to Paul's retirement. What we did, where we were, who we saw..but truth be told, we were busy with everyday life, the kitchen, the doggy day care and (embarrassment) the Olympics. I got so in to watching the Olympics that much else fell to the way side.
I have a photo album in my Google account called "Last week in the Navy." Now, I wasn't IN the Navy but I was married to it, and when Paul retired, it was a day for me too. The week leading up to his retirement ceremony was the perfect blend of chaos and calm. Most mornings, I slept in, took Allie to the beach and hunted for beach glass; lunches were with Paul and his XO Harry, eating at
Food Stuffs, the best little restaurant in Lake Forest; and evenings were full of seeing people and saying goodbye.
Paul and I took a spin on one of his whalers, tooling around L
ake Michigan, looking Navy-ish. He also got one of his LCM5 Mike boats underway for one last 'training exercise; and awarded his XO Shawn, the
Bronze Star for his service in Iraq. After work, we drove around the base, taking it all in - the marching cadets, the boats, the water, the beach, the Exchange, the housing and the friends. We stayed up every night to listen to taps, a melancholy trumpeter saying good night to base.
The best part of the entire week was getting to see all the people - all the people who traveled great distances AND Chicago traffic to celebrate Paul's career and our transition. Steve came the furthest - all the way from California but closely followed by our 'family' Roy and Mary; Bob and Sue drove and Kristen flew all the way from VA. Paul's old boss, Kevin flew up just for the day - despite a hurricane approaching NOLA; one of his
sideboys, Keith Williams drove all the way from Tennessee to participate and celebrate; Lisa came all the way from Arizona, my BFF Linda and her husband Phil drove up from KC and my Calvin family - Henry, Todd, Jennifer, MB, Heidi, Deb and Mary, with family and kids in tow all came. Abi and Steve came while Grace and John were there in spirit taking care of Noah. Our friends and neighbors Dennis and Amy with their kids came too. Paul had three friends from college come - Mark from Indy, Steve and his family from A2 and Andrew from MN. There were so MANY people who joined us to celebrate. The outpouring of love and kindness was quite overwhelming. It was incredible and a magnificent ceremony, followed by a wonderful party - complete with a pig roast. We just didn't want it to end. :)
It rained that day and while we were slightly disappointed in the weather, the rain meant cooler temps and no bugs. And that was a good thing!
So a year later, here we are. There is an adage I hear and have no reference but goes something like "
live a good life - you will enjoy it a second time around as you reminisce." We spent this week reliving that time and enjoying it just as much. As life marches on, we have so many changes - a couple of new bathrooms, a soon-to-be new kitchen, a new job for Paul and a new furry friend, Handsome Boy. We said goodbye to our home on Lake Michigan - the beach house, we fondly called it, said goodbye to the Navy and sadly said goodbye to our sweet angel, Allie. What a year. It was the time of our life and we look forward to so many more.
ake Michigan, looking Navy-ish. He also got one of his LCM5 Mike boats underway for one last 'training exercise; and awarded his XO Shawn, the Bronze Star for his service in Iraq. After work, we drove around the base, taking it all in - the marching cadets, the boats, the water, the beach, the Exchange, the housing and the friends. We stayed up every night to listen to taps, a melancholy trumpeter saying good night to base.
It rained that day and while we were slightly disappointed in the weather, the rain meant cooler temps and no bugs. And that was a good thing!
My friend Jewels has a great blog and does a really cool thing called Flashback Fridays. She posts great pictures that she has taken over the years and it's so much fun to see what a great photographer she was before digital - and of course, still is. 
One year ago today, we said goodbye to the best furry friend that I have ever known. Her departure created a hole in our home and our hearts. I have never known such loss, it simply took my breath away. The selfish part of me wondered what I missed and what else I could have done; truth was she was not well and it was simply her time. I struggle with things I can't control. Mostly, we just miss her and toast her every night.
Permit me, please for just a moment, to relive August, 2007. This time, last year, we had started the week of our collective lives. I had arrived in Chicago and the plans were set for Paul's retirement from the Navy. The Change of Command script, people and places were set, wonderful friends were finalizing travel and lodging plans and Allie and I had the week to enjoy the beach. Ahhhh, we loved that beach.
We have grown so incredibly fond of our Mr. Handsome. He is a big goofy dog with a huge heart. He doesn't know his size and often is completely oblivious to large stationary objects like a sofa or table. His youth is apparent in his constant scanning for critters in his yard, intruders or the ever popular, Furry Girlfriend.
Paul was out the door early this morning, running in the Fifth Third Riverbank Run. Whenever he has been home, he tries to run it, with a number of his Navy friends. I am sure that he will have a wonderful run - it's gorgeous here right now, good sun, very cool and most importantly NO RAIN.
This is the drawback of sometimes, dare I say it, being disorganized...Sigh. When I was culling through the pictures stored on my Mac, I found some magnificent pictures of Allister, and some of Paul, as we started the journey toward his retirement from the Navy. About this time last year, he (and we) were starting to plan his retirement - party, transition, etc. Picking the date and the time and the fun and the food. Over those next three months, we went through everything and had a blast
doing it. We also knew that Allie was on her slide down, and all I kept saying to her was, 'just make it through Chicago.' And she did.
frisbee and just walking with Paul. Fast forward a year later. We are in our 'death house' (ok it's not as morbid as it sounds - we will probably go outta here feet first, which will be easy because it's a ranch), both having fun with our jobs and another furry family member to keep us humble.
It has been a delightful Sunday. We did some work, we relaxed a bit and played with the 'flat disk' with Mr Handsome. We watched the Philadelphia Flyers eliminate the New York Rangers and are watching the sun start to set across our back yard. There is a light breeze and the fir trees and our Japanese maple are swaying gently. Samson is asleep on his bed, at least for the moment.
Allie did shed but she was a much darker dog and it was easier to see her hair. When Samson found us, I thought (naively) that a lighter dog wouldn't show as much. Well that was stupid. And wrong. Samson seems to shed at the speed of light and it is all over the house. When Allie left us we thought that it would be years before we brought another furry family member home. But Samson found us in a beautiful, heart-warming story and we simply couldn't say no. It was meant to be. Is he a pain in the neck sometimes? You bet. But he doesn't run around asking stupid, rhetorical questions and by all accounts, is a happy, happy dog. And we are happy, happy people. 
It's my birthday. The older we get, the more we seem to enjoy our birthdays, perhaps out of pragmatic thinking that we are just fortunate to see another one. :) I used to have pin that I am certain that I lost in some long ago move, that said "it's my Birthday and I can do whatever I want!" I thought that was a bold and delightful comment. It is, and I can.
Dinner last night was something else. I know that I don't even need to write how good lobster is but I will. There were several stages to the lobsterfest but a couple of funniest moments came with Samson and the lobsters. The lobsters are shipped alive (..and yes I feel horrible about personally putting them to death in the boiling pot...don't ask) and by the time we got ready to cook, they were moving around. Well, I think Samson was thinking, "hey present or new friend for me" sniffing all around, trying to see over the box. I didn't catch it on the camera, but the lobster moved, and it was funny to see him jump a little. Hehe...We enjoyed an incredible dinner and have tons of leftovers. We couldn't even start on the lobster bisque, ravioli or lobster cakes. We have lobster for days. We have so much lobster left over from dinner, that I will have to force myself and have lobster in my scrambled eggs. (And yes we know the Seinfeld episode...) :)
One last important note, Samson DOES like lobster. :) Enjoy your weekend!
No it isn't Halloween, it's Christmas. With Christmas comes reflection and memories and thoughts. And maybe some Ghosts. Even Ebeneezer had to live with a few.
Christmas came early for Samson. He got a his first bone to gnaw and enjoy.
