Just over a week ago (6/13), there was a mishap in Fallon. Thankfully, Jim was not involved. Two aircraft tried to occupy the same space and a pilot was lost. The young pilot from our sister squadron had a handsome little 2 year old son, and I hope that he will have some memory of his father. I helped with the memorial service reception on Friday, 6/20. As we (the four wives from our squadron), finished putting the food on the tables and making sure everything was just right, someone suggested that we walk outside for the fly-bye. As I looked over at the Navy wife and the son, I started to get teary eyed. When the jets flew over with the missing man formation, I just couldn't control the tears. Then they played the bugle... oh, my goodness... it was beautiful and heartwrenching. The reception went like clockwork... people visited with the family, ate and drank and seemed to enjoy being together. The wife of the young pilot was walking around with her son near the end of the reception and I just happened to be going to my car to move it closer to the chapel. She thanked me for helping with the reception and I had no words... I was all choked up... there was this Navy wife who just lost her husband and she was thanking me... I had to fight back the tears. We embraced and then I kept walking... I wished I had some words, but hopefully a hug was enough. Later, the pilot's Uncle helped me load a cooler into my car and he commented that everyone had been so giving and so nice. I told him that Navy makes you family... it is kind of strange... as a civilian I would have never really considered my co-workers family... but the Navy gives you a bond that I can't explain. This is the first time that I have truly grasped this truth. I did not personally know this young pilot, yet I paid a babysitter and left my kids for an afternoon to serve his family. And I wished that I could have done more...
Saturday night (6/21), we had a wives club meeting. It was so nice to get together to celebrate our new CO's Wife... she is the COW! I had gone shopping on Thursday and gotten lots of neat cow stuff... a silver cow charm, cow earrings, cow socks, cow bookends, BBQ sauce with a picture of a cow, cow tails candy, a cow plush and a decorative box with pictures of a cow standing in sunflowers. Nicole hosted the party/meeting. She did an incredible job... she had a cow patterned table cloth, cow figurines, cow napkins and balloons and a delicious cake with cows on the top. After eating a cow-inspired dinner, we played pin the tail on the cow. How funny!! :) It was a much-needed, stress-free, fun-filled evening with the girls! I'm looking forward to getting to know this group of women during cruise... I have a good feeling about our group! :) 
2 comments:
I got choked up reading your blog and thinking about the wife/mother and her son who lost their husband/father. People probably don't tell you/Jim this often enough but please thank him for being in the Navy and helping protect our country!
When I read the first sentence my heart sank. I'm so sorry for that young woman and her son. I can't imagine the road she has ahead. Make sure to tell Jim that we so appreciate the things he does to keep us safe.
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