To: Nic and Ce Ce

It won't be long now and I will be leaving Travis AFB, CA.  I won't only be leaving the base but some great friends especially two that are very close to my heart.  My relationship with them is completely different in the fact that Ce Ce, I consider one of my kids (she's like 15 years younger than me) where as Nic, I consider a little sister (she is 11 years younger than me).  Little as in younger not in size, although both of them are considerably shorter than I am.  The pictures above prove it.

As most of you know by now, I have known Ce Ce for 8 and 1/2 years.   We were stationed at the same base in Georgia and then they received orders to England.  They were there 3 or 4 years and surprisingly were stationed with us again here in California.  Strangely enough, now we are moving to England.  I won't be at all surprised if we end up together again, one more time before Den retires.

I have only known Nic for a year and a half but you would think I have known her my entire life.  As a Commander's wife, I met her at her first spouses meeting that she held.  She somehow roped me into being a Key Spouse which is the link between squadron families and supervision.  From there on out, it was odd if you saw one of us without the other, at any base function.

I am not a "goodbye" kind of person.  They already know this and are probably suspecting that I am going to try to sneak off this base without a final farewell.  I've never been comfortable expressing sadness in front of other's.  It won't hit me that I won't be seeing them until I actually arrive at our new base and I am surrounded by only strange faces.  That's when I will e-mail them, skype them and leave them massive comments on their face book which at that point they may consider getting a restraining order against me.

So here is a list of things I will miss about the two of them...

1.  The way they make me laugh.  Again, totally different styles.  Ce Ce is just out right hilarious while Nic has a dry sense of humor.  Either way, they bring out the craziness in me full throttle!  After being with either of them for any amount of time, it's like I drank 6 Mountain Dews.

2.  The way they express themselves when they are mad at someone.  Ce Ce will just tell someone right to their face what she is feeling and somehow make it humorous while Nic has a subtle but stern way of telling someone exactly what's on her mind.  I've combined the two styles to make my own, which turns out to be complete madness.

3.  They both understand that half the time I am very social and the other half of the time, I want to be alone.  There is no in between for me.  What a blessing to have two friends that understand this and never pressure me to be one way or another.

4.  They have stood by me when I've been sick and the doctor's took years to figure out what was wrong with me.  They mysteriously know when I need to rest or just chill out.  They text me to see how I am feeling and ask if I need anything.  They also know when I need almond M & M's.  Very important.

5.  They know everything about me and still love me.  I'm sure I have shocked the hell out of them with some of my life stories but they never pass judgement.  They accept for me for who I was and who I am now.  I continually change and they just roll with it.

You may have noticed that I didn't write about their amazing children and awesome husbands.  I wanted this to be just about the three of us, just this once.  Den told me yesterday that he can't promise me much in life but he can promise that we will see the Kight family and the Harmon family again.  I'm holding him to that one.

Thank you Nic and Ce Ce for being such fabulous friends/family.  I love you both very much and I will miss you terribly.  We have great memories and so so so many pictures to prove it!  lol

De

P.S.  As soon as you both can find someone to watch the kids, meet me at the Hale Koa in Hawaii!

Yep, I'm adopted.

Well, some of you may know and some of you may not. Some of you may be wondering and some of you may not even have noticed. Either way, I thought I would write a quick study guide to the various groups of family I have on face-book.

My brother and I were adopted basically from birth so it was never really an issue. Our parents told us at a very young age and emphasized how special we were. Our perception was that we truly were the “chosen” one’s since our parents picked us and other kids parents just had to accept with whatever they ended up with.

As many of you know, we never went without anything, had awesome vacations and parents available to us 24-7. They lived for us and still do. My brother and I never had the desire to meet our biological parents. Our Mom and Dad should have been awarded parents of the year and really, should have adopted 10 more kids! ☺

Shockingly, twelve years ago, Catholic Charities sent a letter to my parents explaining that my biological mother wanted to contact me. As you would imagine, it upset our whole family. Reverting back to childhood, my first reaction was my GOD, she couldn’t possibly want me back, I’m 29 years old!

From here on out, I’m not going to go into much detail, but let’s just say after meeting her and talking to her a couple times, there was no connection. I did find out I had 2 younger half sisters and a younger half brother. My sister Jeny was born 10 months after me, making us Irish Twins or also referred to as Vatican Twins. We seemed to have an instant bond, kept in touch for a few years and then drifted apart. My sister Nicole was in the Navy at the time, but I was able to meet her briefly and I’m almost positive my brother Rob (wife Megan) was going through the Navy boot camp so I never met him in person. Rob has a son Andrew that I have never met either. Just recently, all the siblings re-connected through face book. You will notice Jeny, Jeny's daughter Syara, Nicole and Megan (Rob’s wife) commenting and joking throughout the day.

My biological mother contacted my biological father’s family after she found me. Tragically, my biological father (Timo) died when I was three months old. My Uncle Jr. (I love calling him that, it sounds so silly) planned for everyone to gather at a local restaurant in my hometown so we could all meet. They were all very warm and welcoming! We have kept in touch since through e-mail, every now and then phone calls and now through face book. You will notice Aunt Ida, Aunt Ernie, Aunt Diann, Aunt Linda Evanna, Jaymi, Sesar, and Sergio. If I have forgotten anyone, please let me know. Aunt Ida has become somewhat of a celebrity on my face book! ☺

The hard part for me is that my parents don’t feel comfortable talking about my biological family so I always feel very torn. You have to remember back in the 60’s a lot of families didn’t even tell their kids if they were adopted let alone meet the biological family. So out of respect for my amazing parents, I don’t bring up the situation very often. BUT (there’s always a but huh?) I wish my whole biological family could meet my parents so that they could see how wonderful they are. I am so proud of my Mom and Dad, it’s hard not to show them off.

My biological family is a pleasant bonus to my life but as we have all discussed, no one could ever replace my parents.

So there you go. One of the many stories of my life. 

TAKE LIFE AS IT COMES

Moms and Dads are funny

With a couple suitcases and bags in hand, my parents arrived here in sunny California yesterday.  Their flight actually landed 45 minutes early so we weren't there on time to pick them up.  Like my Mom said, they are in no hurry and have nowhere to go.  Much like my life but they are in their seventies and retired.

My Mom has visited our house on base before, but my Dad only visited when we first moved here and we were living in an apartment, waiting for a house to open up on base.  He told us how much he liked the house and then attempted to go to the garage through one of our closet doors.  Being the jokester he is, we thought he was just being silly.  When he attempted to use the bathroom going through another closet door we realized there are just too many damn doors in this house!

So back to the suitcases they brought.  Below you will see what my Mom actually packed and brought all the way from Illinois.  Like I said, she has been here before and knows there is a full grocery store not even 5 minutes away.  Some of her cookie ingredients could easily be mistaken for other substances so this Thanksgiving we are thankful that my Mom didn't get arrested and thrown in jail before she arrived to make our 21 pound turkey.

Last but definitely not least, this morning my Dad decided to make himself some toast unaware that our fire alarms are VERY sensitive.  Obviously something dropped to the bottom of the toaster and things got extremely noisy from there on out.  We opened all the doors, turned on the fans and waited for the alarms to turn off.  You would have thought we had a full fledged fire in progress.

All this after only 1 and 1/2 days and I wouldn't want it other way.  Love you Mom and Dad.

TAKE LIFE AS IT COMES  

They grow up

I remember worrying about Mandy and Troy as they were growing up.  From as early as if I should lay them on their stomachs or their backs to sleep (back then it was stomach’s), making sure the house was child proof, am I sending them to the proper pre-school, will they make friends in grade school, are they going to get their heart broken, ect. ect.   I was mislead to believe that the older they got, the less my worries would be even though I heard my Mom say, “When their little, you have little worries.  As they grow up, your worries become big ones.”  Boy was she right! 

It has nothing to do with the fact that I don’t trust them to do the right thing, it’s just the challenges they are taking now are completely out of my control.  There is only so much I can do to help.  I do everything I can possibly do, to be there for them, support them and keep in constant communication but that doesn’t mean I can solve every problem they have anymore.

For instance, if Mandy needed me, it would take me at least 2 days to get to her.  Although right now, my personal passport has a different last name and I look like a completely different person. I don’t think I’m traveling anywhere on that one.  My Military passport I can’t use unless it’s for moving purposes.  So basically, just thinking about the fact that I haven’t updated my personal passport could send me into a panic attack.   The potential list of people who actually have their passports ready that could fly over there is as follows:

Den

Papa  (my Dad)

Lee  (her Dad)

Kim  (her Step-Mom)

You’re all great people, BUT you know it has to be either Nana (my Mom whom didn’t get her passport yet) or me that manages the situation!  I hear the 4 of you chuckling and whispering, “control freak.” 

While we are on the subject, if something happened to Troy, I am powerless.  Although, if it happens at boot camp, look out drill instructors.  Have you ever seen a drill instructor cry?  This Mamma doesn’t play.  Anyway, back on subject.   From here on out with Troy and his career, he really doesn’t need me anymore.  He is being taught to be 100% independent and to help his platoon.  I can’t head to the desert to be there for him nor would he want me to!  Side note: I personally think I would look cute in the uniform but it’s the beret I’m worried about.  No way it’s staying on this head of hair. 

Bottom line, enjoy your little one’s.  Don’t fret over the small stuff.  Save getting an ulcer for later in life.  Continue to teach them to do things for themselves because someday, that’s what it’s going to come down to, whether us Mom’s like it or not. 

P.S.  From the time they hit 18, your stomach will be in knots, so stock up on TUMS now.

TAKE LIFE AS IT COMES

End of October 2009 Update

TGIF!
After 35 days in the academy, Den graduated on Wednesday October 28.  I would have to say everyone had a great time!

Mandy arrived in South Korea on Wednesday as well.  I was pretty nervous after 20 hours went by and I didn't hear from her, but finally she was able to get an e-mail to me.  She was a little overwhelmed coming from the little town of Valdosta to a big city like Seoul but she adapts quickly.  She moves into her (small) apartment on Saturday.  She has been staying at a hotel and attempting to learn the bus system.  She started work the day after she arrived and really likes it.  They had a Halloween party yesterday for the kids.  I am dying to talk to her on the phone!

Yesterday (Thursday), I received my second call from Troy!  He sounds fantastic!  He said the food isn't bad at all and he has been sleeping really good.  He said they are doing a lot of marching and they were issued all their equipment and guns.  They don't get to call very often so I was super excited to hear from him.

The last couple days of October brings Halloween activities for the squadron and with friends.  As for November, my parents arrive the second week and stay around 14 days.  Den and I are planning the squadron Thanksgiving dinner again this year and we will be preparing to move.

Have a great weekend!

TAKE LIFE AS IT COMES

October starts new adventures

Hi everyone! Since this October (2009) has started the onset of many changes for our family, I decided to give the whole blog thing another chance. It will be an easy way to keep in touch with everyone once we move to England.

Troy left for Army boot-camp yesterday (October 21st). He called today and although the connection wasn't very good, he seemed to be okay and said he was doing great even with lack of sleep and bad food. They were issued their uniforms and explored the PX. Tomorrow they will receive all their shots. :(

Mandy leaves for South Korea this coming Tuesday (October 27th) to teach English. The school is very cool and later I will post pictures. She has gone through hell and back trying to complete all the necessary paperwork. Anyway, this will be a great opportunity for her to travel.

Den graduates from the Senior NCO Academy this coming Wednesday (October 28th). After graduation is a formal dinner. He will finally "sew" on his Senior Master stripes November 1st. He found out he made Senior in April but the process of sewing on the actual stripe is long and complicated and I really don't want to bore you with it. :)

As for me. I'm surprised everyday that I haven't had a nervous breakdown! Our immediate family is CRAZY with adventure and although I am proud and happy we are all living out our dreams, I'm the first one to admit, it can be stressful. Once everyone is settled, I may need to sit down, prop my feet up and enjoy a big bag of almond M&M's! (Because I deserve it)

Take life as it comes