This was a ship, a destroyer, that my husband was on, back in 1999. He deployed to Hawaii; we stayed in Maine, til the ship arrived in Honolulu. When the ship arrives in port, there is a huge ceremony; they put a lei on the brow of the ship.
It is so impressive to see everyone in dress whites, a board the ship in formation. It really makes you feel proud of your extended family!
Hawaii, was definitely on my mind, yesterday with Tsunami warning.
I have been fortunate to live in both Alaska and Hawaii. Alaska twice, Adak and Anchorage, then in Honolulu, Hawaii.
I took on the hang loose attitude and my signed my name Ellei. I was planning to go to back to college, for acupuncture; it was a great place for this type of education.
There is a relaxed vibe in this state, hawaiian wear is worn during business meetings and people greet you with a lei when you arrive. It was scary, yesterday to wonder if Hawaii would be destroyed, I am thankful they weren't, but sad for Chile.
When I reflect back, I have met a lot of people from other countries, Holland, Spain, England, Australia, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Scotland, Japan and German. I am grateful for their friendship; this gave me a different kind of passport.
Sometimes Navy life has been exhausting, draining, and sad. My husband has been away most of our anniversaries, missed a lot of birthdays and sport, school moments. Last year, he missed Christmas...so we made a fake Don, Dad. We plopped him on the love seat with his laptop and our hound joined in the ruse. He said, he wanted to be home; I said, you are home in our hearts.
I sent him photos of his fake self via email.
All n' all, it has been an adventure, driving on the Al-Can highway, seeing black timber wolves, riding a ferry from Bellingham, WA to Haines, Alaska, climbing glaciers, boogie boarding in Hawaii, living through earthquakes, tremors and volcano eruptions. I have made a lot of friends and hung my hat in a lot of states. It has been an adventure of a lifetime; I didn't sign up to be in the Navy, but I am. It has been quite a trip...
Comments
I love how you made a fake dad for Christmas, that's awesome! Even though it's hard to move around so much, it's wonderful to make new friends.
Love,
Jenny
You definitely need to visit, Vermont..your founding fathers n' mothers history is there.
Do you have relatives, there, now?!
Yeah, we had fun with Fake Dad....we dressed him up like a girl, an elf, etc. I just made the head and then would stuff him in various shirts. We even had a photo op with him at
Thanksgiving, it was funny! I told my husband,I was going to take him to the next
FRG meeting. We had Fund Raising Group meets for the ship's Homecoming. There are food vendors, balloons, decor and a radio station to pay for. Don was afraid that the
Commander's wife and I would take our Fake Men to the meetings. She said she was going to make one, but never did. We just had a lot of laughs!
((((hugs))))
~Ellie
you are amazing.
i felt so sorry for myself when i moved from my childhood home of 28 years in utah to arizona, 13 years ago.
what a baby i am.
you are a very strong woman.
love how you "made" a hubby to be there for christmas.
i also love the card you made on your other post.
the quote is lovely.
xoxoxo
c
I didn't think about being strong..just trying to endure change. My son is so adaptable from all the moving and traveling. Me, not so much!
I am just thankful to have a home and roots!
I miss Maine, where my roots were established; Yes I am a transplant, but it is okay. I just need to remember to bloom where I am planted. (for now)
Thanks Becky for your kind words and Chrissy you are no baby, i know a bit of your herstory and I know you are very strong!
next ρost thanκ you once again.
Here іѕ mу wеbpage hcg shots for weight loss