Memories of Us

Family pictures and current events

So, I underestimated my photographer a few weeks back.  I'm not sure how she managed to capture such wonderful photos.  Considering the near permanent scowl that was on Will's face the whole time, I have a feeling some serious retouching had to be done.  But however she did it, we wound up with some really great pictures.  Here are  my favorites.

I was so pleasantly surprised!  We will be using her again.  Now that I've found a good photographer we can afford, I plan on having family pictures taken at least every year, probably more like every 6 months while the boys are young and changing so much.

In news of a less personal nature, Osama Bin Laden is dead.  I have to admit that my first thought upon hearing it was "Oh shit, what are they going to do to us now."  But then it occurred to me that the terrorists are already consumed by irrational rage at our mere existence and that killing their figurehead isn't going to incite them to do something they weren't going to do anyway.  While I don't feel at all safer that he's dead, it is certainly satisfying to know that some measure of justice has been done.  And it is truly awe inspiring and a little terrifying that our military has the capability and perseverance to locate a single person in this whole wide world whose primary focus it was to remain hidden.  I hope all those terrorists out there find it terrifying too.  And that we have such bad ass special forces who can carry out such missions is something to admire.  And though I have no love lost for President Obama, I give him credit for making the daring decision to send in our men, make this personal, and get confirmation of his identity.  It really bothers me that he didn't give any recognition to President Bush though.  And it bothered me even more in the days to follow when I heard people gloating that Obama did what Bush couldn't, when in reality, Obama couldn't have done what he did if not for Bush.  It's just disingenuous and petty to pretend otherwise.  Playing politics with something so historically significant introduces divisiveness into what should be a unifying moment.  But all that aside, it was a good day in the war on terror.  

Speaking of the war on terror (even though I think Obama doesn't want us to call it that anymore), I expect Jamie to be deploying sometime in the coming months.  I'm dreading it.  Will is old enough to actually miss him now which means my heartbreak will essentially double when he leaves.  Missing him myself is hard, but knowing that my little boy is missing his daddy is going to be so much worse.  He's gone right now, though only on a short state-side mission.  I took the boys to Costco today and we saw a man there in a green flight suit like the ones Jamie wears to work.  Will thought it was Jamie.  He started calling out "Daddy" as the guy walked by.  I did my best to correct him, but he's still a bit too young to understand.  He was still calling out for "Daddy" a few aisles later.  He never really got upset about it and seemed to just let it go after a while.  But I imagine this was just a preview of what's to come.  It's going to be rough.  I'm ready for this war to be over now.

Memorial Day

Tomorrow is the day we honor the men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country.  I have to be honest, until I met and married Jamie, I don't think I could really appreciate or understand the real meaning of this holiday.  Memorial Day took on a new relevance for me once I became a military wife.  Before that I regret to admit that I, along with most of the nation, saw it as a day off, a long weekend, the opportunity for a vacation.  It's very easy to think that way when the personal tragedy of losing someone in the line of duty is so far removed from your own tiny slice of reality.  It's understandable.  But it's not acceptable.  It's not excusable.  So, in the midst of enjoying your family holiday and your free day of fun, take a moment to be grateful for those who have died in our defense, and to remember those that they left behind. 

I'll be honest, it's the latter group that I'm more inclined to think about these days.  And I know it's because I live with the nagging fear that I could be one of them. I've watched a number of little tribute videos in honor of this holiday on YouTube in the last few days and have finally forbid myself from watching any more.  The first image they show of a widow receiving a folded flag and I start bawling.  Because I can't help but imagine myself in that role.  It terrifies me.  I'm not trying to be dramatic, just honest.  I doubt there's a military wife out there who has watched her husband fly off to war and hasn't has such thoughts.  It's hard to manage our home and parent our child alone.  It sucks to be separated from my guy.  But the very thought of him not coming home to us brings me to my knees.  And so on this Memorial Day, my heart goes out to the families of those who didn't get to come home.  There but for the grace of God go I. 

To leave things on a happier note though, here's a touching video of some guys who did come home.  I made it approximately 13 seconds before sobbing commenced.  Good luck doing any better.

Randomness

1.  With every new episode of "I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant," I am slowly starting believe that it may, indeed, be possible to NOT know you are pregnant.  However, while I may grant them that they didn't know, it still doesn't absolve these women of being complete idiots who pay shockingly little attention to their own bodies.  Also, isn't it just a little absurd to have the people re-enacting be SO much better looking than the actual couples?  Especially when they have snippets of the actual people telling the stories?  It's almost become a game for us around here.  "She is supposed to be HER?!?"  Don't these women SEE the disparity between themselves and the people playing them?  I think I would find it insulting.  Plus, usually the actresses are like, 4 sizes smaller than the real people, making it all the more difficult to imagine that they could carry a baby without knowing.  Because then when you see the REAL people, and they are somewhat larger, you're like, "Oh, okay, I guess maybe a baby could hide in there."  Anyway, it still disturbs me that this happens.  And it disturbs me even more that it happens enough to have a television series devoted to it.  And yet I watch.  Because it is FASCINATING.

2.  Speaking of baby shows . . .  A funny story about Will's birth.  While in early labor, I was watching baby shows on TV.  You know, the ones where they show women in labor, all screaming and stuff.  Let me assure you that this was not really by choice.  Michael Jackson had died that day and it was like, 24-hour Michael Jackson coverage on every freaking channel.  I may be crucified on the alter of pop culture for saying so, but I never really liked Michael Jackson all that much.  Especially after he got all weird with the masks and stuff and started having inappropriate and suspicious relationships with children.  Icky.  So, in my painful and drug-fuzzy state, watching women in the throws of labor was preferable to watching the canonization of Michael Jackson by the stupid media.  Next time though, I'm bringing my own entertainment.  To all my pregnant friends:  This is important.  Bring DVDs. 

3.  I drove out to the Air Force Base to visit my husband a number of times last week.  Each time I drove down this one busy road (Dorchester, for those in the know), I had the great pleasure of passing a very singular billboard.  It is an advertisement for one of those private emergency care clinics.  It's a very simple add.  There are a bunch of chopped green beans in one corner of the billboard.  And in the middle?  A huge knife.  And on the knife?  A splattering of blood.  It makes me want to vomit every time I see it.  Who thought that was a good idea?!  You know, in theory, yes, perhaps it's good marketing to imply that if you cut yourself while cooking, you should hit up Medcare for treatment.  But do we have to be so VISUAL?!  SOO disgusting.

4.  Enough about Tiger Woods already.  I don't want to hear about him anymore.  Does it really matter, at this point, how many people he cheated with?  I mean, one is all it took to turn the guy into a scum bag.  It really is rather shocking though, that apparently the women are numbering in the teens now and still counting.  When did he have time for golf?  I do feel terrible for his little babies though.  And his poor wife needs to go get a blood test.  Professionally, I do think he'll survive this.  And I don't think he'll wind up hurting for sponsors in the end.  Probably not the same sponsors though.  He can't really pull off "classy" anymore.

5.  I like Bobby Flay on the Food Network.  But I HATE his show Throwdown.  The whole time I'm watching that show, I just keep thinking, "That jerk better not beat out this person at the ONE THING she's good at."  I mean really!  What is the point of this show?!  He works for like, a day trying to figure out how to do things and then ambushes poor, unsuspecting people who have been conned into thinking that the Food Network is doing a special show about them and their awesome talents.  And then he tries to show them up!  It is demeaning!  It belittles the work and pride these people take in the ONE THING they do when this schmuck puts like, an iota of effort into learning how to do their thing and then attempts to shame them in a competition!  Just go be an Iron Chef, Bobby Flay!  Let these normal little people have their special things!

6.  And finally, I have proof that everyone gets more sleep than I do around here.  Like father, like son.