13!

Do you know what today is?

FLAG DAY!

Do you know what else today is?

It is The Captain and I's 13th Anniversary!  Happy Anniversary Baby, I've got you on my miiii-hind! ( name that that tune and the artist in five seconds) So he's on my mind, and that 's about it.  He unfortunately had to work today.  I am wondering if we can acutally count all 13 years since he has been on the road for about half of them.  Oh well, it's the life of a pilot wife for sure. 

He is always ready to pose for the camera and give me a silly grin.  Always ready to be the horse that takes Miss Maren to the bathtub when he is home.  Always ready to let Marissa kick his butt in Super Mario Brothers.  Always ready to let me drive off to Walmart to clear my mind after a long week at home.  Love you Honey! Wish you were here! 

In Sickness and In Health

When my Dad was sick this fall, he spent days horribly confused and agitated.  He didn't really know my brothers and I, and the grandkids were all in some sort of muddled combination in his mind.  I remember stopping by to see him in the hospital and Mom was there too, as she usually was.  He was all fidgety and seeing things and sort of a mess.  Mom asked him, "Who am I Bennet?"  He got really quiet, looked right at Mom, smiled, and said, "Well, you're my one and only." Of course she is Dad.  You are so right.

It hasn't been easy watching them travel this road together. Though Dad is home now again, he has been in and out of the hospital some and each time he comes home, he seems a little weaker and needs a little more care. Mom is still trying to work full time, since they have their insurance through her employer.  I think she feels a constant emotional tug of war in the responsiblity as bread winner versus the guilt of not being home with Dad.

 I don't think Mom expected to be so fully entrenched in the role of nurse and caregiver.  She always hated the sight of blood or body fluids in general and this fall she was hanging home IV antibiotics every eight hours, flushing a PICC line using aseptic technique, and doing a darn fine job of it.  I don't think Dad, or any of us, ever fully understood what a sinister opponent Parkinson's disease would be in the final go 'rounds.  He has fought hard and well, whatever the outcome may be.

I don't understand it.  I can't make sense of why they have to go through this.   It really makes me angry and so very sad.  I wish they could traipse off to Hawaii for a week, or maybe just drive to LeMars and get a Bob's dog and a chocolate malt and some onion rings.  I really hope they can do that sometime this Spring. 

Mom will honestly tell you that none of this has been easy. It hasn't.  She will honestly tell you sometimes she gets impatient and loses her cool.  She does.  I think she has told me in those moments of frustration and despair that he isn't the same man she married.  Marriage vows don't really come with that guarantee, do they?  But I do know she would tell you he is still her best friend.  Her one and only. At least the feeling is mutual. 

 Mom, you deserve a medal of some sort.  Pretty sure there is not one big enough or gold enough to do the trick.  I don't understand it all, but I hope I can help you along the way. You're doing great and I love you both very much.

O What A Thrill!

The Captain did good this Valentine's Day. Here are some highlights.


1. Princess Maren cannot keep a secret and informed me at breakfast on Friday morning. "You and Daddy are going on a date wit ee chudder." Like that. My heart melteth.



2. The Captain cannot keep a secret either. He posted a status report on FB that he was making Valentine's Days plans. Very subtle. No one reads FB.


Craig is planning for Valentine's Day with Shannon . . (sshh, don't tell her!) 4:54pm - Comment - LikeUnlike - Show Feedback (1)Hide Feedback (1)
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3. I came home from work Friday to a rose on the counter and he had bags packed for the M's and a bag packed for me ( I'll have to admit, I repacked) and we were dropping the M's off at the G's. (Grandpa and Grandma). FOR THE NIGHT. Can I get a WHOOT! WHOOT! Thanks G's!!




4. He had reserved a room at the Wild Rose B&B in Okoboji. We had gone there for what we figured was probably our 5th anniversary and had a nice time. So what great fun to be going back!



5. He also had made me the sweetest Valentine's Day CD. A little Beatles, U2, Tony Bennett, Micheal Buble (swoon) and the Mavericks. (make that a double swoon). We listened to it on the drive up there. Lub Dub.



6. We went out for dinner at Minerva's. Where it was martinis, salmon, grilled asparagus and really good crusty bread. Num Yummy. Did you know that asparagus is an aphrodisiac? Me neither. I KNOW!



7. Back at the room ... well that is none of your business. It's true what they say about asparagus.




8. King size bed, gas fireplace with a switch, jacuzzi tub, chocolate covered strawberries, champagne with a resealable top. I find joy in the small convenient stuff. And it is still none of your business.



9. Good night's sleep and woke up to the smell of blueberry muffins and a bright shiny day.



10. Tasty breakfast which I did not make and it was off to the Barn Swallow, one of my favorite stores at the Lakes. The captain allowed me to browse at my leisure. No rush. We found some cute stuff, giggled at the greeting cards (they have the best cards there) played with the kitties (they take in strays and the cats wonder around the store as you are shopping) and the Captain bought some really good chips and salsa. Fun.

11. Then it was back to the OC to pick up the M's. Funny, absence- even a short 20 hours-does make the heart grow fonder.


12. I had to work for four hours that night in MedSurg. When I came home, the Captain had folded and PUT AWAY all the laundry. I do love this man.

Happily Ever After - again!

Guess what! I got married today! Or at least got confirmation of my marriage, on Facebook, to my husband. This was of great significance since I had been dating only the night before. This is also significant since I am married to a pilot who is gone quite a bit and a positive confirmation of marriage every now and then is very reassuring.

So, yes, I joined Facebook last night- pretty late and I really should have been in bed but, I thought what the heck, how hard can it be right, got my own little blog going- not too difficult. Anyway, while setting up my profile, I appropriately marked female- CHECK, married - CHECK, and erroneously thought that if you were married you would not be dating and ignored the next few options, but I guess everyone just dates by default when they sign up to FB. So leave it to me, my first FB post indicated that I was dating. Hmm, was I looking for a man or a woman? YIKES!

I just got off the phone with Captain Hubby and we both thought it was hilarious that we took the plunge again. A lot cheaper than the first time around, a little less romantic and not quite the picture I had of ever renewing my vows, since I am here and he is in Charleston, SC. We did agree though that we should have a second honeymoon - somewhere warm. It does make me look back over the past 10 - almost 11 years (Flag Day is right around the corner). Being an IA Pilot Wife is not always easy. In fact there are times it gets downright hard. But, I am sure it is not always easy being an IA Pilot Hubby or an IA Pilot Daddy either. So honey, YES, and I DO all over again! Love ya!

P.S. The Captain reminds me in his sweet comment that it has been 11 almost 12 years of marriage. WHOOPS!