Displaced Beachbums

For the second year in a row, we spent New Year’s eve just down the street with our friends and neighbors. It’s so nice to do something in the same location for a second year in a row. Some of our friends here laugh that we’re so excited to be settled for a few years. A surprising number of army families have managed to stay here for 5, 6 and even 9 years. That’s almost unheard of for a military family, but not here. 

Being at the party was fun but there’s always such an undercurrent of  mixed emotions at every military get-together ~ at least here, the most deployed division in the army. There was a couple who were recently reunited after he’d been away in Iraq for 15 months (very content), there was a friend whose husband is currently away but he’ll be home within the month (very happy) and then there was the couple whose husband is leaving in 3 days for a year (melancholy). I’m grateful, unless things change drastically, that Favorite Man isn’t going anywhere for a year. And yet, I couldn’t help but think  I’ll be the melancholy one next New Year’s Eve.

We left the party about 10 minutes BEFORE midnight so we could come home to watch the ball drop at Times Square with my mom.  She didn’t want to go out into the freezing temps nor the snow so she stayed at home. No doubt enjoying the peace and quiet. Not sure if she appreciated our raucous return, Favorite Girl was especially keyed up.

Favorite Girl is on her last day of Christmas break. She’s anxious to get back to her friends at school. She truly loves going to school! How I hope that will last for many, many years! We found out recently her three closest friends are moving at the end of the school year. Ah, the army lifestyle ~ even if you get to stay, someone else has to move.  In preparation for what is sure to be a sad beginning to summer break, I’m working on her summer plans. Favorite Man is interested in taking a “big” trip somewhere warm and FG is begging to go to overnight camp. Unfortunately, the camp she’s decided she wants to go to is for a minimum of 3 weeks! Yikes, I miss her too much when she’s at a sleep-over. Three weeks would be too much for me to handle. Isn’t 10 too young for overnight camp? I was 12 or 13 before I went away to camp.  Any suggestions or comments are always welcome!

I, too, was keyed up after the party so I stayed up finishing Twilight. Didn’t get to sleep until after 4 am. So unlike me but I really enjoyed the book. FG is pushing me to start the next book in the series, New Moon,  but I don’t want to get “vampire” overload. Plus, I really need to finish Me Talk Pretty One Day… where were all these good books BEFORE I started working and had so much more time to read?

Wishing everyone a HAPPY & HEALTHY New Year!