Category Archives: virginia

So, um, hi! I’m alive! But I still suck at blogging. Ah well. C’est la vie, n’est-ce pa?

The whole reason for my trip finally happened – my best friend Jennie got married. And sadly, I had to wear a pink dress. Blech! (No Matthew, still no pictures and likely won’t be. Pink is not a flattering color for me. At all.) Her wedding was beautiful and I’m so so so glad I was able to make it here for that. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. I mean, she and Matt met at MY wedding, how could I say no to going to hers?

I will say, that was strangely bittersweet. I managed to not cry (I mean all out tears dropping) until her sister’s speech at the reception. During the ceremony, I teared up but was able to keep them from spilling over. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks – Jennie is moving to Oklahoma! Why is this shocking and tear worthy? I really have no idea. I just felt like I lost the game somehow and lost my best friend. Which, really, is asinine considering *I* got married and moved away first, 4 years ago. I thought about it some more and what it really boils down to is that when I come back to NoVA to visit my parents, she won’t be here. There won’t be anymore closing down of the 24 hour Dunkin’ Donuts (yeah, we don’t get it either), or getting asked by security why we’re hanging out in the empty parking lot at 2400 after a movie, or anymore movie dates. It’s a small change but a big one all the same and I feel a little less like a loser for having figured this out.

After the reception, I was chatting with the father of the bride and I mentioned that I was here for another few weeks because I was hoping to catch my dad’s homecoming from what SHOULD be his very last deployment with the Army. The response I got was, “What? He’s deployed AGAIN?! Isn’t this like his 100th time over there? It seems like every time I see you, your dad is deployed.” This comes from the retired Colonel who did 30 years in the Army and recently retired as well. Good times all around.

Even more good news? My dad is finally home from his latest 7 month deployment in Afghanistan! *insert big party emoticon here* He is thrilled to be home and is already being all domestic and stuff and doing things like mowing the lawn and cleaning the garage. Hey, it sure as hell beats the livin’ daylights out of living in a container and sitting at a desk all day! Oh and the dogs. He is already back to taking them everywhere and suddenly, we all play second fiddle to my dad for the boys’ attention. Hell, my mom has even been relegated to 3rd fiddle. But you know what? Having him back safe makes it all worth it. Even if he DOES need a haircut.

He says he isn’t cutting because it’s within regs still but I have my doubts. I think he secretly likes being called Richard Gere.