I feel bad I didn't even realize it was Veterans Day until a friend at playgroup told us why her daughter was not in school. I have been pretty wrapped up in my own world lately, so I guess it shouldn't surprise me that it slipped under my radar. I'm not sure when I last watched the news, or read a paper. Pretty ironic considering my job in the military was to know ALL the news, all the time. I suppose it's a lot like my friends who played sports at a competitive level. Once they stopped competing, they pretty much stopped playing all together. I suppose that if you can't keep yourself in tip top shape, or spend hours a day analyzing information to produce intelligence, you feel like you shouldn't do it at all... otherwise you just get frustrated and disappointed at your current level of performance. Ok, so that's a pretty sorry excuse for my lack awareness, but give me a break... I had to clean up yet another diaper mess gone wrong today.
So, in honor of Veteran's Day, I thought you would get a kick out of these photos of yours truly and my hubby. My memories of my time in the Navy are bitter sweet. It was seldom easy. I was often lonely, under-appreciated, and frustrated, but it was an amazing experience. I traveled the world (and a lot of ocean), made some life long friends, met and married my true love, and did more for the betterment of my country than I ever imagined I would. I had never before felt such honor and pride like I did the day I took that oath. It is indescribable. Anchors Aweigh my friends.
(Lucky for you I don't have any digital photos from my time at OCS or commissioning, although they would be the most amusing of the bunch). 13 weeks of "fun" didn't do a lot for my girly girl looks (although I did have a great set of abs!) These are really out of order, but it's late and I'm too tired to fix them. Blogger is not user friendly in that department.
Dec. 2000. Intel school graduation with the Director of Naval Intelligence. Notice my short hair... this was eight months post OCS. Oh yeah, it was even shorter.
April 2002. Ensign no more. LTJG Goolsby.
Who needs "Maverick" when you have "Monkey?" Move over Tom Cruise.
There really is something about those boys in uniform. Lucky for me, I didn't have to wear mine that night. It just isn't the same on me.
July 2001. Riding in a C-130 for 8 hours back to Virginia Beach from a training detachment in Montana. Not so first class. No potty and no peanuts.
Cruise 2002. Sitting in a Mig-21 in Croatia.
Cruise 2002. Transiting the Suez Canal. Not a lot of room to spare on either side. Plenty of room in my size XL shirt. Was it too much to ask for something a little more fitted?
Cruise 2000, the pre-Jill years. Sexy legs there honey.
Home sweet home for more months than I care to remember.
CVN-73, the USS George Washington
Deep in thought in the Ready Room, advising a pilot... ok, so I was helping with a crossword. Petey needed a lot of help.
Taken from a SH-60 helo as I was leaving the GW for a one night stay aboard a Canadian destroyer.
Taking a joy ride in a T-34.
5 comments:
Wow, Jill these pictures are an amazing trip down memory lane. Thank-You and Brian for everything that you did for Our Country. You may of not actually went to war, but I bet you trainned wth some of our Troops that are there. Thanks so Much for loving our U.S.A.
LOVE the pics, Jill! Thanks for serving our country... these are really great to see! ;o)
xoM
Molly says: "That doesn't look like tía Jill."
Jill and Brian, I want to thank you both for what you did for our country. I am as proud today of the two of you as I was when you were in the Navy. I always try to thank everyone I see that I know are in the service or that I know they are a veteran. Some times I get some funny looks when I walk up to a person and put my hand out to thank them but there are not alot of ways I can show my support. I also thank the family if they are there. We always have special activities at school on Veterans Day. WE have young and old at school. I also want to remember the people who serve that don't wear a uniform but serve our country,like our Brian in Africa. The pictures were so much fun to look at again. I have a lot of them printed from when you sent them before. I just sent a package off today to a soldier I don't know that is in Afghanistan. I had heard that he has not recieved anything from his home. I tried to send things he could eat and not have to store. Again, thanks for serving the Unidted States of American and me. Love, Aaunt Barbara
Thanks for sharing but more importantly special thanks to you, Brian and all of our military for serving!
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