Family Reunions

I was just so excited to reconnect with two of my cousins this weekend. Judy and Theresa, along with their sister Karen, used to come visit often when we were all kids growing up. Aunt Rosie and Uncle Dave lived in Fort Wayne, and would come with the girls to visit for the weekend. We would double up bed space, which was always a commodity at our house. Sometimes we would go visit them in Fort Wayne. We were the "country" kids, and they were the "city" kids.
Now, we are all grown up. Judy and Theresa have grand children. Some of us have grand children too. (Rob and Larry.) It's good to see them, and to see their faces and learn about their lives. It's been a while.
But what is really fun is to think about back then. It is also fun to see pictures of us as we were back then. Life was different, if not better. We were young and full of life. We always had stories to tell each other. Uncle Dave was a great story/joke teller, and the girls learned some good ones from him. I even remember some of those jokes. We would always get into trouble at night, when the parents were playing cards and drinking beers, and we cousins would be giggling and talking instead of going to sleep.
It isn't quite the same as actually getting together and seeing each other again, reconnecting on Facebook that is. But, It is fun and I am thankful for the technology that may allow us for a follow up of a real family reunion.

Justin in the Air Force

A lot of my friends know that one of our sons, Justin, is in the Air Force. He started out in the Air National Guard. His goal was always to get his education, which Uncle Sam paid for while he was in the Guard, then to go full time Air Force and become a pilot. His dream is on the way to becoming reality. He has been full time Air Force since June of 2009, very shortly after he married his sweetheart, Amanda Wallis, in May.

I hate to brag, really. But I am so proud of him. He had his solo flight Friday, February 19 in a T-6. The program that he is in, as far as I am told by a letter from Lieutenant Colonel Andrew R Brabson, the Commander for the 41st Flying Training Squadron at Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi, is a 52 week Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training. He should graduate, as far as I am told, sometime in December. I hope to be there.

I so admire Justin because he decided what he wanted to do with his life, and he has set his focus on it and is going for it. I know there has been great stress for him through this process, and it isn't over yet. It is a high stress pursuit, for sure! And I am so glad that his beautiful wife is there to see him through this time. She is wonderful. (I hear she got up at 5:45 the morning of his solo flight to bake monster cookies. Doesn't she sound like a wonderful wife?) It is a load off my mind that she is there with him through this time.

Stay tuned for further updates. Love to Justin and Amanda. Also, hearty congratulations.

The Weekend Started Out Falafel

Falafel. Boy, I hope I spelled that right. The weekend started out falafel. I should say the weekend started out eating a falafel. Let me explain.

Friday night, after work, I wanted to do something special. So, I called up Jeff and Tricia to see if they had plans that they could fit us into. Jeff said they were going to First Friday in Goshen and were going to eat a lentil sandwich at a fund-raiser. You know my hearing is bad, but I thought he said "lentil sandwich". So I asked him to repeat it, and he said they were going to eat falafels at a fund-raiser. I knew I had heard him wrong the first time. Anyway, he graciously allowed Jay and I to join in the fun.

It was cold and windy and snowy when we headed to Goshen. We met Tricia and Jeff on the corner near their apartment and walked down to Main Street to find the Falafel venders. It was New World Theatre that we were supporting. Those two guys were standing under a portable awning, making and selling falafels right next to The Daily Brew. We ordered them up and went inside to eat them. First time I ever had one. They were good. I hope they do it again sometime soon since I don't know anywhere else in the area where you can get a falafel.

By the way, a falafel is a type of lentil sandwich. So the weekend started out Falafel, but it got better after that. : )