First Halloween
Nov. 1st, 2005 07:29 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ste_noniWe started out yesterday morning at Pope Air Force Base at 0600. (We almost didn't get on because the MP at the gate was worried that my emission inspection sticker had expired. @@ It actually expires today but relax a bit. Worry about terrorism for a minute.) We were going out so early because the main group of soldiers that Joe works with came home yesterday. Both times Joe came back from Iraq, he has just walked off a plane. I have felt sort of cheated out of that big emotional homecoming, although I was always happy to have him home. Anyway, it was everything a military homecoming should be. There was a band, flags, ribbons, signs, and about 100 families, most with kids who were all very excited at seeing Daddy (or Mommy, although mostly daddy).
Sidenote: A lot of times I just roll my eyes at the Army's hype. However, IMO, there is no such thing as too much hype when it comes to soldiers coming home. Everyone deserves to feel good and appreciated when they come home. It's always a complicated time (one soldier who came home with Joe shot his wife, her boyfriend, and himself two weeks ago), but for those few moments at the airfield, it should just be a celebration. I was crying a bit when they played the national anthem and the Army song.
After all that music and a few speeches, they dismissed the soldiers and the place went nuts. It made me cry just to watch it. One family's reunion took place right in front of us - mom giving dad his 7 month old son. We also watched a little 3 year old boy look at daddy rather suspiciously.
Outside the terminal, Joe had his coffee truck set up. He gave away over 75 shots of espresso. All his friends from Iraq were very impressed that he had gotten this all put together and everyone loved the coffee.
Then in the evening we went over to a friend's house for trick-or-treating and dinner. Ellie was the youngest by over a year. There was a Belle, a Jasmine, a princess with no name, a Jango Fett and a spider. They were all very cute. We had a great roasted vegetable lasagna and squash cake. The little girls all had lots of fun playing with Ellie. Ellie did pretty well most of the night. She is fascinated by the bigger kids and loves to watch them. However, in time, she usually gets a bit overwhelmed by the noise. Going out trick-or-treating was a good break - dark and relatively quiet. Of course, she won't be eating any candy, but she did pick a tootsie roll out of a pumpkin. I think she liked it because it was shiny and crinkled.
It has been years since I've been trick-or-treating myself. I think I went out with a friend and her daughter about 8 years ago. While I was out there, I stood in the back with all the parents and watched the little kids get their candy. It was such a good feeling. Usually I feel a bit old at these moments but this time it was fun being a parent. As a kid it never occurred to me that Halloween might be fun for my parents because of us - that they might enjoy helping us get dressed into costumes.
Sidenote: A lot of times I just roll my eyes at the Army's hype. However, IMO, there is no such thing as too much hype when it comes to soldiers coming home. Everyone deserves to feel good and appreciated when they come home. It's always a complicated time (one soldier who came home with Joe shot his wife, her boyfriend, and himself two weeks ago), but for those few moments at the airfield, it should just be a celebration. I was crying a bit when they played the national anthem and the Army song.
After all that music and a few speeches, they dismissed the soldiers and the place went nuts. It made me cry just to watch it. One family's reunion took place right in front of us - mom giving dad his 7 month old son. We also watched a little 3 year old boy look at daddy rather suspiciously.
Outside the terminal, Joe had his coffee truck set up. He gave away over 75 shots of espresso. All his friends from Iraq were very impressed that he had gotten this all put together and everyone loved the coffee.
Then in the evening we went over to a friend's house for trick-or-treating and dinner. Ellie was the youngest by over a year. There was a Belle, a Jasmine, a princess with no name, a Jango Fett and a spider. They were all very cute. We had a great roasted vegetable lasagna and squash cake. The little girls all had lots of fun playing with Ellie. Ellie did pretty well most of the night. She is fascinated by the bigger kids and loves to watch them. However, in time, she usually gets a bit overwhelmed by the noise. Going out trick-or-treating was a good break - dark and relatively quiet. Of course, she won't be eating any candy, but she did pick a tootsie roll out of a pumpkin. I think she liked it because it was shiny and crinkled.
It has been years since I've been trick-or-treating myself. I think I went out with a friend and her daughter about 8 years ago. While I was out there, I stood in the back with all the parents and watched the little kids get their candy. It was such a good feeling. Usually I feel a bit old at these moments but this time it was fun being a parent. As a kid it never occurred to me that Halloween might be fun for my parents because of us - that they might enjoy helping us get dressed into costumes.
