Nineteen Years; One Regret [UPDATED with Photos]

It's a gorgeous autumn day in the south just like it was nineteen years ago today when I married my Officer and Gentleman in a military wedding at the Main Post Chapel at Fort Benning, Georgia. Ten fellow officers served as the Gentlemen of the Saber Arch. Our friend, George, then a first lieutenant and now a retiree, officially welcomed me to the Infantry as he ceremoniously swatted my bottom with his saber. The tradition is to say, "Welcome to the Army, Mrs. X." At that time, I outranked him and told him that I was already welcomed into the Army as my leave and earnings statements regularly proved. I also cautioned him that as a recent graduate of the U.S. Army Airborne School, I was also welcomed there as my Basic Parachutist's Badge proved. I warned him that, mess dress uniform or no, I would have no hesitation dropping him for push-ups if he violated my bridezilla edict.

He surprised me by saying, "Welcome to the Infantry, Mrs. Adams." There's a picture somewhere in the album of me laughing in surprise

and Dave smiling at me with a knowing look.

Duplicate that picture innumerable times over nineteen years. I'm often surprised and he's often smiling at my ability to be surprised.

I wouldn't change anything, really, about our married life together. There have been many challenges, some of which have been documented on this little blog, and many others that pre-dated blogging. And there are some which remain known unto us alone. Every marriage is a mystery, known only to its members.

I believe the one regret I have is in my faults--what I've done and what I've failed to do--in being more holy, more loving, and more loveable to the best man I've ever known. The only man who ever walked the earth who surpasses my man would be good St. Joseph. I have the extreme privilege of being married to a fun, funny, content & holy man who is a wonderful provider, father, beloved and friend. I was so happy on our wedding day that no tears fell from my eyes; I took it as a pre-figurement of Paradise. And every day since, I've had the privilege of living out what happily-ever-after means.

UPDATE: I dug and found the photos. My brother, a groomsman, took them back when he was a photojournalist and before he began his wedding photography work. All of them are copyright Paul F. Gero, all rights reserved.

Thanks go to Dave for scanning them. Natch.

Proofs

[Photos by Sally Gupton, all rights reserved.]

The girls were asked to be photographed for an art display at the NICU. Photos of some graduates will be displayed on the walls as a sign of hope for the families who are currently in the NICU. I thought that sounded like a great idea. The photographer is Sally Gupton and I think she did an excellent job. Click on the photo to embiggen it.

Pixel Dust

Behold our first ever picture taken with Santa Claus. We thought of photoshopping the cowlick, but then we'd have photoshopped out all the whimsy.

Merry Christmas from the Adamses!

I Owe You a Few

[Top to Bottom]: My dashing, incredible son, Zeke, as Dash Incredible; Annie as Ariel, Zeke as Dash, Mary Jo as Tinker Bell, Hallowe'en 2008; Mary Jo and Annie leaf nothing to the imagination; Zeke, Joey and Annie astride an alligator at Alligator Adventure, September 2008.

Chillin' With McCain

John McCain at his Sedona Ranch within the past 24 hours, courtesy of daughter Meghan's blog. Someone's chillin' by the grillin'.

ADDED: Just Biden his time? Not hardly.


Remember: boots beat suits in American elections.

The Rock 'n Roll Army

"Bad to the Bone" starts blaring over the loudspeaker and the bleachers, full of about a thousand parents, siblings, relatives and Puget Sound Debs, take notice of the billowing smoke cannisters across the parade field. Two of the newest-of-the-new troop transports, the Stryker Armored Fighting Vehicle, stealthily make their way and two squads, fully armed, unload and the demonstration begins. It's been almost two decades since I landed at Fort Benning, the poguiest of the pogues--a female JAG in a peacetime Army. Clearly, it is not Aunt Ruthie's Army anymore.

I was pleased and amazed by all the new things--including the Sippican friendly base housing [not a snout-house in sight!]--but nothing inspired me more than the 250 new young Infantry soldiers. Every one of them volunteered in the midst of a war with an intractable foe knowing they are the tip of the spear and are destined for battle. They looked impossibly young, but square-jawed and clear-eyed and ready for what awaits.

My son, all of six years old, was allowed to sit in the Stryker
and, within moments of being told which hand on the joystick, started zeroing in on targets. He wondered why he couldn't fire. How smart is the Army to make their coolest of cool vehicles fit into the digital-aged soldiers who now use them?

My nephew graduated, and, as I suspected, was different than the fellow we sent off in April.The Army does this to people and has from time immemorial, but it is still a wonder to behold.

Long May It Wave

Happy Flag Day!

ADDED: Here's Althouse's "Most Right Wing Photo" which I misremembered as her usual Flag Day pic, but it's not. She posts it on the 4th of July.

Zoomies and The CInC

President Bush delivered the commencement address to the graduating class of the U. S. Air Force Academy. They are known, somewhat affectionately, as "Zoomies." Oh, how I wish I knew the whole story behind this photo.

Hat tip: M.K. Ham

ADDED: More here.

UPDATE: Blogfriend By the Sea, who is an active duty Naval Officer assigned to the White House, got the rest of the story. He writes, "Got the skinny from the Air Force Captain in the office. Story goes, he lost a bet with his buddy and had to ask the President if he could chest bump him. To everyone's surprise, the CIC agreed."

This grateful blogger thanks you. The curiosity was excruciating.

Well, Sure, Doesn't Everybody Fly Their Photographer Out for the Weekend to Take Engagement Photos?

My brother, as you may recall, is an awesome professional photographer. His latest post is a photo essay of an engaged couple who will be getting married in California in a little while, but who live in New York City. What's a couple to do?? Fly your shutter guy to you and snap a few frames for a nice engagement portrait.

Doesn't everybody have a panoramic view of them in Central Park? Doesn't everybody have a stolen kiss at Grand Central Station? How about that recreation of the approach to Ellis Island with Lady Liberty framed perfectly between you? If you don't, you'll surely want that after you've seen these pics.

Time Warp

When did this little boy....



become this little boy?


Both photos copyrighted to Paul F. Gero, uncle/godfather/photographer extraordinaire.

Vacationing from the Neck Up

I returned to work today, but still have vacation on my mind.

Joey and Annie [wearing Mr. Tony on the beach for the first time] playing in this really cool sandbox.


My brother, doing what he does best while his daughter Kate directs traffic.


Zeke with the unfettered exuberance of five-year-old-boyness.


Mary Kay Ash once said, "Leisure is a beautiful garment, but it will not do for constant wear." It was good to go; it is good to be back.

Annie PT Update: Havin' a Ball

Annie had a good day at PT. She walked a lot and worked the stairs and got to reward her hard work by doing the zipline into the ball crawl.

Daredevil Sliding

Many things in life ought to be experienced head first, no?

You Know What This Means...

It means bath and shampoo tonight. That's what it means.

A Crowning Achievement

I admit I don't try to restrain myself when it comes to my kids' birthdays. First off, I only have two days for the three of them. Secondly, I am an older mom and, quite frankly, I don't know how many birthdays I'll have with them. Thirdly, I was the last of a family of four and birthdays weren't allowed to be much of a big deal. So, by doing birthdays big, I remedy all of that.


[Aunt Terri adjusts the tiara for Birthday Princess Joey.]

The girls had their wake-up presents, their special breakfast, and we all scurried off the daily Mass. Everyone did pretty well and I was glad we made the effort. The kids had Nanny and I escaped for lunch with Dave and his business partner. When I returned, they opened Nanny's presents. Then naptime and I prepped the kitchen table with the talking princess castle and helium balloons. Guests arrived and it was like a little Christmas. I made sure Zeke got to open a couple gifts, too, because it's his 4th anniversary of being a big brother.
[Zeke, a little stunned by the post-nap princess-a-torium.]

We let the kids stay up late [nowhere to go too early tomorrow] and we have plans for some friends, day-old birthday cakes and a pizza party tomorrow night. Big Birthday, part deux. [Annie admiring her apatosaurus.]

Princesses love dinosaurs, tiaras, Pooh-bears and cake.

Kids Today

Mary Jo:

Annie:

and Zeke:

Laundry Before and After

Here's the beginning of the laundry project. The disassembly of the previous closet. It is already painted in the new pale gray/blue. Doors are off.

Here's after. New high efficiency washer and dryer installed and working, new shelves installed, additional places to organize brooms, mops, and dustpans on the right.

A special feature I requested: The iron caddy and ironing board hook, plus the top two of the new shelves. A few of the shelves are fixed for stability. The rest are adjustable. There is a hole drilled on the left side to plug in the washer. The water faucets are not obstructed. As I said, not much of a gain in storage capacity, but much improved access and neatness. And that counts.

A Leg to Stand On

Busy day for us. Annie had an ophthalmologist appointment this morning and got to pick up her brand-spankin'-new custom prosthesis. It's purple with butterflies. Tony the orthotist told us to give her the chance to get used to standing on two feet by giving her two-handed toys or tasks in a standing position. Well, see for yourself. Annie in her natural habitat:

That's Right. Your Gift Is the Cake.

The children and I did a road trip this morning to get Dave's cake. It's a triple chocolate cake from Ketchie Creek Bakery in Mocksville. The gift tag is -- I mean was -- edible, too.

Catching Up on the Photoblogging: Halloween 2006

Remember when cameras took film and sometimes photos stayed in the camera for a long time and you didn't remember what shots you took until they were developed? There's a similar problem with digital photography when you only download once in a while. Here are some pics from the Halloween Carnival at church a couple weeks ago.

Here's Mary Jo as Sleeping Beauty [Aurora]

The back of Jack Sparrow escorting Aurora to the booty

Two queens-in-training [Annie as Belle, Mary Jo as Aurora]

Annie as Belle [Beauty from Beauty and the Beast]

Zeke sporting his pencil-thin mustache and pirate goatee

Aaarrrrgggghhhh! Shiver me timbers! Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum!