So I am writing this a week later...on August 14th. I'll see how well my memory serves me, I'm thinking I won't remember all the funny little details that made up each day, but I will try!
A day off from work...our numbers are low this week so each full timer was asked to take one day off. Cousin Barry and I both picked today. We decided to do the tourist thing and go to the Arlington National Cemetery. AMAZING!!! We weren't very far into our walk when we noticed a handful of soldiers standing on top of a hill...they weren't at attention, just standing there...I was curious so we headed on the road that we thought would lead us up there. As we came around a bend we saw a band in formation leading a funeral procession. Wow, talk about goosebumps! There was a soldier standing at the intersection and we couldn't go straight or to the right (where the soldiers were up on the hill) so we stood there and watched the band march and turn the corner. Complete silence except for their shoes hitting the pavement in perfect timing! I stood there with my hand on my heart praying for those grieving their loved one. We were asked to back up about 50 feet as the remaining procession came closer. We realized it was the casket draped on the back of a shiny black trailer being drawn by a team of horses, all with soldiers on top of them. The family walked in silence behind the casket...more goosebumps!!
As we walked away and begin looking at the monuments and graves we heard the band begin to play "God Bless America". We were at the top of a hill and when I looked back I saw the lone trumpeter that was going to be playing taps. He hadn't even started playing and I started tearing up! Once he started playing I had tears streaming down my face...so moving watching a soldier play taps for another fallen soldier!
We continued to walk and look around. One of the things I noticed was that on each tombstone was a cross near the top, some had circles around and some did not. I asked one of the soldiers walking around what it meant and he didn't know...I need to google it I guess. OK, I googled it and found this link to the Arlington Cemetery's Page that explains all the different crosses...guess I didn't look very close to notice all the differences just that some had circles around and some did not. Click on the link, it is very informative!
We also visited the Women in Military Center...what a fanstastic little treasure! Explained what women did overseas and back home as they were serving our country. They had uniforms and hand books and all kinds of things on display. I will have to upload photos soon.
Because I had the day off I could head to Fairfax sooner than normal and Joe could pick me up from the train station right when he got off work at 4:00 instead of having to drive all the way home, only to turn around and pick me up a little while later.
He and his daughter, Kerri and I walked/hiked around Burke Lake, a gorgeous wooded area where we saw deer and bugs and random huge mushrooms. I was glad it was shaded by so many trees as it was still hot and sunny out and I had been in the sun walking around in the humidity all day. I doubt I will ever get used to the humidity down here!!
We went to this fantastic frozen yogurt place called Josie's...you pick the size container you want (they are very similar to the containers you get from the deli at the grocery store) and serve yourself from a plethera of flavors...I picked Mountain Strawberry, Pina Colada and Pinapple Mango...then you can add whatever toppings you want, fresh fruit, candy, nuts, chocolate chunks etc...you get the picture. Then you set it on a scale and you pay by how much your container weighs. Very delicious!
Once we left Josie's Kerri wanted to grab some McDonald's just a couple stores down. Sidenote: It is still weird to me that they have McDonald's in the middle of strip malls down here...back in MN they are usually by themselves...once in awhile they are connected to a gas station/truck stop but rarely! Ok, anyway, Kerri went into McDonald's and Joe and I waited outside and ate our yogurt. I realized the tree across the road, about 20 yards away, was full of birds...I am talking about at least 75-100 birds. Yes they were small sparrow type birds, but birds with beaks nonetheless. Gave me the willies, as many of you know how much I hate birds to the point of being scared of them! Ha, Joe noticed my weariness and said he was going to get the car. Now you are thinking "How nice of him!" right. WRONG, he wanted to get the car so he could park it under the tree and make me walk under all of those scary birds to get into the car. I begged him not to do it and told him I was going to go with him...that stopped him because he didn't want Kerri left alone.
I thought I had won the battle, but oh, no he doesn't give up and I should have realized he had a plan B racing through his brain. LOL. Kerri came out and sat down and started eating her food and Joe, acting like a caring father, asked Kerri if she wanted him go and get the car. Of course she said yes...I tried to quickly explain to her why he didn't need to get it he took off running across the parking lot to grab the car. Yep, he parked it right under the tree and had me walk under it to get in...oh, but the door had locked somehow so I had to stand out there a little bit longer. UGH! He explained that he had created a 12 step program to help me overcome my fear of birds and that was step 1. Haha, I can laugh about it now, but at the time my heart was racing I was so afraid! I survived and the rest of the night he didn't try anymore of his therapy tricks!
No comments:
Post a Comment