BACK TO MISSOURI

12 May 2022 2 Comments

by Betty Huffman in Family, Life Style Adjustments, Missouri, Retirement, RV-ing, Traveling, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

We spent three months in Pahrump, NV this winter (see previous posts). We left there March 27 and spent six days driving (high winds forced us to spend two nights in one location). We finally arrived in the Oklahoma City area to visit our youngest son and his family.

We had a good time in Edmond visiting our kids and grandkids. We watched movies, played a lot of card games, laughed, and ate way too much of our daughter-in-love’s great cooking. Our son, Mike, doesn’t do too bad on the grill either.

Next stop: Springfield, MO. Many of you know that my husband’s mom lives here. We spent nearly every afternoon visiting with her and playing Skip Bo (her favorite game). For 94 years young, she is a sharp Skip Bo player and wins most of the games!

We also visited with Carol and Delano, Jack’s sister and brother-in-law. We like to play Mexican Train Dominoes when we visit them at their house. I still cannot remember to put my train up or take it down! It’s so frustrating. However, we really enjoy the game and their company.

We spent Mother’s Day with Lill, Carol, and Delano. We brought carry out chicken fried steak dinners from Cedars Restaurant for a lunch celebration (Cedars has THE BEST food!). After lunch Lill, Carol, Jack, and I played team Skip Bo. It was Lill and I against Jack and Carol. Lill and I won the first game and Jack and Carol won the next two games. They were all very close games, and it was such fun.

Jack’s mom while we were playing Skip Bo. The reading glasses she ordered online arrived, and she was trying them out.

Also on Mother’s Day, Carol, Delano, Lill, Jack and I went to go visit Jack’s brother’s grave site and place flowers. Carl served as a Marine in the Viet Nam War and was VERY special to all of us. He passed away last August, 2021, from COVID. His wife, Sharon, passed away about six years ago after a valiant battle with breast cancer. They are both buried at Missouri State Veterans Cemetery just outside of Springfield. OH! How we miss them both SO much!

One day we took Lill over to see her ONE HUNDRED AND TWO year old sister, Jerry. We had a wonderful visit! For 102 years old, Aunt Jerry is still pretty sharp and has a hilarious sense of humor. I wish you could have heard some of Jerry’s stories from when she and Lill were growing up!

Aunt Jerry on the left and Lill on the right.

This is totally just for fun! The “kids” taking a nap with me! 😴💤

Today, May 12, we are heading to the St. Louis area to see my dad. Stay tuned!

So, for now ….. “On the Road Again” (LITERALLY!🤣)!!!

Betty

A JOB WELL DONE BY AN AMERICAN PATRIOT

25 Dec 2021 1 Comment

by Betty Huffman in Retirement, RV-ing, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , ,

It has been twenty years since our youngest son enlisted in the Navy. Mike felt an urgent calling to serve his country right after 9/11/2001, as did many Americans. Just like most parents, we felt the usual fear of our son being placed in harm’s way, but we also felt very proud of him.

So, off he went to boot camp. Next he attended aviation electronics school followed by SERE training in Maine (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape). Then he became an aviation electronics specialist on the E6-B Mercury that flies for the Navy. After many years of doing that job, he decided to go back to school and became a flight engineer on the same aircraft. Through the years he worked hard, advanced through the various ranks, received numerous accommodations, and finally became Chief Petty Officer. Before we knew it, twenty years had flown by, and, at the ripe old age of 39, Mike decided to retire.

The Navy set his retirement ceremony for Friday, December 3rd. This worked out really good for us because we were planning to be at their house for Thanksgiving. We just extended our stay for another week so we could attend. My sister, Lisa, and her husband, Rob, brought my 91+ year old dad from St. Louis to Oklahoma City to attend the ceremony.

The Navy’s retirement ceremony is quite impressive. The retiree is in charge of and makes all the decisions regarding the ceremony. Mike chose and arranged for everything: who would be part of honor guards and presentation of flags, the main speaker, who would sing the national anthem, who gave the opening and closing prayers, and who would speak or read the traditional “Old Glory” and “The Watch.”

Here are some of my pictures from the ceremony along with a few captions.

All ready to go.
The shadow box and solid oak chest for all of Mike’s Navy uniforms and memorabilia.
This was our retirement gift to Mike. A friend of his made it, and I must say the craftsmanship is impeccable.
Mike leads the “Arrival of the Official Party.”
Parade the Colors.
Our oldest son, Jeff, sang the National Anthem and did a wonderful job.
Guest speaker and mentor to Mike, Edward J. Primeau, USN (Retired).
Presentation of Awards by CAPT Jessup.
Passing the Flag Ceremony was completed while “Old Glory” was read. It was a quite moving ceremony.
As the flag approached the end of the line, Mike joined the line.
Finally the flag is passed to Mike, and he …..
….. walks over …..
….. and presents it to his mom – ME! Talk about an emotional moment for me. I felt so honored and proud. Then I thought about those moms and wives who have received a flag folded like this under more sorrowful conditions. However, I was filled with love and respect for this son who served his country so honorably.
Mike’s wife and children also received special recognition and awards for their sacrifice and service in supporting Mike’s career.
Mike gave a WONDERFUL retirement speech. It had the appropriate amount of sentiment, humor, memories, and encouraging advice for those younger Naval personnel in attendance.
Mike prepares to be “relieved of the watch.”
This friend of Mike’s did an EXCELLENT job reciting “The Watch.”
Being relieved of the watch.
First, Mike exits through the honor guard.
Mike returns to escort his family through the honor guard.
All the family in attendance: (L to R) Jack, Betty (me), Jeff, Kylee, Mike, Jennifer, Jackson, my 91 year old dad (Gary), and my sister and her husband (Lisa and Rob, who brought my dad down from St. Louis).
Just foolin’ around after the ceremony …..
….. trying to look tough. Maybe these are a couple of future Navy officers.

What an incredible ceremony! If you ever get a chance to attend a Navy (or any military) retirement ceremony, I would suggest you go. You won’t regret it.

So, for now ….. “On the Road Again!”

Betty

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