We went to VA on leave..."and I saw an aardvaark in Arkansas, a bear in Bismarck, a crayfish in Caladonia".... and had a blast. Rachel's Helwig family are a wild bunch of firecrackers. Now I have faces and personalities to go with all of her stories.
Getting there was a travel hassle, which you figure I'd be used to by now, but I can honestly say that it was worth it. After trying to get out of Baghdad for 3 days we finally flew the coop and it was pretty smooth from there to VA. Rachel's Helwig family had a welcoming party at the Richmond airport like the ones that you see on TV, a sign," We wove wou Woolleys", flowers...a big colorful tribal enclave... all smiles and HUGS galore. I had forgotten that I was a "hugger" but have since this visit been reintroduced to this friendly tactile tradition. The weather and trees were all so nice, Ken and K-Dog's,(Katherine's thug name), backyard was my sanctuary with the squirrels, lush grass and oak leaves, mint and flowers.
So then I got the flu and a nice dose of pneumonia and went into seclusion/hiding in the K&K basement and got caught up on all the History channel, true crime and various mandatory TV for several days (5 or 6 I think). This cut into our plans to drive to IN and see my family there, but it was unavoidable. Rachel tended me as best she could and Ken and Katherine kept me well medicated and well fed. I had my share of coffee, chocolate and watermelon. They got me to the clinic and I was healed, Amen.
I literally LOST COUNT of the number of family dinners that we all had together, all good and lively...one minute we are all getting together and the next it is midnight and we are playing some board-game or eating a second dessert and pretending to be "corn-on-the-cob". Everyone opened thier homes and hearts to us and it was almost too much for me.
Rachel's Granddad and I talked about squirrel hunting, trees, leaded gas, Ethyl, petroleum distillation and physical fitness among other things...I can't remember not seeing him in pressed slacks or without a dinner jacket on. That's class. Rachel's Grandma tried killing me with this "chocolate coma cake" and singlehandedly re-taught me the art of hugging. Her house smelled so good that last night over there too. I met Ken's father, John, who served in WWII, Korea AND Vietnam.
We got back here to Baghdad lastnight. we were in Kuwait less than 24 hours. I held Rachel as she cried herself to sleep missing her family holding onto this family picture her Granddad made for us. I miss them too.
Just a few more months here and we will be back stateside and see everyone again AND I get to meet the Baader side of her clan.
Getting there was a travel hassle, which you figure I'd be used to by now, but I can honestly say that it was worth it. After trying to get out of Baghdad for 3 days we finally flew the coop and it was pretty smooth from there to VA. Rachel's Helwig family had a welcoming party at the Richmond airport like the ones that you see on TV, a sign," We wove wou Woolleys", flowers...a big colorful tribal enclave... all smiles and HUGS galore. I had forgotten that I was a "hugger" but have since this visit been reintroduced to this friendly tactile tradition. The weather and trees were all so nice, Ken and K-Dog's,(Katherine's thug name), backyard was my sanctuary with the squirrels, lush grass and oak leaves, mint and flowers.
So then I got the flu and a nice dose of pneumonia and went into seclusion/hiding in the K&K basement and got caught up on all the History channel, true crime and various mandatory TV for several days (5 or 6 I think). This cut into our plans to drive to IN and see my family there, but it was unavoidable. Rachel tended me as best she could and Ken and Katherine kept me well medicated and well fed. I had my share of coffee, chocolate and watermelon. They got me to the clinic and I was healed, Amen.
I literally LOST COUNT of the number of family dinners that we all had together, all good and lively...one minute we are all getting together and the next it is midnight and we are playing some board-game or eating a second dessert and pretending to be "corn-on-the-cob". Everyone opened thier homes and hearts to us and it was almost too much for me.
Rachel's Granddad and I talked about squirrel hunting, trees, leaded gas, Ethyl, petroleum distillation and physical fitness among other things...I can't remember not seeing him in pressed slacks or without a dinner jacket on. That's class. Rachel's Grandma tried killing me with this "chocolate coma cake" and singlehandedly re-taught me the art of hugging. Her house smelled so good that last night over there too. I met Ken's father, John, who served in WWII, Korea AND Vietnam.
We got back here to Baghdad lastnight. we were in Kuwait less than 24 hours. I held Rachel as she cried herself to sleep missing her family holding onto this family picture her Granddad made for us. I miss them too.
Just a few more months here and we will be back stateside and see everyone again AND I get to meet the Baader side of her clan.
