A sigh of relief
Home sweet home. A year of stress and turmoil for our family is coming to an end...but it's not over, as we readjust to being together again and cope with our respective experiences. Robert had the incredible challenge of being a single parent, I had the distance too, having to separate from my family and their lives for too long. We have to find our way again...but it's such a relief to be home, really home, and know that this is all that matters for a while.
After we left KAF (boarding that plane was a GREAT feeling!) we spent four beautiful days in Cyprus, spent eating too much amazing food, sleeping in a king-size bed that felt so enormous, watching the ocean from my balcony, drinking a little wine (okay a lot), swimming in the outdoor hotel pool, getting a massage at the spa, eating more amazing food, travelling the island..the contrast to being at KAF for so long made it feel a little surreal, but it was a fantastic way to have some respite to prepare for jumping back into home life.
This last photo shows one of the two CF-18s that escorted us into CFB Trenton...a crazy welcome back to Canada; the pilot thanked us on behalf of the Chief of the Defense Staff, and they flew on either side for about half an hour. In rather shocking contrast, five of us were later quite unceremoniously dumped at Ottawa International Airport at midnight, to wait for our 0645 flight to Halifax...it was a little disappointing to be sleeping on an airport bench in my tan uniform, already 24 hours on the road, so close to home yet still so far.
Last night at supper, Julia created a story that will be told in our family for a long time to come. Yesterday I went to the grocery store, thrilled with the vast selection of food, and cooked dinner for the first time in six months...as we ate Robert said "Isn't Mommy a good cook?!" - when the kids both agreed, he asked "is Daddy a good cook?" The answer was a unanimous "NO", so I asked "what kind of things did Daddy cook for you?" and without hesitation Julia replied "Kraft Dinner, and milk!" Then, after a short pause, she added "...and chocolate cake." We laughed so hard...of course he says they hardly ever had Kraft Dinner, but I'm wondering who to believe... :-)
After we left KAF (boarding that plane was a GREAT feeling!) we spent four beautiful days in Cyprus, spent eating too much amazing food, sleeping in a king-size bed that felt so enormous, watching the ocean from my balcony, drinking a little wine (okay a lot), swimming in the outdoor hotel pool, getting a massage at the spa, eating more amazing food, travelling the island..the contrast to being at KAF for so long made it feel a little surreal, but it was a fantastic way to have some respite to prepare for jumping back into home life.
This last photo shows one of the two CF-18s that escorted us into CFB Trenton...a crazy welcome back to Canada; the pilot thanked us on behalf of the Chief of the Defense Staff, and they flew on either side for about half an hour. In rather shocking contrast, five of us were later quite unceremoniously dumped at Ottawa International Airport at midnight, to wait for our 0645 flight to Halifax...it was a little disappointing to be sleeping on an airport bench in my tan uniform, already 24 hours on the road, so close to home yet still so far.
Last night at supper, Julia created a story that will be told in our family for a long time to come. Yesterday I went to the grocery store, thrilled with the vast selection of food, and cooked dinner for the first time in six months...as we ate Robert said "Isn't Mommy a good cook?!" - when the kids both agreed, he asked "is Daddy a good cook?" The answer was a unanimous "NO", so I asked "what kind of things did Daddy cook for you?" and without hesitation Julia replied "Kraft Dinner, and milk!" Then, after a short pause, she added "...and chocolate cake." We laughed so hard...of course he says they hardly ever had Kraft Dinner, but I'm wondering who to believe... :-)
posted by Lindsay at 6:17 PM
1 Comments:
Lindsay in the house!!! hey chickie, i am glad that you had a good time and that you are finally home, it must be a great feeling. I wll continue to check in and say hello. drink a beer for me and I miss you guys
Mcpl Crazy
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