LETTER FROM ITALY

Wow..got my first letter from Holly, in Italy. She wrote it long hand..I type my letters, as my handwriting starts off ok then drifts to sloppy and finally to illegible. That is a fact. I used to curse every time I would get a letter from my mother. Her hand was ok, I just couldn't read it. I used to get people at camp to read it to me. As I grew older, my mother's writing became easier to read than my own!

Holly and Greg went to Italy in Mid-January. They have found a home, and are in the process of getting an Italian SS# so they can get their Jeep out of "the pound", and begin driving around the city. They have met some friends there, so life goes on, whereever you are. I used to love an old saying: "Bloom where you're planted". Of course you can.

Now Greg is being deployed in about 6 weeks. We will surely be keeping in touch with Holly as to what she has heard, etc. etc. Greg studied in San Antonio, at Ft. Sam Houston, to become a Medic in the Army. I think that is wonderful! He puts himself at risk to help the fellow soldiers who are wounded or dying. I think he will be wonderful! A friend of mine makes protestant roseries. I have some for him to put in his pocket. There might be a soldier that would want to have it to comfort himself. I love the rosery, and the idea soldiers will be using them.


Greg and Holly are in the midst of having their first child, my first Great Grandchild. What a wonderful time this will be for them. Greg will be able to return for the birth, so that Holly won't be alone. HOW NICE IS THAT? The Army is pretty good to protect the family unit. Days off, long weekends, and time for birthing!!!!! We will watch this progress weekly, daily, what ever. Emails, and letters will flow! God Bless you both, love you, always.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

At least I think it has. It has been lovely for a few days, and today was 81 degrees. That has a feeling of Spring. Someone asked us the other day "Why do you like Spring?" I think it is because WINTER IS OVER!!! I just do not like Winter weather. If I had a choice of 32 or 92, I guess I would pick 92 without thinking!

We are going to play golf tomorrow. Finally. I haven't played in a month. Cold, wet and windy weather with the cold made it impossible for me, a warm weather person, to go out and ruin myself swinging..or trying to!

We went over to San Antonio, Lackland AFB to see Geoff. He was happy to see us. I think it might have been the computer and sprint card, but I am not sure. We had a nice visit, and didn't get away until 5:15. He was going bowling that evening, and we had to get down the road toward Austin. San Antonio at 5 means lots of traffic. In Austin that equates to lots of time. We headed down 410, and got to I 35 so fast I couldn't believe it. Jay said we need to send Austin to San Antonio to find out how to move traffic. We got back to Austin, and stopped at Brick Oven for Pizza and a pitcher of beer.

Since today is beginning of Lent, we had to feast ourselves! It was a nice Monday, and I am so impressed with Geoff's attitude. He is so professional, and says it is because he represents his country and Air Force whether he is in or out of uniform. By the way, Monday was a holiday, and since he is doing so well, he got to put on a T Shirt and tennies for the first time since December. I know he enjoyed that!

We are saying goodbye to February with a smile on our face! Hello March, and can summer be far behind!

Thinking of Greg and Holly. Know they will be apart for a long time soon. They are in Italy, and learning Italian...I think! I have a program that translates into Italian. I will put a sentence in this post for them. (In Italian, of course!!)

Stiamo pensando voi entrambi e che speriamo che il bambino sia bene ed iete divertendo insieme. Il email quando ottenete una probabilità e noi li amano...Nanny and PawPaw

God bless them all!

A BEAUTIFUL VALENTINES DAY

It started with a card and a cup of coffee..it ended with a wonderful dinner with my valentine of 32 years! We started up to the restaurant at 5:00 and at 8:15 we got home. There was an hour wait at the first choice...so we walked across the parking lot to another. There was a 45 minute wait. We stayed, because it was, after all, a night that many people wanted to take their sweetheart out to eat!

We didn't wait 45 minutes. It was 40 minutes. That was good. While we waited we talked to a nice young man, getting food to go for his wife as a treat! We sat at the bar drinking a Fat Tire, I thought they said Flat Tire..but what do I know? It was good. I still like plain old plain old. Bud or Miller. Those are good.

After we ordered, the usual happened. A baby started crying..I mean yelling, and crying and gorsh....doesn't it happen all the time?? There is a joke in our family, that when a baby cries in public, they all look for me. hahah I think it is something in my attitude, perhaps, that sends the criers to me like a magnet. It happens EVERY TIME, so I guess it is a thing with me.

After we waited an hour to get our food and finish, we waited another 20 minutes for the waiter to bring our bill. It was Valentines Day, so we just sat and talked and smiled at each other. How lucky we are to have found one another that wonderful day on the golf course. It has been a wonderful ride. Thank God for Jay.

We are going to Beach tomorrow. Then over to Beaumont for a friend's party. It will be cold. I am going to wear a sweater thingy, everyone will be dressed up. I don't care. I am going to stay warm. We return home Sunday. Hope we have good weather (no rain or sleet). This time of year, one never knows in Texas.

Happy Valentines Day to all, and God Bless our troops.

AIRMAN YOUNG...

What a wonderful 2 days we just spent in San Antonio, Texas at Lackland Air Force Base. Geoff graduated from Basic, and it was such a blessed day.

We arrived Thursday morning to watch the run. We lined up on the street that they would be coming past, and waited. It was pretty chilly, but we didn't have to wait long. They ran past us and although I do know my Grandson, it was like looking at a bag of blackeyed peas. THEY ALL LOOKED ALIKE!!!! I didn't see him pass, and I was looking!!!!! He saw his mom, and that was the important thing. I know he was excited to see her after 6 and a half weeks (he left Austin the night of December 19th)
He probably would have cried if he hadn't been surrounded by 891 others. That is the number that graduated February 2, 2007. Again, we marvel at the wonderful young men and women that volunteer in today's services.


We couldn't see him until after retreat.

Let me tell you, retreat is a ceremony that goes on each day. They lower the flag, and fold it for the next day's raising. We sang the Star Spangled Banner, and it was very, very moving. He was supposed to be in the frist group left . We took pictures and searched every face, to see if someone could find him. When the ceremony was over, the parents (or whom ever came to be with the airman, go up and tap their son or daughter on the shoulder, and he can relax, get out of attention, and leave the formation. Well..of course...he was in the second group. They had switched him and he had not told us!!! That is ok. We have lovely pictures of someone's sons. No matter where you are on the base, you stop what you are doing, and pay respect to the flag either by a salute or your hand over your heart. That was soo great. Later that evening, we heard taps in our hotel. The base was right across the road, and you could hear it as if you were right there.

After we met up, he wanted to go EAT. We started walking down toward the restaurant, and I asked him where it was...he said "on the other side of the bridge"...I nearly fainted...(well, not really) The bridge was probably a half mile away, and the place we were going was probably another quarter mile from the bridge. He is 23, and our party consisted of his mom and 2 Grandmothers and Pawpaw. 2 are 84, one is 72. Now I ask you...doesn't riding in a car to the closest spot make more sense than spending 2 days traveling by foot????? We rode over, and parked, walked to the Mall with the food , and he got his pizza. Whew!

We said goodbye to him when we had to drop him off, and headed for a restaurant for some real food.

Next morning we got up early enough to be at the bus pick up at 7:30. It was cold..I had a pretty light jacket, but a good warm hunting jacket back in the car. I left everyone, and headed back to the parking lot. I switched the jackets, and felt a bit better. It was 45 degrees with a bitter wind. Yikes...shades of South Carolina 5 years before, when Greg (my other Grandson) graduated from Army Basic training. We nearly froze. But, feel sorrier for the young men that were shaking facing us dressed in their camos. I don't know how they did it. Lips were a bit blue!!! (It had been nearly 70 the day before) We have sudden changes in Texas!!!!!

He marched by us, and we did finally pick him out! Debbie got some wonderful pictures. We had a very nice day. The oath was taken, and the graduation was over.

Geoff had off base time, so we got to visit with him yesterday and today. His brother called from Italy (the Army man) and wished him well. How fine is it to have 2 Grandsons in the military? MY daughter figured this out...We have all the services covered by Grandparents. Marines, Air Force, Navy and Army.

Congratulations to Geoff. We love you. You look wonderful!!!!!!! God Bless you!