Home from Idaho

We are back home after our visit to Mountain Home for Brian's change of command. We left on Wednesday afternoon, the 6th, and after a brief stop in Toppenish to have a cup of coffee with Rod and Karen who were staying at the Yakima Nation RV Park, we stopped for the night at the Wild Horse Casino just outside Pendleton. Casinos are the best if one just wants to stop, have a bite to eat, and sleep. There were at least a dozen other rigs parked near us as well as a number of semis.

We llke the FAmCamp at Mt. Home AFB. It only has about 20 sites, but it is well-maintained and never at full capacity. We met a lady who full times in her small Class C. Her name is Hazel, "Hazy", is English but was married to a US military man, and now roams the country to pursue her favorite hobby of birdwatching.

Brian's final flight with the squdron took place on Friday afternoon, and as his plane taxied in, there were two fire trucks with their firehoses creating a water arch over the aircraft. Then with all of us out at the flight line, as soon as he left the plane, Nolan, Warren, Gray and Celia greeted him with more water and high-powered squirt guns. Ken and I sedately greeting him with sprays of champage!

Brian's farewell was most enjoyable with a very yummy catered BBQ dinner. Brian's "roast" was fun and we contributed by sending a number of photos that ran the gamut from newborn to college years. He seemingly gained a reputation in the squadron for using a favorite expletive on frequent occasions as a noun, or verb or adjective, or proper name............and coffee and the coffee-making ritual were always a priority before the day could begin. There were several, including the operations group commander, who spoke about Brian's two-plus years as squdron commanding officer whose words make parents beam with pride.


After dinner, Brian was promptly kidnapped by several squadron guys and spirited off to Boise for the evening. I think guys do that sort of thing to try and reclaim some of their college youth, and then realize it can't be done. But all in the name of tradition.

The change of command on Monday was well-executed, and of course less thrilling for us this time around than when Brian took command two years ago, but nontheless always serves to reawaken one's patriotism and pride of country. For those of you who know the military, he was awarded a third oak leaf cluster for his Meritorious Service Medal.

Sheila's sister, Lisa, and her children, Celia and Gray, came from Virginia for the weekend. Gray is eight and had not seen any of the military associated with Brian, so he took everything in. One of the men in the squadron gave us a full-up in-depth tour of the squadron and an F15E. Gray was invited to sit in an ejection seat, try on a helmet, and look through night vision goggles. He was in awe!

We left the motor home for Brian and the boys to use while they pack out, and we took two days to drive home. We spent Tuesday night in Hermiston at a fairly new, but obscure motel chain. Traveling with a dog and staying in a motel subjects one to additional charges as we found out! We are so spoiled by traveling in the motor home!

Now we have one week before we fly to San Jose. I know I have a number of things I want to get done before we leave because we have just about four days upon our return before Brian and family get here and then just a few more before Keith and family arrive. But at least we did concentrate on the yard and flowers early this season, so it is all looking good. What is left to do is probably not all that much except for some serious meal planning and grocery shopping.

We have had one email from Colleen from Australia and it sounded like she was having a good time. It was early in her trip, and I think they had been spending the time in Sydney with Bassim's family. She will be on her way home in about one week. so I should have more news of interest after that.

I have been waiting to post this blog so I could attach some pictures, but that hasn't happened yet, so pictures will follow. Ciao