Come on over to our house! Well not yet. We move in Friday. 
Chris practiced backing into the parking slot and I was delighted to find our house even lovelier than I remembered. It was cloudy when we looked at it, and it was the first place we’d seen. Now I saw anew the fun tiles around our porch, the plants around the front gate, the rosemary bush growing next to the dining room ledge, the big stone used as a step down from the living room. 
We walked a few houses down to where the realtor had said there was a small river. Families walked their dogs up and down the paths on either side. Ducks swim in the stream, and branches meet over the river. Could the trees produce cherry blossoms in the spring? Because if they do, we rented paradise!!
Saturday was the first time we’d seen it in sunlight. We were floored. Cold winter days will be warmed up by afternoon sunshine on the front and side of the house. People’s biggest warning for living off base is the cold. Summer is manageable, they said, but winter is FREEZING! So this will be a nice boon. After that, we went and had noodles and Indian curry at the nearby mall, then booked it home to get ready for the Change of Command Dinner. Look at me, Mom! Driving on the left! 
Speeches were made, golf bags presented and videos watched at the Change of Command Dinner Saturday at NAF Atsugi’s Officers Club. Chris was sure to pack every single one of his uniforms months ago when we moved out of our Jax apartment. So what is the dress for the evening? Coat and tie. I scoured the base thrift shop and found only one passable coat. The label boasted 100% wool, but offered no size. I tried it on. It seemed a little too too big, but it would have to do. Sure enough, it hung a little loose on Chris, but was perfect in a pinch. Not bad for $12. Bonus: that’s how I found my $3.75 jacket!
The squadron wardroom awarded Chris with the Warlord cape and a weird beer stein to go along with his FNG title. The stein is made from a cyclic (the forward-backward-left-right mechanism in a helicopter) and he has to bring to all social functions and guard it carefully. Should the stein get away from him somehow, he has to buy everyone a round. These rules are engraved on the bottom. This is one of those times I don’t get the Navy. A cape?!
Chris practiced backing into the parking slot and I was delighted to find our house even lovelier than I remembered. It was cloudy when we looked at it, and it was the first place we’d seen. Now I saw anew the fun tiles around our porch, the plants around the front gate, the rosemary bush growing next to the dining room ledge, the big stone used as a step down from the living room. We walked a few houses down to where the realtor had said there was a small river. Families walked their dogs up and down the paths on either side. Ducks swim in the stream, and branches meet over the river. Could the trees produce cherry blossoms in the spring? Because if they do, we rented paradise!!
Saturday was the first time we’d seen it in sunlight. We were floored. Cold winter days will be warmed up by afternoon sunshine on the front and side of the house. People’s biggest warning for living off base is the cold. Summer is manageable, they said, but winter is FREEZING! So this will be a nice boon. After that, we went and had noodles and Indian curry at the nearby mall, then booked it home to get ready for the Change of Command Dinner. Look at me, Mom! Driving on the left! Speeches were made, golf bags presented and videos watched at the Change of Command Dinner Saturday at NAF Atsugi’s Officers Club. Chris was sure to pack every single one of his uniforms months ago when we moved out of our Jax apartment. So what is the dress for the evening? Coat and tie. I scoured the base thrift shop and found only one passable coat. The label boasted 100% wool, but offered no size. I tried it on. It seemed a little too too big, but it would have to do. Sure enough, it hung a little loose on Chris, but was perfect in a pinch. Not bad for $12. Bonus: that’s how I found my $3.75 jacket!
The squadron wardroom awarded Chris with the Warlord cape and a weird beer stein to go along with his FNG title. The stein is made from a cyclic (the forward-backward-left-right mechanism in a helicopter) and he has to bring to all social functions and guard it carefully. Should the stein get away from him somehow, he has to buy everyone a round. These rules are engraved on the bottom. This is one of those times I don’t get the Navy. A cape?! Also passed down that night: the flu. Chris spent the rest of the weekend in bed with chills, fever, etc. 🙁