I made it back

I am back in Texas. I had a wonderful weekend with my friends in D.C. Liz and I were talking and we have never felt so proud of our husbands and what they did for their country. I know that if Dave were here now, he would do exactly what he did. I have now doubts about that. The plane rides were uneventful except for the movie selections......The Bucket List and P.S. I Love You. If you don't know what I mean, rent them you will quickly. The hotel was nice, we stayed at the double tree crystal city (although I wouldn't stay there again). They were ill equipped to handle a party of that size. On Thursday I just got in and I met the girls. Liz and I went to Arlington to see Dave and Christian. We forgot tissue, so we ended up raiding the ladies bathroom for toilet paper to take with us. Of course, we cried, which was actually kind of good because it moistened the toilet paper which made it easier to wipe off the bird poop.....lol. I cleaned off the grass clippings from Dave's headstone (because that is what he has been complaining about for the past 7 months). The grass has filled in nicely and everything was absolutely emmaculate. The area where he is is off the beaten path a bit, so it is quiet without so much traffic. Another good thing because we all know that Dave didn't like to draw attention to himself. I love that man!! Okay, so on Friday we spent all day in seminars which were funny, sad, angry, and every other emotion in between. I haven't cried or laughed so much since Dave died. I also realize that while sometimes I feel crazy, it's okay because you know what everybody else is too. :) Friday night we went to the Marine Corp Evening Parade. (it wasn't a parade) Actually it was the commandants band and also the rifle squads (I don't know what to call them) It was awesome!!!! We had a police escort to and from the event (I felt so important). Saturday was more of the same as Friday's seminars. I was starting to miss the dogs a bit by this time. As soon as I thought of them in walk these two gorgeous retrievers. The therapy dogs which I completely took advantage of. It was great. I've decided I'm going to train my dogs to be therapy dogs and I could volunteer to take them different places. I know this may take a while, but I think it is doable. Bella is making great progress and Leah is so passive. I think it will be good for me also. Saturday night we skipped the big fancy dinner and opted for dinner with each other. To get together and talk seemed so natural. I missed that as soon as I left D.C. Sunday was the end of the seminar (which was way too soon). I got alot out of it. Hopefully, I will be able to apply some of it in my life. Sunday night we went to the Concert on the National Mall. Which was nice. Then Monday morning we got up and went to Arlington for the Memorial Day Celebrations. It was so hot (85) . Every other day it was just perfect in temperature. We got there at 8 am and it started around 11am. White marble soaks up heat by the way. We heard the president make his speech and then soon after that we were leaving again. Liz drove home soon after that and I went to see Dave again for a little while. I went back to the hotel and took a nap because I was sooooo exhausted. We got together for dinner that night and breakfast in the morning before I left to come home. I am so impressed with this whole TAPS program. It is in so many different areas of the country, if you have the chance to go, do it. It is for anyone who has lost a loved one. They split you up at times into different groups....spouses with kids, spouses without kids, parents, grandparents, siblings, friends.......it is really great to talk with others feeling the same way you do at times. Also I guess even though this experience should have killed me, I realize now that it didn't and I can go on as others have before me. Anyways, plans for the future include definitely attending another one of these (especially next year), running the Army 10-miler in D.C. in October in memory of Dave (since he was soooo in to P.T. ---Army people will laugh at that) ( I started training for it yesterday :) -more to come on that later ), and train the dogs to be therapy dogs. I also really liked the D.C. area, it might be a place I need to try and live. Alright, I guess that is enough for now. I will try and get some pics up later today.
Love you guys.....have a great day!