USMC Birthday Ball 2008

My husband and I had a fabulous weekend! Saturday night was the Marine Corps Ball in MD. We had hotel reservations for that evening, and two other couples, friends from way back, planned to stay there too. Tim has been working on a significant and very time consuming project for work, and indicated that he might have to work late on Friday, and part of the day on Saturday as well. Our friends from Texas flew in on Friday afternoon and asked if we could meet them for dinner. I said we probably couldn’t make it because of Tim’s work schedule, and my friend said, “Well, why don’t you just stay here tonight, too?” I had already arranged to leave Molly and Jack in charge of the other kids overnight Saturday, and felt a little guilty (for about 27 seconds) asking them to watch the others for the entire weekend. But, Molly had a $221 phone bill to work off anyhow, and readily agreed to this arrangement if we would erase her debt and return her cell phone to her on Sunday. So, after ordering pizza and ensuring that the kids had emergency phone #s to call, and buying all kinds of cookies, ice cream, soda and chips to appease them, I took off for MD. We met our friends for dinner and had a great time catching up, since we hadn’t seen them in over 13 years. No longer do we talk about diaper brands, or baby gear. We discussed colleges, kids and financial responsibility, the effects of gravity on body parts, and 40 year old life, in general. It was great fun!

On Saturday, Tim took me to the Pentagon and I got a tour of his cubicle, and met a couple of the people he works with. I am sure they were impressed with my Michigan State sweatshirt and the coffee stains I added to the front on the way there. Just trying to look good for my husband! After that, we went to the MCX so Tim could get a haircut. I decided to get a “free” makeup job at the Estee Lauder counter, since I am clueless about makeup, and I wanted to look good for the ball. As I was sitting in the chair, and about ½ way through the application, a line formed directly in front of me, and people were passing me by and pointing, and whispering behind their hands, and I was becoming self-conscious, until the makeup consultant told me they were there to see the guy from Project Runway, who was standing about 10 feet behind my chair. I told the lady I was wearing a plum colored ball gown, and she decided to coordinate my makeup with the color of my dress. Tim came along as she was finishing my makeup application, and when she showed me the results, I was a little dismayed (although I think I hid it well). Purple is a nice color to wear. Purple eyelids suggest spousal abuse. So we went back to the hotel, and I toned it down a bit, being careful not to mess up the rest of the makeup. I put on my jewelry and made my hair big. I took my gown out of the bag, and for the first time in many years, I could be certain I would not arrive at the function with peanut butter, tear stains, or someone else's boogers on it.

When we got to the ball and before we found our table, we decided to get into line for professional photographs. But then we heard that the ceremony would be starting in 12 minutes, so we left the line, and were walking to the ballroom, when we saw Chuck Norris talking to the Commandant. Tim said we should try to get a picture with Chuck Norris, so our friends walked over there with us and our camera and theirs. The Commandant told Chuck it was time to head out, but his wife asked us if we wanted a picture with them. We told her yes. His back was to us as he was talking with another marine, and Mrs Norris started swatting his backside with her handbag telling him, “Come on Carlos (she said to me “That’s his real name.”), just one more.” So he turned around, smiled big, and we got not one, but two pictures. And in both, the Norris’s and Tim are looking at one camera, and I am looking at the other. Because I am just special that way.

The ball itself was big fun. Chuck Norris was a great guest speaker and it is easy to see why all the Marines love him. We ran into several friends from our old neighborhood in Camp Lejeune, and had a great time with our friends from Texas and our friends from Virginia! The food was good, the company was great! We got up this morning, had breakfast at the hotel with our friends, and headed for home. When we got home, the house was clean, everyone was dressed and ready for church, and the kids said they had a great time. There was no junk food left, so I guessed that was true. The only real excitement of the weekend for them was when a bat flew in a window last night. Jack was able to capture it and release it back outside, and it flew away, unharmed. He probably handled the situation better than I would have! I am more than a little pleased that the weekend went so well, both for my husband and me, and for the kids back here. Good to know they can handle themselves for a short time without us. Good to know we can get away for a short time alone!