A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Here's something I missed while we were not living on a military base:



The other night I had the front door open with just the screen shut, so I heard the five minute warning for Colors. I saw Jake and 2 friends playing on the lawn and decided to grab the camera, and wait in the doorway, just to see what I could capture. I should have set it to video, but I never think that quickly.

Sure enough, as soon as those first four notes sounded, Jake's ears perked up, he said, "Colors!" and whipped around to face the music with hand over heart. Call me sappy, but this just makes my heart leap every time.

This neighborhood is unbelievable. Not only do the little boxed houses make you feel like you are physically in the 50's, but everything else about the place seems a throwback to a more innocent time. Kids have the run of the neighborhood (there are so many trees and hills to explore), neighbors know each others' business (in a good way) and actually hang out and talk to one another. There's even a little neighborhood store where you can get milk and bread and all manner of treats. I'm discovering mine are not the only children sneaking over there for Twinkies and soda. The only thing that would make the scene complete, is if they had to go digging around to find enough bottles to redeem for the purchase.

I hope that my children always remember their time here...that when they talk about the good ole' days, they say, "Remember Okinawa? Remember how we used to climb up on the roof and light watch the fireworks? Remember Play Street? Remember the night games? Those were the days!"

Of course, there are things I hope they remember about each of the places we've lived...Camp Pendleton...San Diego. I hope they remember (with fondness) our experiences living as trailer trash in the RV park on El Centro, and holding school at the base chapel...and then the experience of living in the relative mansion of our first home...and getting to have our own personal airshow each day during the Blue Angels' winter season. Those were the days!

I try not to be prideful in my blessings. I know that we are each given our own measure, and they are all different..we only have to look for them. At the same time, I am SO grateful to have a military family. Are there sacrifices? Sure! But the benefits are pretty sweet, too...especially the untangeables...and we're a pretty elite group with so few electing military service anymore.

I'm trying to be 'present' with all of this...to enjoy every day. It seems like we have forever, but at the same time...I know it will be over in a flash, and we'll be looking back on it all with great nostalgia.

These are the days!