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Comment by M's mom on August 8, 2023 at 1:44am

Helomom, I'm sure it will be wonderful to have your son and his family so close now!

My son's first assignment in 2013 was with a squadron of Growler jets at NAS Whidbey Island in Oak Harbor, near Seattle. When we visited him, we took a few days to tour Seattle, and did Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, Museum of Pop Culture. It was "Fleet Week" and got to see the Blue Angels do a show over the bay!  Lovely area.

I'm sure your son felt the weight of the world leave his shoulders after he left that command, so no wonder he looks more relaxed. He had much more than usual to deal with during the pandemic.  Lots of aerospace jobs around Seattle.  I'm sure he'll find something interesting to do, and his family will probably be glad to stay in one place for a while!

Comment by Helomom on August 7, 2023 at 10:56pm

Thanks Andy'sMom! It’s a little strange having their around. It still feels like they are just here for vacation. The other night they texted us to see what we were doing for dinner. They were over at our daughter's house. Her husband was BBQing. It will be different when they move into their house across the water but still…it’s lots closer than Virginia, Florida, or San Diego. Our daughter's son goes to UW so he is already planning laundry weekend at his aunt and uncle’s house. I must say, our son looks so rested. It was almost immediate after Change of Command. 

Comment by Andy'sMom on August 7, 2023 at 4:50pm

Helomom - Congrats to your son and entire family.  We all appreciate his service as well as his family's.  That video was great! Our son is on his first deployment on the Ford.  It is always so comforting to be able to reach out to other moms who have experienced what I am going thru for the 1st time.  So glad that his family will be closer to you now! Enjoy!

Comment by Helomom on August 7, 2023 at 11:26am

M's mom - Fantastic news, grandma! It's great to hear your son and his family are doing so well! We loved our time we were able to spend in the London area in 2019. We were all able to make the trip to Naples for the Change of Command and Retirement, even our daughter, he husband and their two sons flew over. It was a great time! Our son was busy most days with turnover during the day but he was able to schedule some time for tourist activities with us. The cousins are all about the same age so they spent a solid two weeks hanging out. 

They have moved back to our area but over on the east side of Seattle…a ferry ride away. We couldn’t talk them into the more rural life on the west side of Puget Sound. It’s a process as he checks out of the Navy. He was on travel leave the first week and then TDY to Naval Base Kitsap. He had more out processing for two weeks, his last day reporting in uniform was last Friday. Now he is on exit leave until November 1. November 1, he will be retired,..after 26 yrs 7 months plus NROTC. He did take a hard look at the next set of 3 year orders but decided at 48 he would be a better job candidate than at 51. Age optics are real. He is looking at opportunities in the Seattle area. This will be a new adventure. It will be fun to have them in the area. Best wishes to you and your family, good fortune to your son as he moves up the ladder. 

Comment by M's mom on August 6, 2023 at 9:58pm

Helomom:  Congrats to you and your son on the end of his very accomplished Navy career!!!   I remember that he had many headaches to deal with as CO in Naples during the pandemic.  Hope you got to attend the ceremony.

Seems a long time ago (2014-15) that our sons were both on the Carl Vinson at the same time!   Thanks for reaching out to me at that time, and answering lots of my questions during my son's first ship deployment.

My son was promoted to Lt Commander last fall, and will have 11 years of service this September.  He's hoping to get that 20-year retirement like your son.  He is currently starting year two of three on deployment to England.  On July 1st, he became CO of his office at the Joint Intelligence Operations Center.

Hubby and I had to fly over the pond for a visit in June, because son and his wife had our first grandbaby in April!!!!   So far away---we're going to have to learn that FaceTime thing!

Does your son have a new civilian job lined up, or is he going to take a well-deserved break for a while?  Hopefully, he will settle somewhere near you, so you will get to see him & his family more often now.  Congrats again to you both!

Comment by Helomom on August 6, 2023 at 7:16pm

Hi moms!  We have reached the end of the big Navy journey. 
Hopefully this attachment from AFN/DOD works. 

DOD_109785463-512x288-1000k.mp4

Comment by M's mom on May 24, 2023 at 11:15pm

Anna,

You must be referring to the Bay Bridge near Annapolis?  I've been across that one too, but I meant the bridge over the Patuxent River between Solomons and near the Naval base.  It's maybe not as long as the one near Annapolis, but seems to be very high when you get in the middle!  

I've also been across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel further south near Norfolk.  I think it's about 18 miles long in total!!  So weird---you're driving out in the middle of it with water as far as the eye can see, then suddenly the bridge ahead disappears down into the water into the tunnel!  ---A triple trauma for anyone who has fears of bridges, wide water, AND tunnels!!   They don't bother me, but I can see how that thing could get people really nervous!

When we visited my son when he was stationed in Baltimore, he took us on a day trip to Annapolis.  Such a cool old state house!  Son used his military ID to get us into the Naval Academy.  It was spring break, so pretty deserted, but we walked around and went to the museum and gift shop for some Navy souvenirs.

Comment by Anna on May 23, 2023 at 8:36pm

M's mom,

Yes our family lived in Annapolis for years and spent lots of time on the Eastern shore!! Lots of really good seafood!! Are you referring to the Bay Bridge? It is very tall!! Twice I got to walk that bridge!! Don't know if they still do that but they would close one span and open it for people to do the Bay Bridge Walk. Scary to feel it moving and looking down through the grating!!!

Jennifer is OK with the year wait because she has to have time in her new assignment to put on her fitrep!! 

Hope it works out for your Son! They all have to learn how to work the system!!!! Good luck to all our officers!!!

Comment by M's mom on May 18, 2023 at 12:10am

Anna,

I know exactly where NAS Pax River is!  My husband's aunt lived on Chesapeake Bay right across the river from the base, and we visited her several times. If you ever visit, there are many fabulous seafood restaurants on Solomons Island across the river from the base.  It requires driving across a very HIGH bridge over the river---not for those with a fear of heights!

Congrats to your son on making warrant officer!  I didn't know that he had been in that long.  At least he will retire at a higher rank for the pension dollars. 

It may actually work in your daughter's favor on the year delay for promotion.  That way she may get her 20 before she has to face another "up or out" promotion board. My son is hoping that he can milk the O-4 rank for another 9 and a half years, and not have to face another promotion board and possibly be drummed out at 18-19 years!   I have seen several retired Navy folks who have "LCDR (Ret.)" after their name, so it looks possible to retire with the rank of O-4.  I know that O-5 rank is harder to get, so I hope he can coast through!

The good thing about an apartment is that you don't have to worry about yard work or repairs (if you have a good landlord!)  Hubby and I downsized to a smaller house in a country subdivision 5 years ago, and there's always SOMETHING that must be done maintenance-wise. I have to shovel the driveway snow in winter (Indiana) because Hub has a bad back---especially when it comes to shoveling, the  poor thing!   I told him that this house is IT.  We are NOT moving again except maybe to the nursing home!!!  haha

We're excited to go to England, but not the 8-hour flights "across the pond."  --Although not as bad as the 14-hour flights we did to/from Japan when son was stationed there.  I'm glad we went, and really enjoyed Japan, but 14 HOURS in coach seats on a plane is brutal.

Nice to "chat" with you again!

Comment by Anna on May 17, 2023 at 6:01pm

M's mom,

Sounds like your son is moving up in his career!!  How exciting for him and his family!!  And a new (future) sailor!!! I forgot that he is an IS as that is my son's rating also!! He just made CWO2 so now both of my sailors are officers!! He's got 20 years in but the promotion made him extend for another 6 then he can retire.  He wants to make CWO3 before he gets out!! He started off as an E-1 in bootcamp!! He is currently deployed on the Nimitz but will come back to Fallon, NV.

Daughter transferred to Patuxent River, MD when she got the lateral transfer to AEP.  Unfortunately it also pushed back her first look for 04 by a year.  She knew that was going to happen with this transfer so its all good for her.

We love living here in Asheville but it is so expensive here!! And we live in an apartment!! Wouldn't want to buy another house at our age.  

I hope you have a fantastic trip to London.  I got to go there in 1997 when my oldest son's high school band was invited to march in the Lord Mayor's New Year's Day parade.  It was an exciting visit!!! Let me know how it goes!!! And give lots of love to that new grandbaby!!!

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