USS Essex Navy Moms

So it's the 12th in Japan. I guess the party is later in the day for them. Let me know any news that you hear.

Katie said half her 'shop' was going. She was going to have her nails done before the Christmas dinner.

Here's the dress Katie bought for the party.

Wow, it's gorgeous. She will be beautiful.

I happened to catch her on-line last weekend and was IMing her when she gave me a link to the dress. Couldn't believe it was under $50! Think it will look great on her! Katie was excited about the party and said she was meeting friends there - half her 'shop' was planning on going. Hope everyone will have a wonderful time;)

Katie was going to go help a friend find a dress today for the party - nothing like waiting to the last minute!! Since it is Saturday about Noon for her while it's Friday night for me here in Michigan.

Wonderful Jill! Enjoy your time together.

Katie arrived home Sunday at 8 pm and will be here until 10 am on December 26th!!! Katie wanted it to be a SECRET and I couldn't tell ANYONE. Two weeks ago she finally let me tell her sister Alicia so she could make arrangements to go see her and then the 2 of them will drive home on the 23rd.

Katie finished 4 days of RAP duty at the recruiting office, so I think she will be about even on her time off. Since her brothers were still in school, big sis taking finals in Sault Ste Marie, and us working, figured she would keep busy and spend time with us in the evening.

Finally snowed some last night--Katie wanted some snow before she left since there probably won't be much in Sasebo. Tomorrow after church she heads to Sault Ste Marie to spend a few days just with her sister before the 2 travel home for Christmas.

Hope al is going well with everyone - both those who have their sailors home and those who are missing them. Blessings on your Christmas.

I hope you have a great visit with Katie. I didn't realize that Michigan had a Sault Ste Marie also. I am from Ontario. Do you call it the "sue" also?

Kim - We call it the 'Soo'. MI's is right across the bridge from Ontario's. It is smaller though. Alicia goes to Lakes Superior State Unviersity which is on the site of the old Fort, right next to the locks.

Lynn - haven't heard that there woldn't be leave until next Christmas. I know that they will be at sea Jan-Apr. Katie said that she wouldn't be able to be home for a family wedding in July. Not sure if that was because they would be out to, schedule maintenance or inspection.......I'd ask Katie, but she is out visiting a friend and surprising her Mom and the rest of her family. Apologizing to the Mom as well-she had just asked for her address and baked her cookies and mailed them the day before Katie arrived - but it was secret. So, Katie will just enjoy the cookies/treats when she returns after Christmas, along with the other gifts family sent her since I was sworn to secrecy!

Thanks for the poem Cindi.

Merry Christmas to my Essex moms. You feel like family this Christmas. Julie that is another Christmas miracle.

Katie left this Am as well. As she checked in the gate agent asked if Alicia and I wanted passes to the gate - we didn't even have to ask after Katie used her Navy ID to check in. By now she is in Tokyo and awaiting the flighto to Fukuoka and then the bus to Sasebo. Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.

Cindi, Hope Pake will be able to come home near his birthday. I know that Katie said she wouldn't be able to come home for a wedding on the 10th, but not sure what she has heard about the next leave periods. I know they will be headed out to sea in January.

Katie is overnight in Tokyo. She and other sailors missed their connection to Fukuoka and then the bus to Sasebo. Guess the airlines put them up in a hotel.

Kim - I saw your post on the Japan Moms that your son will be home soon. Must be that he is in the group to have leave after the 'Christmas' sailors. Haven't heard yet if Katie is back to base after having to stay over in Tokyo, hopefully I will hear a little later today. Have a wonderful time with your son!

My son missed his connection last year. It wasn't Tokyo and he didn't get put up in a hotel. Tokyo airport has showers and a lot of places to nap.
Jonathan is leaving Tuesday at 12:30. He sent me an email saying that he may be called back because of the situation in ____. I don't want to name the place here. I can't see them doing that since he will be so far away.
Let us know when Katie makes it back safe.

Kim - I haven't heard from Katie yet. Thought maybe I would have an e-mail by now. She should have arrived back to her ship. Hope whatever is going on will not prohibit Jonathan from coming home for his leave. I'll keep him in my prayers.

Katie did arrive - I rec'd an email Monday night saying "Yes I got back to base. Got back Monday around 1400 my time..Not much else new, back to a normal day routine." Katie rec'd her Chrimstas gifts from family and friends along with cards and letters..........since her visit was a 'suprise', I couldn't tell anyone not to mail her packages to Sasebo and send them home instead. Unfortunately 2 aunts that live close together sent her the same CD - not sure what she will do about that. Got to get going to the dentist. Have a great day!

I haven't heard from Jonathan, but "no news is good news". I have his flight tracking on my computer. His plane is in open water south of Alaska.

Kim - It's fun tracking the planes via maps....gets you excited as they get closer and closer. What airport will Jonathan be flying into? Hopefully weather won't be any issue.

Kim - I know Katie sometimes doesn't e-mail when there is nothing to tell, but hopefully Hans will e-mail to confirm that he is just fine and busy.

His plane arrived safely in Chicago. His next flight leaves Chicago at 4:00 central time and arrives in Philadelphia 7:00 eastern time. It is windy here in Philadelphia. All my boys seem to let me know when things go wrong. Last night my youngest phoned me at 8:00 to let me know he hit a deer. He was ok and his car was ok. He was supposed to meet us at home. Instead, a friend called and they went looking for the deer. I have no idea why. He arrived home at 11.
Kim, I hope you hear from Hans soon.

Definition of car ok: It is drivable but the hood is smashed up and the light keeps falling off.

Sounds like a guy. Not surprised they went looking for the deer, especially if they like venison. Thankful that no one was hurt. Kim, these next 3 hours may be long...I started getting very excited and time couldn't pass quick enough, especially when I knew Katie's plane was on the ground at HOME!

We finanlly got home after 11 last night. He had to clear customs in Chicago, then they put his luggage on a conveyer belt and he had to re-enter through security. There was a 2-3 hour line at security, so he missed his connection. I don't know if going through security a 2nd time is something new.
He said he may get called back. They have our house phone and if he gets called, he has 96 hours to get back. They told him to go the airport with his ticket and the airlines would handle it. They gave him no contact for travel arrangements. I have no idea if that would work and I hope we don't have to find out.

Katie didn't say anything about leaving contact information when she was here from Dec13-26. I asked her in an e-mail if she heard anything about possibly recalling. I guess she did her from some other sailors just before she returned to Sasebo that something was going on with the volcanoes, so it would be humanitarian if they headed out earlier.

Kim - wonder why Jonathan had to re-enter thru security. That seems odd. Never happened to Katie with her travels, or anyone else that I know of that has gone overseas. Sorry he had to go thru all that. Hopefully he gets to stay his FULL leave.

I don't know if it is always that way in Chicago or if it is from the tightened security for overseas flights. I heard on the radio that they had tightened security at several airports because of the guy who tried to set off a bomb on the flight from England to Detroit (I think). It doesn't make sense that he would only have a 1:45 transfer if he had to get his luggage, go through customs and go through security.

Well, at least he is home safe.....enjoy your time together ;)

Sounds like 'all is well' ont he Essex. Just rumors of heading out to sea early, at least at this point. Even thoug it has only been a week, it already seems like forever since Katie was here. IT was so WONDERFUL to have her here, whether she was just reading or on-line with her friends, cooking together or sitting down to a meal together. Things you just take for granted.
Katie likes what she is doing in the Navy, so that truly helps me.

Jonathan told us that the Essex is allowing families to travel on the ship in the fall. They will sail from Sasebo to Yokosuka. It takes 3 days. The families will stay wherever the marines stay and they will fill their time with tours and such. I hope that I can find a way to go.

My son lost his glasses 6 months ago. He tells me that he has to go to Yokosuka to get a new pair. That doesn't seem right. Does anyone know anything about this?

Kim - Thanks for mentioned the Tiger Cruise. I asked Katie what she knew about it and she replied......."Yes I had heard about that but it is so expensive to fly out here for you and it is only a few days. Not sure how much you would see me cause I'm working all the time." Told her that I still would like the information.
Katie only has glasses for reading, at this point, so I haven't heard her say anything about an optometrist. Sorry.

Marianne, it is not that expensive if you have airline points. The airlines have special fares for military families ( I don't know if moms qualify) I would love to go. My dad wants to go too. He is 85 and has over 200,000 points. He wants to go with me but I am afraid that he will not be able to make the trip on the ship. When I talked to the airlines they mentioned that they had military rates at under $1,000 roundtrip. I would love to find a great rate for us moms.

Kim - Dave works for an airline and we have never flown overseas - not sure how the standby would work for that. I read that you have to have a sponsor for the trip and if I wanted to go with my daughter-that would be fine-but if anyone else wanted to go that would have to have a 'sponsor' from the ship that was the same sex. If it goes from Sasebo to Okinawa, do they take you back to Sasebo or do you get left in Okinawa. I don't even have a passport, although I should get one living so close to Canada.

Hope you are enjoying your time with your son, Kim;)

I had e-mailed the ombudsman as well, but I didn't hear back. I'm sure to get the same response you did lynn t. Not sure if it would work out for us either, but certainly would like the information as well. Be happy to share.

How is your sailor doing? Katie was home from Dec13-26 - which seems like ages ago already. Sure glad we took pictures - even if she thought it was too much;)

Snowstorn (??) in Sasebo

Love the picture. Thanks for sharing.

There's 2 more pics of the Essex/snow on the 7th Fleet site. Katie had just asked a few days earlier for one of her summer outfits - a red-checked skort and wide-strapped white tank - to be mailed before they ship out~since they will be going places that are warm. Then they get a 'snow day'. She spent the day off the ship at a friend's house on base so she could sleep/nap in a real bed. Of course, the guys are bugging her....asking her when her Mom is baking again and sending a care package.

Jonathan did not know Katie. He asked her rate. I asked him to find her because she is my lifeline on the ship. LOL

Katie's rate is a DC - Damage Control. Not sure where her 'shop' is located.

Ingrid, how have you been? Haven't seen a post from you in a while. How is Armando doing? Soon they will be out to sea again.

Kim - Katie happened to call this AM and we talked for over an hour. She directed me in her dresser where to find the shorts she wanted that I couldn't find. Katie says that Jonathan works in the shop next to her. She says she knows who he is, but not sure that he knows her, but maybe if you give him her last name. Katie says that he seems 'quiet'. I think she knows Christy Wager's son....must have mentioned that his mom is on this site.

Congratulations Ingrid on completing your school! Are you now working as an x-ray tech? Sorry Armando wasn't able to be home for Christmas. We were very fortunate to have Katie home with us Dec 13-26. Now there out to sea, Alicia is back at college, Joe is in his 2nd semester preparing to be an auto tech and Thomas finished up first half of 7th grade. Just mailed off a box last week of cookies and stuff to Katie & friends.

Here's the banner I got from BuildASIgn

Here's the poster I ordered from BuildASIgn-she did RAP duty while home at Christmas....caught her on the way out the door

Congratulations Ingrid, that is awesome.
I love the pictures Marianne. I hope Jonathan finds Katie and introduces himself. I haven't heard where they are. If anyone knows, send me an email.

Katie wrote Monday afternoon - not much new, we got underway to who knows where. The Marines are all over the place. So I guess I'll have to just live with my cramped gym when I get off work.

Katie received her box today - cookies are almost gone already -- obviously she shares well ;)