Terri is (semi)officially retired!

Exactly 20 years after Terri took off from BWI to begin here Air Force career, family, friends, and colleagues joined her to celebrate this significant change in our lives. As it happens, this is also the day that the aircraft carrier John. F. Kennedy was decommissioned, the Iranian Navy seized 15 British sailors, and the U.S. House of Representatives voted to tell our enemies exactly how long they should have to wait before they can seize and declare victory. Despite our joy, it's a scary day, and these events will play out in a way that people haven't imagined.

The week was busy, but come Thursday evening we had things pretty much under control. Friday was easy. Terri went in to work a little later than usual, and I started picking kids up from their schools at 12:10. I got them home and changed and we arrived at the visitor's center almost precisely at 2:00 p.m., right on time. Terri came an escorted us into the building and auditorium area.

We met our dear friend Jay Wilson, who would be commanding the color guard, so that he could give Jason his cues. Then Terri fretted about the food and other stuff, and I let her so that she wouldn't explode. I spoke with Colonel Albert for a while and then Craig Niiya joined us. It was good to see him. I spoke with Dave Allen, Greg Burch, and other folks that have worked with Terri over the last few years. It's obvious that they all have high regard for her, or they are outstanding actors!

As more family and friends were escorted in, around the corner came a guy that I haven't seen since 1993. Reggie has been working with Terri (not directly) for about 2 years, and he was in my shop when I was in the Air Force back at Langley, and we deployed together for Desert Shield/Storm. The world is sometimes surprisingly small.

When it was time to kick things off, Greg Burch got things rolling. Jay brought the color guard down and present the U.S. flag, then Jason, looking sharp in his R.O.T.C. uniform, sang the National Anthem. He jumped the cue by a hair and ended ups singing it a Capella. He did a stunning job, leaving both Terri and I, along with many others in the audience (and some hiding their faces in flags) on the verge of tears. So far, pretty standard military retirement stuff.

Then Terri did things her way. I didn't mention the programs, did I? To match the "tickets" that were the invitations, the programs looked like rolled up treasure maps tied with raffia ribbon. Guests were offered leis as they entered the auditorium. And when Terri started her slide show, which she narrated, it was in theme with her career in the Air Force being an integral part of the journey of her life over the past 20 years. She included pictures starting with the airplane leaving BWI and ending with us at the COMM banquet just a few weeks ago, and featured us as a family heavily.

Poor Colonel Albert seemed to be under the impression that this would be a 3 minute slide show, and when Terri was done, he had little left to say and less time to say it in. Being a good officer, he improvised and adapted, and made a good show of it.

When the official presentations started, Terri received a Joint Service Commendation Medal, the NRO Silver Medal, and various other goodies. Her retirement letter from the President is on back order. D'oh! She finally got to see her shadow box, and Army Colonel Bob is scheduled in next week to have his hernia checked out. She was presented coins by the Top 3, the Senior Enlisted Adviser, and others. I was presented with a bucket of roses, which has special significance in our family, and a certificate from Major General Sheridan.

Terri, the kids, and I left the auditorium to the tune of "Put one foot in front of the other" from one of the classic Christmas specials, and greeted all of the guests with food, drink, and many hugs and hand shakes in the atrium. Mike presented a well worded toast, Terri presented Connie with flowers and Annie with a U.S. flag that had been flown over the NRO for her, and the kids with "Air Force Brat" certificates and coins.

This was a very special day, probably the most significant day for us, as a family, that we've ever shared. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all that shared it with us, with special thanks going out to Terri's cousin Alice who flew in from New York just for this event, and Jack & Amanda Caldwell, who drove in from Florida.

So now the chapter is closed and the page is turned. Next Saturday we fly out for a week in Hawaii, then Terri remains on terminal leave until the end of April, with her official date of retirement being May 1. She'll be going to work for Syracuse Research Corporation, a company that has provided her with some of her contractors over the last several years. She's going into an area that she hasn't had any direct interaction with to help the get a project moving, and we will see where that takes us. In any event, a new chapter starts.

Pictures will be coming. The facility is secure, but there was an official photographer so we'll get those up as soon as we get them. There's also a video of the entire event, and if you ask real nice I'll see about making a copy for you when we return from Hawaii.

Until then, Aloha!

Countdown...it's getting close!

We're down to just a few days before Terri's retirement, and things are a little hectic. I don't have her shadow box done yet, although it's far enough along that there shouldn't be any problem getting it done. She's having issues with the people that run the facility where the ceremony is to be held, and then there's the VIP visit that's been scheduled for the same room, not all that long before. Are we having fun yet?

Terri did take today and the rest of the week off, and we got some relax time in today, on the bikes. We took Chris out and rode my Catlett route, and we were treated to a beautiful March day with temperatures in the mid-high 70s and mild breezes. We got an additional treat while we were taking a break at the park that's about mid-ride. I heard what sounded like a "real airplane" and when we found it, I wasn't too far off. It did have a round engine, but it only had one wing. It was what looked to be a very nice AT-6 Texan doing touch and goes at the airport right across the road. It was a pretty thing to behold.

We've got so much packed in the next few weeks...I'm marching in the parade on Saturday, then the retirement, then a week off and off we go to Hawaii!