Leap #2 October 13, 2004
October of 2004 was a very busy and crazy month for me. Looking back, I am glad the things that went on were in 04 and not now. I don't think I could have handled it on top of everything else I am currently dealing with. So what exactly happened in the "original history" as Sam would ask Al each week. Well let's refer to Ziggy the know-it-all-computer with the over sized ego.
In October of 2004, Rich was going through his Chief's initiation. It was quite the circus. I mean it is a big deal, and I was thrilled and so proud of him, but my goodness what a bunch hoops we had to jump through for the initiation itself. He had to have someone write a short essay about him and why he should be a Chief in the Coast Guard. Well, you can imagine who he asked. Then there was the shadow box he had to make that would hold his Chief's hat and a few other items. Oh and did I mention the sea bag that had to have all kinds of strange things in it. One thing was the key to Davey Jones' locker. So for fun, I bought a baby's rattle that is the keys and attached a picture of Davy Jones(from THE MONKEES of course!) to it. I had a good laugh over it. Maybe too good. Oh and the one hundred dollars in dollar bills for "fines." Actually this money paid for the dinner at the end. The whole Chief's initiation could be dedicated to a whole other blog entry! The stuff they do. *sigh* And they are protecting our country! I digress.
While all this was going on, I had taken my wedding ring in to be inspected. It turned out the main diamond was loose and a smaller stone was missing. They sent it in to be fully inspected and evaluated for repairs and costs. I was out of warranty and would have to pay. Well, go ahead and send it in, but I know I can't pay for it. So they sent it off with the promise of it's safe and happy return in seven days. After 10 days, I called them back inquiring about my ring. Bad news: the courier took off with all the items that included my ring. I cried. I cried buckets. My ring was gone. It is just a thing. A thing which I can not take with me, but still my heart was broken. And I was getting sick. I can't be sick! Not now! I have too much to do. Did I forget to mention that I had to sew on all new patches on Rich's dress uniform? Ever sewn a patch on a Scout shirt? It's way worse and it has to be exact.
Needless to say, not only did the jewelry store switch couriers they also replaced my ring. My ring was originally valued at X so they gave me that amount. Fine by me. I poured over their rings while the girls climbed all over the stools, breathed into the glass and put their sticky, dirty, germy kid fingers all over the place. Oh well. I finally landed on the "imposter ring" and got all the paperwork for it and we were sent on our merry way. I really don't give it that much thought anymore. Just in the moment, it was the end of the world.
I honestly do not remember the exact date of the Chief's dinner. What I do remember is that Rich's parents came for the occasion. The dinner was very special and had much ceremony involved. I was honored, along with Rich's Dad to pin his Chief's crows onto his collar.
Now remember I mentioned thinking I was getting sick? Somewhere in the midst of all this, I managed to come down with strep. I was miserable. My throat felt like I had glass in it. I wondered how on earth I was going to play hostess, take care of business for the dinner and do all my normal activities. Well what would any other LDS woman do? I got a blessing. In the blessing it was said that I would do the things I needed to do, then rest, then I would be well. In that order. And that is how it happened.
So did all that happen on THAT day? No. But I was in the middle of it. I survived. We always do.
The imposter ring
The Shadow Box
The Chief's Dinner
Pinning Our Chief
Just because they looked so grown up that night!
In October of 2004, Rich was going through his Chief's initiation. It was quite the circus. I mean it is a big deal, and I was thrilled and so proud of him, but my goodness what a bunch hoops we had to jump through for the initiation itself. He had to have someone write a short essay about him and why he should be a Chief in the Coast Guard. Well, you can imagine who he asked. Then there was the shadow box he had to make that would hold his Chief's hat and a few other items. Oh and did I mention the sea bag that had to have all kinds of strange things in it. One thing was the key to Davey Jones' locker. So for fun, I bought a baby's rattle that is the keys and attached a picture of Davy Jones(from THE MONKEES of course!) to it. I had a good laugh over it. Maybe too good. Oh and the one hundred dollars in dollar bills for "fines." Actually this money paid for the dinner at the end. The whole Chief's initiation could be dedicated to a whole other blog entry! The stuff they do. *sigh* And they are protecting our country! I digress.
While all this was going on, I had taken my wedding ring in to be inspected. It turned out the main diamond was loose and a smaller stone was missing. They sent it in to be fully inspected and evaluated for repairs and costs. I was out of warranty and would have to pay. Well, go ahead and send it in, but I know I can't pay for it. So they sent it off with the promise of it's safe and happy return in seven days. After 10 days, I called them back inquiring about my ring. Bad news: the courier took off with all the items that included my ring. I cried. I cried buckets. My ring was gone. It is just a thing. A thing which I can not take with me, but still my heart was broken. And I was getting sick. I can't be sick! Not now! I have too much to do. Did I forget to mention that I had to sew on all new patches on Rich's dress uniform? Ever sewn a patch on a Scout shirt? It's way worse and it has to be exact.
Needless to say, not only did the jewelry store switch couriers they also replaced my ring. My ring was originally valued at X so they gave me that amount. Fine by me. I poured over their rings while the girls climbed all over the stools, breathed into the glass and put their sticky, dirty, germy kid fingers all over the place. Oh well. I finally landed on the "imposter ring" and got all the paperwork for it and we were sent on our merry way. I really don't give it that much thought anymore. Just in the moment, it was the end of the world.
I honestly do not remember the exact date of the Chief's dinner. What I do remember is that Rich's parents came for the occasion. The dinner was very special and had much ceremony involved. I was honored, along with Rich's Dad to pin his Chief's crows onto his collar.
Now remember I mentioned thinking I was getting sick? Somewhere in the midst of all this, I managed to come down with strep. I was miserable. My throat felt like I had glass in it. I wondered how on earth I was going to play hostess, take care of business for the dinner and do all my normal activities. Well what would any other LDS woman do? I got a blessing. In the blessing it was said that I would do the things I needed to do, then rest, then I would be well. In that order. And that is how it happened.
So did all that happen on THAT day? No. But I was in the middle of it. I survived. We always do.
The imposter ring
The Shadow Box
The Chief's Dinner
Pinning Our Chief
Just because they looked so grown up that night!
Comments
Good thing they got you a new ring.
And I have sewn patches on a scout shirt, it sucked... I can't even imagine.