Annie's Corner

 As Christmas is fast approaching, and so many of our young service men and women are far away from their homes, I think back to a Christmas not so long ago. A Christmas that makes me appreciate the ones today, where I am able to travel with my family to other loved ones' homes and celebrate with family. 

 In 1984, my husband was on active duty Navy, serving on board the USS Adroit stationed out of Norfolk, Virginia, a good 10-hour drive from my childhood home and my parents. I was pregnant and expecting our second child. Doctors did not want me making the long trip so close to my due date, so we had to get together all the gifts for both families and mail them. Believe me, a far cry from being there and watching them open the gifts, and witnessing the looks on their faces. 

 As a native Pennsylvanian I was used to four seasons, and especially loved the snow. In case you didn't know, Virginia, especially the southern part where we were, does not get much snow. The weather stayed balmy and one could look out our apartment window and see neighbors in lawn chairs the week before Christmas. Most of my neighbors were much younger women from other parts of the country, and their favorite subject of conversation was the latest fashion or nail polish color. 

 You could not see too many Christmas lights as it was not as popular in Norfolk as other places, and when we finally located a tree, it cost us a mint as all trees are shipped in. Finally two rather large boxes arrived, one from my folks and one from his folks, and we waited for Christmas to open them. 

 I felt so lonely and homesick, but had to keep my spirits up not only for my husband who had already spent many Christmases without any family, but for my two-year-old as well. I decorated, and watched every Christmas special I could with our son. (I was more interested in them then he was back then.)  I also played my Christmas music; unfortunately, in those days my Christmas collection consisted of one eight track tape. This tape not only had, Dreaming of a White Christmas on it (not a good choice), but Blue Christmas as well. Take my advice; don't listen to those two songs if you are homesick. 

 I was lucky. We had our Christmas and my husband was in port and did not have duty so we spent the whole day together. Two days later our second son was born, and my husband was able to be with me. This is a luxury when your husband is in the Navy, as often cruises keep the fathers from being at their children's births. 

 There was one pleasant and rather strange surprise during that year. Sensing my homesickness, my husband took my son and me for a ride on Christmas Eve to a couple of the Naval bases. (There are six Naval bases around Norfolk.) To our amazement each base had a competition to see which crew could decorate their ship the nicest. Ever seen a battleship with Christmas lights on its guns? It was Christmasy, in a strange sort of way. Didn't exactly bring back home, but you could feel the crew reaching out to you. They are doing their best to make the most of the holiday, and so should I. 

 Today, think of the servicemen and women who are away and send them a card, a letter, a little something to help remind them we care, but don't forget the family here in the US. Drop them a line, send a gift, and pay them a visit: help them pass the holidays a little faster. 

 A very Merry Christmas one and all!