Submarine Ball 2011

Friday night was the Submarine Ball. I really enjoy going to these. It is nice to get all dressed up and go out with my handsome husband. This year's Ball was bittersweet for us though. It is our last official Submarine Ball. Jim has less than a year left before he retires. If I am honest, I have to admit that scares me. A year from now, we have no idea where we will be living, where Jim will be working, what we will be doing. I have feel like we have always been Navy. Life after the Navy seems a little daunting.

The ball was wonderful. We had a night away from the kids (Thanks to Stephanie Dillon!) We dressed up and spent time with friends and sent the night out with a bang. I feel very blessed to have been a part of the Submarine community. Seeing the light at the end on the tunnel made me sit and reflect on how much the years have meant to us. The community is close-knit. And just listening to the speech and hearing the accomplishments of the Submarine Navy made me smile. The tolling of the boats was especially emotional this year. There were so many boats missing from the celebration because they were out to sea, serving our great country. I am going to miss this. It is going to feel strange not to be attending a Ball and celebrating every year. I am thankful that we are almost at the end of our 20 years. (Okay, I have only been with Jim for 12 of them, but that counts, right?) I will miss the Navy though. And it is all slowly starting to become real. Our time in the Navy is very short...it is almost time to move on to a new chapter in our lives.

Here's to endings...and new beginnings!





Letting my hair down after the ball...it still looked amazing!