Those Beautiful Wings of Gold!

It's a long road traveled. A long road not envied. A long road of learning.

For Mr. Wookie, it's not the path he originally wanted. He initially selected Surface, as to be on board a ship, hopefully in the great city of San Diego. I liked it too. I love San Diego.

Then the Navy said, "Nope!" We need more air than surface. Pensacola, you go!

So with a groan, he shipped off to Florida. Life not expected. To me, Florida not desired.

Then came the crashing of his world, he didn't get his P-3 slot. We wanted Whidbey. We counted on Whidbey. But the P-3 slot went to the guy with the lowest grades. Wook's world was crushed. What next? This E-2 aircraft. It's a plane with a dome on it. Not exactly a sexy piece of machinery. But if this E-2 means getting out of Florida, by all means. Let's do it.

And so he did. He got E-2s. Moving out of Florida, commenced. I like it.

So here we are, 2 and a half years after Commissioning, getting those Wings. I say, "we" but we all know it was him. I was just the supportive attachment through all this. Those pesky phone calls. The trips out to see him. The checking in on his status of first Whidbey, and then Virginia. The care packages. The constant blogging about him. Then the moving in with him.

But we're here. And it feels great. Next stop: Well, more class. Unlike the other aircraft, Wings doesn't mean you're done. It means, "Yay, you can technically do your job, but let's spend another 6 months making you better." Besides, more school equals more time before that first deployment. I'll take it.

So we're here. I like it. Another proud day of watching him. And although some family wasn't able to make it out, they can't say they weren't missed. I wanted everyone to be there.

So here's Proud Dad putting on this "Wings of Gold" onto that dapper blue uniform.

And like other parents, they were a bit hard to handle. But take your time, I'm enjoying this.

And because the CDR moved in the shot, he's a bit blurry. Oh well, his problem, not mine.

And with the Wings comes the pouring of beer in his mug. Then the drinking of said beer.

And because Mama Ging had a great idea. We started taking pictures in front of the Christmas tree. Then everyone jumped in line for this. I should have started charging a fee.

Yay, he looks so good. But I'm very partial. Very over-6-years-together partial.

So in got his half-sister Taylor, and Proud Dad in the shot. Great family photo, I think.

Group shot! Me, Taylor, Proud Dad, and Grandmoose! We were all very proud.

And what's a Navy ceremony without a picture of the Living Saint Sally (Joe's mom)?

One very relieved, getting rehydrated Mr. Wookie and his Wings of Gold. So handsome!

Class shot! Thank goodness the weather held out last week so the boys were able to get their Winging Flights done. No Winging Flights equals no Wings. So, thanks Nor'Easter for your slight delaying of their progress, but it worked out in the end. Nice try, Mother Nature.

And because Wook's Mom couldn't be there, she had a cake secretly delivered instead.

Wook, smile for your mother. Not like that. She's going to kill you. What a shmuck.

Then comes the Winging Party. Definition: Drunk Fest '09. Real Definition: All graduates pool together money to throw a party in their honor. All students, instructors, family and friends, and Big Cheese are invited. Drunkness pursues. So stay tuned!