April!
I went outside yesterday and noticed that the entire woodland behind our yard is currently carpeted with violets. Not only that, but there are wild daffodils out there too.
I found what I think must be kudzu vines and cut them down to put them in a vase on my sideboard, which officially makes me a crazy Yankee. But their spiraling shapes and budding leaves make such an interesting pattern against the bare wall.
We slept with the bedroom window open last night for the first time. It was a hot and hazy night; the girls were restless, excited by the many smells and sounds drifting in. In the morning it was cool and quiet.
Keith and his platoon had the afternoon off today. The Sergeant Major (I never know if ranks should be capitalized or when. I should probably google that.) arranged for a pool game fund raiser. Everybody buys in for ten bucks and the pot goes toward something for the platoon.
My husband assured me that other wives should be there, he briefed me to be ready by eleven hundred sharp. We would go, have lunch and a few beers and then take off.
Dressing for these things is always such an agony. My instinct is to overdress. If I could go in heels and nylons with a cap sleeve knit top and tweed skirt, I would. Except that's a fall look.
Anyway, other wives, I have learned from experience, dress in jeans and a little top or a little dress. So, this time, I lined up a nice casual pair of white trousers with a wide leg, a wine red button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up and my Bass wedge sandals in a buff leather. I smeared on some wine dark lip stick, pulled my hair back in a pony tail and was looking pretty sharp.
And still too dressed up. And happened to be the only woman there. Yes. There I was, in the on post bar with the entire platoon and not another Army wife or girlfriend in sight. My knees were literally shaking.
I don't know what exactly I am anxious about; its just a combination of my natural shyness, my awkwardness in making conversation, and my constant awareness of the fact that my husband is a very jealous man.
But it went just fine. They really are a bunch of nice young guys and they came round to shake my hand and introduce themselves and make only slightly awkward conversation with me. Also, Keith got me a cheeseburger and pretty much never left my side and called me kitten and was just so gosh darn proud of me. It made me glow.
Though he did go a little far and might get teased for being so cute with me in public.
8:30pm
This evening is the epitome of gorgeous spring evenings. The sky still holds light, a blushing pink in the western horizen and the air is clear and fresh. It's delicious. There are two fat spiders who have woven a large web in front of the door and my husband has gone to wage war on them.
