A Week with My Darling: Norfolk Homecomming

Before we knew I'd be underway for most of November, Mike and I had the thought that this would be the time to try out living together for a while. But the day we pulled into Mayport (back in August) I found out we'd have an underway right in the middle of the month, with more later. So over time we decided on just spending a little time together, right when I got back.

But Hurricane Sandy came along... We were scheduled to be back in Norfolk on the 1st of November, but we were delayed and didn't get back until Monday the 5th. It's a good thing he decided to come in on Sunday night, instead of Saturday. So we only missed half a day together.

That first night was wonderful! He picked me up on base, and when we got home together (for the first time) I sat down on the couch with him, and I cried, as I had imagined so often how wonderful that very scene would be, even before we left for Mayport. He had already set up his laptop from the school and worked that day. Just as the sun was going down, we took a walk across the complex to the tiny beachfront and watched the lights brighten on the ships at the Naval Station as the sun slipped away. Soon we bundled in the car and headed over to Hampton for a welcome dinner at Red Lobster and a quick stop at Walmart nearby for the next day's dinner.

Tuesday (election day), I had to work... and he did as well. He had mentioned the night before about trying to find a Best Buy for a keyboard and mouse for the laptop. Thankfully (maybe miraculously), I had bought a wireless keyboard and mouse along with small speakers back in August, and was able to set them out for him before I left. That evening, before coming back, I picked up some things in the commissary. We had homemade burgers on the George Foreman grill (that Mike got me for our kitchen) when I got back. Worked out really well... they were delicious! We had to return Mike's rental car that night... so we stayed up pretty late. I fell asleep on the couch afterwords as Mike followed the election news and did a bit more work. I think it was around 2 that we went to bed. :)

Wednesday was my day off, and we enjoyed it thoroughly. After sleeping in and having a leisurely breakfast (sometime around noon, I think - I called home for a pie crust recipe, so I remember laughing about that), we went to the free Chrysler Art Museum downtown. The river across the street had flooded from the hurricane... and there was a bit of road construction (as always). I loved being able to show this fantastic museum to my darling! We had take-home Chinese for a little snack for lunch at home, then watched the 1947 William Powell film, The Senator was Indiscreet. It was a good election movie, even if it was the day afterwords. We picked up some Mike's Pizza (no relation) for dinner as we watched Pimpernel Smith (1941) with Leslie Howard. I particularly enjoyed it... wanted to cheer at the end... "Captain of Murderers", indeed! "We'll all be back"... rousing, to say the least.

Thursday I had to work again: it was so hard to spend any time away while I knew Mike was at home. Especially dinner... in port, usually only the duty section eats on-board, so it's really easy to do with just a couple people. I didn't get off early at all... but I did receive a letter and a package from Mike (that he sent a month beforehand!) via the ship's mail. This time for dinner at home we had Russel Stover lasagna (so I abstained from lasagna on the ship for lunch) . It was a very domestic evening... headed over to the base to do laundry at the pier-side NEX. Pointed out the Truxtun and the aircraft carriers on our way there. I fell asleep as we sat in the car (with the heater) as Mike finished up an article on his laptop.

Friday I had to work again, and it was killing me. I begged and pleaded, and finally, at around 1:30 (just after lunch was cleaned up) I was let go. I flew home, changed as fast as I could, and the two of us flew downtown for the Naval Base cruise on the Victory Rover. We bought our tickets as we boarded and had about five minutes to spare. Sat on the top deck for a wonderful view of the Battleship Wisconsin and everything else in the harbor. As the cruise continued past the DEPERM station and towards the base, we stood out on the bow. Sat down out there on the way back... what a fun little cruise! I loved getting the names of all the ships in port with me... and I loved being able to show off my ship to my darling!

When we got back to Norfolk, Mike and I reprised our dinner at the Outback Steakhouse downtown: I had a little steak with mushroom sauce and he had the Alice Springs chicken. Back at home, even though it was late, I baked a pumpkin pie and put it in the fridge for the night and we enjoyed our desserts from the pizza place from Wednesday.

Saturday after breakfast we went to Colonial Williamsburg! Got there just in time to see an actor speaking to a crowd as if he was Thomas Jefferson and the war of independence was still undecided. It was a great speech... and then he took questions from the crowd and answered them in character. He schooled one guy from Florida when the guy tried to belittle his regard for freedom by his owning slaves. "And your point is?" :) We saw a few other things, but we really enjoyed our lunch (or feast, rather) at The King's Arms Tavern. A plate of cheese and fruit started us off, then Mike had chicken and I had it in a pot pie... a Norfolk Pottage Pye. :) The other highlights included seeing the proceedings of court at the courthouse and taking a carriage ride through the town.

We stopped at a Walmart on the way home for some hamburger helper. This we made at home, and watched Harrison Ford in The Fugitive (1993) and we ate some delicious pumpkin pie! The week went way too fast, but at least we still had another half of a day.

Sunday morning we went to my friend's church (Kristin and Dan) with the intention of meeting up for lunch afterwords. But Kristin stayed home with a migraine, so we had our own day. Headed out to Cape Henry to climb the 1791 lighthouse and get a grand view of the Chesapeake. Also peeked at the First Landing monument nearby before heading back to the Olive Garden we found in Virginia Beach. Not only was Colonial Williamsburg free for us this Veteran's Day weekend, but the Olive Garden gave me my meal for free as well. Spending every last second of our time to the fullest, we ran home, packed Mike up, and got him to his plane on time. It's never enough time together, but at least we were able to be domestic together at our new home.