Welcome to the Team!

My mom sent me an e-mail the other day telling me that they had made it to "the gates of hell" (little does she know that hell is 5,000miles across the ocean where her daughter and husband sweat in the 79%humidity and 120 degree weather :/) safe and sound . Well, I'm sure the trip was anything but sound. I know how it is when those two are together... the laughs and girlish giggles (amazing for women of their vast maturity (ahem cough cough age)).

It seems like just yesterday my mom, dad, and brother had come to support me as I graduated my basic training. I was so excited as my family came to the field, late I might add. I was panicked as I couldn't find them. It was such a relief when I finally did, and my mom just hugged me. She was crying, and of course I wasn't. I'm tough for that shi... stuff. Ok fine. Maybe my eyes overflowethed a little bit. But any factors could have contributed to that.... Just saying.

What I remember the most though, was driving home in the backseat. I wasn't awake for much. I slept through well-over half the drive. But the few moments I was awake, I remember glaring at Josh. "STOP looking at me like that!" I would yell. He just kept staring at me with this lopsided grin. Then he had the audacity to eat his sandwich like a slob... with only one side of his mouth. He had taken this too far. Between the stares and the sandwich stains on his shirt, I was quickly reminded of how home would be.

It wasn't until his jaw started locking up that I started to feel a twinge of guilt. The hospital stop in Chicago, Illinois really did me in. As many of you know, Josh had gotten Lyme's disease which had resulted in his Bells Palsy. I remember him laying on the bed and pretending like he was dying. It doesn't sound funny, but me and Josh laughed so hard as my mom scolded us.I'm glad his face didn't stay like that.

I don't know why I just wrote all of that, probably because when think of Josh with his face all lopsided, it reminds me that things could always be worse. No, but really, in all reality, it reminds me of the fun me and Josh have. Even at the weirdest and most inconvenient times. It's hard to believe that my little brother who I used to playlegos and Lincoln logs with, the same brother that I could never make eye contact with in church for fear of bursting out in inappropriate laughter and the same brother with the lopsided face... just graduated from Basic Training. That he'll be turning the big 1-8 come September 5th. And that he's really my jumbo little brother now as he towers over me. I'm still stronger, smarter, funnier and better looking though, of course. But still...Congratulations little jumbo brother on graduating from Basic Training... with a straight face and all =] Welcome to the team!

<3 Jacki