Best Friends Reunited

Thank the Good Lord for the Boomber family. Jacob and Matthew met and became fast friends Plebe Summer at the Naval Academy. Plebe Summer, from what I understand is the grueling indoctrination midshipmen go through the summer before their freshman year. Any way, after four years of friendship at USNA, and a two year hiatus in which Jacob and Matt had to go through still more Naval Schools to become proficient in their respective naval disciplines, the friends were reunited at last. Matt was stationed at Mayport and Jacob at Kings Bay. The two bases are only a 45 minuet drive from each other. Jacob was Matt's Best Man two going on three years ago, and then Matt was Jacob's Best Man last September. The boys are like peas & carrots. I can't count how many BBQs and dinners the Boomber's and the Smoochy's have enjoyed together. (Matt makes world famous meat balls and spaghetti!) Jen, Matt's wife, and I have become very close friends through our men. She and I half kid it's not that we had a choice in the matter, but thankfully for us it came very naturally! It's easy to see in how many ways the two, now three, of them have enriched our lives. Their daughter Kaleigh is an eight month old angel, and in the long tradition of wishful close friends, she is already secretly betrothed to our unborn son!

The best part is, that unlike the rest of our loved ones, we didn't leave this fantastic family behind when we left the East Coast. Oh no! Matt is now stationed in Monterey, CA working on his Masters degree!!! In fact, they got out here only a week or two behind us. We are following each other coast to coast! Yesterday was the first time we had all been able to get together since before Matt went on his last six-month-deployment. It was such a great day. After sandwiches at our place the five of us went to Baby's R Us for a little adventure. I must say, the men do a lot better there when they have a buddy for moral support and encouragement. We also enjoyed drinks and appetizers at a steak joint, and just had some good quality time with our friends.


Being around the three of them was a real eye opener for me in one major way. Holy crap, Jacob and I are going to have a baby in TWO MONTHS! Kaleigh is great. Even after a rare and random rough night without sleep she was still a friendly, happy, low-maintenance baby. In the best possible world we'll get one just like her! But man, this kid is going to revolutionize our lives. Even the smallest outing or undertaking becomes such an ordeal with a baby. I hope we are ready for it! Seeing them brought home the reality of it for me, though. This is actually happening. We are going to be parents. Matt and Jen make it look so rewarding and fulfilling; I just can't wait!