Homecoming (not the Norman Rockwell version but it will do)

As always, to view a larger version of a photo, click on the photo.


We barely beat Daddy to the gate as Mommy parked at the opposite end of the lot, trotted the length of the terminal, toe-tapped through a line at American to obtain a "priority access" pass, maneuvered past the TSA security, and raced to the farthest-away-possible gate. The high-quality visual aide was produced at the last second by the Queen. (Abandoned versions included "R & R starts NOW" and "Dear Santa~ Thanks for my Christmas present!")
THERE HE IS!
I cozied up to the Ramp Agent in order to lean upon/across her counter to snap this photo.
Sure enough, Commander Stand-By was seated at the rear and was among the very last to deplane.
Me first!!
Aforementioned Ramp Agent offered to take photos of our reunion. Hence, for the first time in memory, I have a photo of us.
Now Ben claims that I trampled children and small woodland creatures to attack-hug him. That is pure baloney as surely no fauna made it past TSA militia.
There am I...absent a top lip, sporting red eyes, and with raced-through-airport hair...and happy to be there. (Ben, naturally, looks exactly the same even he's been through a grueling transfer out of "war zone").
Ben's first peek at his *finally* daughter.
(Yes, she smiled at him).
In the background you can see some of the hundred or so folks watching the AA ramp agent snapping photos.
When the camera was eventually returned to me, the entire gate area burst into applause for Ben...like something out of an Anheiser Busch commercial. Even walking to our vehicle, people came up and touched him to say thanks.
Ben in his camies, me in my "urban-mama-camouflage-the-baby-weight" attire.
Ben back in San Diego...much of the ride home he spoke about how green, how clean, how safe, how different it is here.
Our traditional homecoming shot of the returning servicemember offloading his own bags.
The man travels light these days...just one knapsack and one c. 1991 beat-up canvas Lands-End briefcase. No delaying the homecoming with silly baggage claims.
Jamie first (er, second behind Lucy).
Initially quite bashful.
But Jamie did manage to show some enthusiasm.
My mom was more effusive...talk about being glad to see the man, the myth, the legend, the father to this rascally boys, and the potential antidote to her daughter's oft-grumpy disposition!
Inspecting Lucy. (Verdict: Definitely a Keeper!)
Here is the talisman against the Evil Eye that an Iraqi senior officer presented Ben on the occasion of Lucy's birth. It's a traditional baby gift in that part of the world.

Whether or not it wards against bad fortune, it certainly mesmerized the wee (okay, not so tiny) one.

And the eye is blue...how appropos.
Charlie's ABA therapy ended and Ben pounced into the room.
That's a pretty nice hug.
Charlie bringing Ben up-to-speed on the many facets of excavators, digging, construction, et cetera.

Ben notes that "one of the good things (huh, plural?!) about being gone for 8 months" is that he can really notice the growth in Charlie's verbal skills.
After 3 days of journeying, including 29 hours aloft, an IKEA bunk bed was a welcome nap zone.

Jack rolls in...cannot tell whether he's more delighted to spy Dad or to get to roust him awake...reveille!
Let the rough-housing, grab-fannying begin.
Squirrels: A Portrait.
Now THERE'S woodland creatures for you!
Merry faces.
Just before dinner (hence the pitch-black outside), Tim's bus delivered him.
"Surprise!"


Hug, Tim-style.

Officially: Taller than Dad.


Despite this jubilance, we are thinking of our several friends and the Queen's cousin who are serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and even on ships(!) who will miss the 2008 holidays and whose families will be missing them.