We’re On Our Way: Retirement From The US Navy!

Today was a HUGE day for our family! My husband has retired after 23 years of service in the United States Navy. We’ve been married for 21 of them and together practically for 22 of them.

We included our baby Gus in the retirement ceremony today as our pups have always been our children. Sadly our old girl Zoey passed away back in April, our hearts really wanted to her to make it back to the USA to enjoy family and friends once again.

We were not even going to do a retirement ceremony since all of our families are back in the United States. Just until recently that changed. I personally was not overly thrilled of doing it because our parents and siblings couldn’t be present. But I agreed we should.

Today was the day! I awoke super early so I could calm my nerves. I am not one to enjoy the spotlight, pictures and such. It was a beautiful, sunny Sicilian non-fall kind of day. Super hot before 9am with incredibly high humidity. I wore a black dress and laughed about that choice for most of the day!

The ceremony wasn’t a full fledged one, like other retirement ceremonies I’ve attended in the past. This was a beautifully small one, mostly my husbands coworkers but I invited a friend I have made here and that made me feel more at ease.

The ceremony was very emotional for both of us. I am so incredibly proud of my love and all he has accomplished in his career. I too have invested a lot of me into his career. I kept myself very busy making cookies & goodies for cookie drops on every deployment he was on. Then when they were home I always ALWAYS bake delicious treats for all the sailors, to make them feel like they are home, even away from home. I still have been baking almost weekly up till a few weeks back.

I was also an Ombudsman for my husbands Command when we lived in Hawaii and were transitioning the Command to Whidbey Island Washington. I was apart from my husband for 10 months then as I moved to Washington State before any of the families arrived and I was there to welcome them and help them. I am very proud for all I have contributed because I wanted to

I was given the most amazing roses that my husband special ordered for me from Holland. I can’t tell you any better way that they were the most incredible roses I have ever received. I also was awarded a certificate of appreciation by the United States Navy. My husband was gifted a really cool Rudis Gladiator Sword!

Surprisingly when it was time to walk through- Piping The Sides or Man The Rails.. it got really emotional.. we both started to cry.. It really hit me that this is now becoming a reality. That we made it.. we did it TOGETHER. While emotional, we are ready. I am ready. There is so much more to our story and adventures ahead. Bonding with family & friends again like we have not been able to since before this journey started. I am good. I am at peace. Let the next chapter of our life begin.