Out With The Old...

Not long ago, we attended a Change of Command ceremony. I found parts of it quite interesting. My children? Not so much. During one of the speeches I held this whispered conversation with Alex:

Alex: Mom, how come grown-ups like stuff like this?

Me: Stuff like what?

Alex: You know - blah, blah, blah, talking. Don't you think it's boring? Why don't you look bored?

Me: (sighing a little) Lots of practice.

Alex: You mean all the grown-ups here are bored and pretending they're not? Well, when I'm a grown-up, I'm never doing anything boring. I'm going to be an exciting person all the time!

I can't wait to see how that works out for him.

The speeches may not have been very exciting for Alex, but other parts of the ceremony were. I do have to admit, seeing Matt in his dress uniform, piping aboard commanding officers gave me a thrill. We don't usually get to see him at his work. It was the whole reason we attended. The kids were all so proud of their daddy.  After the ceremony they swamped Matt, touching his uniform, running their hands over his ribbons, tugging on the intricate lanyard he had made. Joey even tried his hand at piping. Watching his youngest son slobbering all over his Boatswain's pipe, Matt grimaced a bit and took little Joseph to play with the bell instead. What a good daddy.

There was cake. The kids got to play in Matt's office. They ran around in the gym. And in the end, even Alex decided it had been time well spent.