Christmas Happenings

We've been traveling, so I haven't had mush time to post. Here are the highlights from the week:

Scott's Christmas party was a success. It was last Saturday. I had sent a Santa suit and some decorations. Our friends Tracy and Chris had sent hundreds of holiday plates and napkins. (Thanks again, you two!) Friends and family of the other guys at the same rank as Scott sent a variety of party supplies, too. They had a great time and even had to do a beer run--near beer that is--half way through the evening. One of the chiefs was going to wear the Santa suit but the $30 felt costume I found didn't quite fit his 6 foot steelworker frame, so Scott was going to wear it but the chaplain asked if he could do the honors. Scott didn't think much of it until later when he overheard two women complaining that they couldn't very well climb up on Santa's lap and be naughty-not-nice when he was the chaplain. Scott's not one for public attention to begin with so you can imagine how embarrassed he would have been!

At long last, Scott was pinned with his SCWs (seabee combat warfare) pin. A few weeks ago I mentioned that he had been studying for written and oral tests. He successfully passed everything and earned the certification. Getting pinned is a bit like a hazing ritual but he seemed to enjoy being part of the tradition!

Scott plans to attend Christmas eve mass. There is a midnight mass that is actually being held at midnight (out local parishes have them starting as early as 9:00) and he planned to attend with one of his running buddies. They got to reminiscing about going to midnight mass as kids and wondered if they could still stay up that late and function the next day now that they are in their 30s. While their parents were in their 30s when they took their kids to mass, they probably did so knowing the kids would pass out before the readings began and it would be the one mass all year that they'd actually get to enjoy! In the end, Scott and he decided since they were in their 30s and were not taking kids to mass, there was no reason they could not go tot he 4:00 p.m. mass and get a good night's sleep!

Merry Christmas!