I take off my wings.

Yes, I take off my wings. I don't need to wear them today as a talisman of pride, daily remembrance and with the superstitious belief that if I wear them he will be kept out of harms way.  For a while now, he is back in the arms of his lovely wife and beautiful children.  He is home.  

The "Jump Wings" awarded to my son at his Airborne graduation eight years ago. 

Tradition among those who obtain them is that you never wear the first pair awarded to you. (Bad ju ju)  You give them to someone you love or admire.  My son gave me his wings and with tears of pride in my eyes, I made a promise that I would wear them whenever he was "down range" as they say.  I would wear them from the day he dropped boots on unfriendly ground and each day after that until he was out of harm's way; remove them only when he had returned home. I have worn these over my heart for three tours now.   The sterling wings have taken on a highly polished silver patina from me touching them each day as a reminder of my son's service and sending him all of the family voodoo I know in my bag of tricks to keep him safe. 

How does Ker do it?  I have such pride in his lovely wife for having the strength to run the family in his absence in a foreign country. She is a phenomenal woman with a fierce love of her family and offers a strength she often does not believe she possess'. 

So today, mommy and DADDY will be picking up Kit Kat from Italian day school. She doesn't know that daddy has arrived early this morning.  Daddy will surprise her at school.  I adore this lovely, little Italian Catholic school that Kit Kat attends.  It is full of caring and loving teachers and hugs and words of encouragement are offered by the nuns.  Happy and enthusiastic children that Kit Kat plays and learns her lessons with (all in Italian) and their parents who all seem to know her.  It will be a huge reunion for everyone with lots of tears and hugs.    How I wish I was there to watch this magical sea of humanity as a father reunites with his daughter.

My four cheese ravioli.

and the twins...the spinach pesto rav and the sweet sausage rav.

We have so much to be thankful for.  Which brings me to thanking all of you who have added my son and his family to your thoughts and prayers and for all of the good wishes and energy you sent to them.  I thank all of you.  Sea Witch