We did, however, very much enjoy our time visiting Josh and Jill (and Lily, their puppy), who recently moved to Virginia, as well as visiting DC, something that Nolan has talked about since we moved to North Carolina a little over a year ago.
It was a lot of fun in many ways, but most especially because we haven't been back since we moved in February 2007. We recalled many great memories we have of the area and times we spent together when Nolan was at TBS.
On our drive up, Friday, October 1st, we hit up the first Five Guys we found at the Virginia border! YUM! The car ride up for me was less than ideal, but thank God for Nolan being able to do all of the driving; I had to practically be laid out flat to keep somewhat comfortable. I was afraid it was going to be too much for his eye (that doesn't blink on it's own b/c of the Bell's Palsy), but all was well!
On Saturday, after Josh and Nolan hit up a 1,000 table gun and militaria show, the four of us went to lunch together at Panera Bread and then Nolan and I headed to the fairly new Air and Space Museum that's in Virginia....
We saw the Enola Gay...(each engine puts out 2,000 lbs of torque... it has 4 engines, so a total of 8,000 lbs of torque to fly this plane... to put that in perspective to today's engines, just one engine on the Osprey puts out 6,000 lbs of torque!)
We were both surprised when we saw this!The beginning of the Osprey!
Nolan and the original Osprey...notice the capability for pilots to eject... the Osprey doesn't have that feature now...
although it does still have a single striped color on each blade to identify which blade is which.
On Sunday we visited this apple orchard that Jill had found that had a pick your own pumpkin patch as well...
The pumpkin patch...
This sign is exciting because we kept following them and finally found the patch!
Josh and Jill
Baby Dean and me
You may notice that Nolan's right eye doesn't squint or close, that is the Bell's Palsy.Over the long weekend that we were away, we were both grateful that Nolan's headache had gone away and his ability to move his forehead and lips was beginning to return... Eating has been a bit challenging as well, but it is getting easier for him! :-)
Kermitat the American History Museum
Nolan pushed me around this museum in a wheelchair after the ever so thoughtful security guard at the front saw my huge belly when I went to unvelcro my raincoat! ha
It was a bit humbling to be pushed around, but it really was a great thing - we went at "Nolan speed" throughout the museum and I then had the energy to visit 2 more museums that same day!
We visited the Natural History and Air and Space Museums too!
Our last day there, October 5th, before starting the 5 hour drive home, we visited the National Marine Corps Museum outside of the Marine Corps Quantico Base gate... We also at at the museum's "Tun Tavern"... fun times!
Going on leave for 10 days, as well as this impromptu trip, was just what we both needed! It was so nice to hang out together again... Nolan had been gone for two weeks prior, and the week he came back (hardly any other pilots from the squadron were back) Nolan was working crazy hours, to cover various duties and schedule writing that needed to be done. Nolan's Bell's Palsy is still steadily improving... it has almost been 4 weeks... hoping for a full recovery by 8 weeks, but whenever it is, we will take it! :-)
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