Do I call this a second honeymoon, if we didn't have a first one?

A couple of weeks ago, my Husband told me he nominated for an award, and BOTH of us were invited to Washington DC. 

The Army said BOTH.  You know how rare that is?

I seriously did not give it much thought, after he had brought it up.  The logistics of childcare for 4 ENTIRE days, yeah impossible.  Who does one ask for 4 days of babysitting?  I had never done this before, and frankly it seems like a HUGE FAVOR.  HUGE. 

I was speaking to my Father on the phone that evening, and mentioned it in passing.  (Let me add here, my Father ALWAYS uses speaker phone, ALWAYS)  His girlfriend was at the house, and overheard the conversation, and before I knew it they were asking WHEN I needed them. 

I was taken back by the offer.  I really was.  It has been about 7.5 years since DH and I have been alone for more than 4 hours.  And it has been fine with both of us, time has just gotten away from us.  WE try and have a date night, here and there, but frankly with the logistics nightmare of locating a sitter and needing to take out a loan for a dinner, movie, and a sitter, well we have settled on date nights at home with a netflix account. 

I think this is a common issue for military families.  Finding a reliable babysitter, finding the time between being in the field, training, deployments, and the economics of it.

It took me a while to accept this offer from my Father , but DH and I decided it was time.  We need a little time alone to reconnect, to have a conversation, to check in with one another and make sure we are on the same road headed the same direction.  We used to do this often, before children. There are not enough hours in the day. 

After we accepted my Father's assistance I began having second thoughts and some anxiety about being alone for 4 days. 

"What on Earth are we going to do for 4 WHOLE days ALONE?"  I was seriously concerned that after 17 1/2 years of marriage, he has heard everything, seen everything, and can finish my thoughts before they exit my mouth.  Are we going to be "those people" that we see dining in pairs in silence?  How awkward is this going to be?  We do not have to unload children from the car, or go to a family friendly dining in which you cannot hear each other speak. 

And after about 2 days, I was done with the anxiety involved.  It was pure silliness.

And now, I am  excited.  Because, In about one week I will be alone with my husband dining quietly, having a cocktail, holding hands and I might even kiss him in the street or the elevator!  I get to hold his hand as he accepts an award. We will get to speak to one another until we run out of things to say, heck we might even make out.

I cannot wait.

Comments

[loquita]

Congrats to your hubby on his award, and enjoy the trip!

A makeout session in an elevator is definitely in order. ;)

[dizzylizzie]

SWEEEET DEAL!

[Jessie]

Congrats and enjoy the time away!

[She of the Sea]

How awesome is that? I'd offer to come visit, but I don't want to interrupt the romance.

And congrats to the man.

[joyce]

Go for it !!!

'Cause when the kids leave for college---like us---it is dangerous to chase each other around the house. I trip too easy now. We do still giggle and scream.

[ArmyReserveWife]

Congrats!! And oh my have fun!! The hardest part is not talking about the kids. Have the time of your life!!

[Marine Wife]

That's awesome!

Since moving here over the summer, we've imported both grandma's in from out of state to babysit our kids on 2 separate occasions. The first involved a conference we were both attending that we needed my MIL to come for a week. The 2nd time, my mom came so we could attend the Birthday Ball (she stayed on for a visit for about a week).

Even tho' we didn't have to pay them, we did pay for their airfare. Seriously, I need to make friends and find babysitters locally!

[Andi]

Have fun, it's long overdue.

It's interesting that you mention the couples who barely speak at dinner. Recently we were at dinner and I was fixated on a rather young couple (in their 40's I would guess) who went through the entire dinner with very little conversation or interaction. I thought it was so sad, and very weird. However, my husband said what was weirder was that I spent the whole dinner watching them and commenting how strange and sad their lack of interaction was. Heh...

[Ann - AF spouse]

have a great time! I love DC! There are tons of things to do. I reccomend checking out the new (well, new to me)Air Force Memorial at dusk. It is so beautiful, peaceful, and has an amazing view of the city lights. I hear the American History museum is now open again, love that hall of first ladies! Great elevator ride to the top of the Washington Memorial. Do they still let you do that at night?

[GBear]

Congratulations! Have a great time in DC! Enjoy the sites, the feel of the city and the time alone! It's GREAT to get away with the spouse for some quiet down time! Don't worry - you'll find things to fill up the time!

[LAW]

It's getting crowded here in DC - but still it's gorgeous! the holiday lights, the trees, the decorations.. all lovely. don't know where you are staying, but come downtown and take a look at the Big Tree. supposed to be lovely, not so much during the day, but the lights at night - stunning.

LAW