Early this month, the base had some pretty distinguished visitors: General Welsh (the Chief of Staff of the Air Force) and Chief Cody (Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force) and their wives Betty and Athena flew in from the Pentagon to spend a day or two with our folks. I got to have luncheon with "The Wives" and then dinner at a local restaurant that evening with everyone, including local leading politicians and citizens. Always an interesting time.
Okay, my eyes are closed in this picture and that stinks, but you can't very well ask the General to pose for another shot because you don't like how the first one made you look. And I am not going to be deleting this one, eyes closed or not. This man was extremely nice. He has a gift for making you feel like you're the only one in the room when he talks with you, even if you're in a crowded room. He gives you his full attention and is genunine in his interest. He meets hundreds and hundreds of people, and I frankly wouldn't be surprised if he remembers most of them. He told me very directly that if I thought Matt was working too hard and not taking a break, I was to call him up at the Pentagon. I giggled, because of course, he was kidding. But then he said, "I'm not kidding. Call me, or shoot me an email, and I'll fix it." Well okay then. His wife Betty was really nice, too. An excellent public speaker, and strong advocate for Air Force families. (As well as a fitness instructor, personal trainer, nutrionist...)

I was seated next to Cheif Cody during dinner, and we talked about living in Newport News. He had been stationed there and knew exactly where our old neighborhood was and even ran on the trail I frequented at Newport News park. He asked me how I met Matt, so he got the condensed version of that story which he found highly amusing. I wish I could have been seated between him and Athena, because I would have loved to talk with her more. She was very down to earth and friendly.
