Anchors Aweigh

Julia Spencer-Fleming: So a little over two weeks ago, I made a trip to Norfolk, Virginia, to do something I've never done before - see my son off on his first deployment. Petty Officer Spencer Hugo-Vidal - known here as The Sailor - and some three hundred shipmates are off as part of the US 5th Fleet operations in the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf.

The USS Gonzalez is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, and like all destroyers in the US Navy, is named after a Medal of Honor recipient - in this case, Marine Corps Sgt. Alfredo "Freddy" Gonzalez, who displayed unbelievable courage in the Battle of Huế and lost his life after saving his entire platoon.

Two days before the Gonzalez shipped off, Spencer's lovely girlfriend Veronique Pretlow - who also took these gorgeous pictures -  and I got to tour the ship! It was amazing how MUCH the Navy manages to fit in these ships. Crew can spread out a bit in the mess, but most of the doors, passageways and ladders are built with slim people no taller than 5'10" in mind. Luckily for Spencer, that describes him perfectly.

Since the US Navy isn't keen on civilians snapping a lot of pictures of the interiors of their ships, I only have one shot from inside: the Gonzalez's name plate. Why did I want this? Because the keel was laid down the day my son was born, both of them on the coast of Maine, only 36 miles apart. 

 I took Spencer and Veronique out to dinner - we did BBQ both nights. One thing the Tidewater VA area has lots of is fabulous BBQ. Here's my boy with his VERY regulation haircut. When I was a kid, we called these "Baldy sours."

I spent part of the day before they left port helping out with the shopping. The ship has its own small store, but if you want any choice in your toiletries, etc., you need to bring it along. Among the things I bought? One bottle of 80 SPF sunscreen for every month Spencer will be gone. The sun can kill you, you know...

 

And then it was the morning of their departure! Spencer and Veronique picked me up from my hotel at 0700. It was a beautiful morning, as promised (if you believe the old rhyme) by the red sky the night before. The ship was buzzing - friends and family were everywhere, sailors were showing them around, and at the same time, working on the complicated process of getting an 8,315 ton, 505 foot long vessel underway. 

We got to take part in an on-deck briefing for the Internal Communications Electricians and meet the Chiefs and Master Chief. Here's a picture of the whole team.

 At 0900 hours, it was time for all civilians and Navy personnel who weren't deploying to leave the ship. Veronique and I said goodbye...

 

And Spencer watched us as from the quarterdeck as we walked along the pier.

Have a safe cruise, Sailor! Anchors aweigh!

 

The Outfits That Bloom in the Spring

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: I've seen several signs of spring here in Maine this past week. Two motorcyclists last Saturday. Snowdrops are up in my neighbor's yard, and crocuses are pushing through in mine. We're hearing birds singing in the still-bare trees. And this morning, The Boy came downstairs dressed for school in a pink button down and khakis, accented by a green tie-silk belt and pink socks. 

Yes, my son is, in fact, Fred Astaire.

Spencer is always well-dressed, but very season-specific, so I knew when I saw him decked out like a model in the latest issue of the Brooks Brothers catalog, that Spring had well and truly arrived.





When I was a little girl, my sister and I always got new outfits for Easter. None of that mounds of tulle and poly lace stuff, either - my mother decked us in shift dresses with matching coats, or pink tweed suits. In pictures, we look like miniature Kate Middletons (without the glorious hair.) I don't go shopping for a new ensemble to wear during Holy Week anymore, but the urge to trade in the heavy, dark clothing of winter for something fresh and bright is irresistible. 


Of course, every year we're presented with "this year's hot spring looks!" I looked at various magazines' compilations of the top ten and, upon reflecting that I am not an anorexic sixteen-year-old, went with Spring Runway Trends Women over 50 Can Wear. (Why is this on aol.com? That's what my parents use! Does this mean that as we age we will inevitably revert to broadband and drive Buicks?)



 

Some of the trends they mention are:
1. Bright monochromatic outfits
2. Leather skirts, pants and dresses
3. Bermuda shorts
4. Black-and-white graphics
5. "Statement" sunglasses
6. Stripes
7. Kitten heels (yes!!!)
8. Bright blues
9. Wide-legged pants, and
10. Beehive hair!

I'm not sure if these count as actual trends, or if they're more "stuff we have in the back of the closet from when we were teenagers." Sadly, my favorite spring looks, navy and lime green, navy and tan, and navy and white, do not appear on the list.

How about you, Reds? What do you change into for spring? Will you be picking up any of the 2013 trends? Will we see Hallie in her beehive 'do again?



 HALLIE EPHRON: Heaven forbid! Next you'll be telling me that "flesh"-colored lipstick and Cleopatra eyeliner are back, too.

Spring means time to check the lawnmower and stock up on shaving supplies. I look forward to going sleeveless and tightless and Ugg-less.

Our crocuses are up, too - but why are all of them in the driveway and behind the garage? I'm quite sure I didn't put them there.





RHYS BOWEN: When I was in Macy's right before Easter I was struck by the number of parents and grandparents buying cute Easter outfits for little girls, and I wondered how many of them would actually be wearing them to church.
My mother always bought herself a new Easter hat to compete with the other ladies at church. I don't remember getting anything new. 

Seriously lacking in the clothes department as I wore uniform for most of the year. (I have made up for that recently). I did buy myself a new Chico's cardigan and wore it for Easter and in spite of your trends, Julia, I'm delighted to see that this year the stores are full of MY colors--turquoise, teal, lime green. I'm in heaven.

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Whoo hoo. Love this update! I'd wear a beehive, any day. How funny! But I won't, of course. Black and white, who'da thought? Kitten heels, check. And I even bought lime green suede Manolos. To wear with the black and white, of course. Spring though...situation. I better go start lifitng weights, since now my arms are gonna show. Eeesh.



JULIA: How about you, dear readers? Are you planning to update your wardrobe? What outfit says "Spring" to you? And isn't my son cute?

"HelLOO, Ladies..."