Getting girly

Okay, I admit--for the first time in--how many years?--I got girly. Makeup, hair up, even (gasp) shaved legs and armpits. And put on a looooong dress, a black, sequiny, long dress. All this was in honor of the 2009 AMEDD Military Ball in Savannah last weekend. Elliott was in a tux, and we were one fine couple, let me tell you.

And it was fun. I had a good time. The Long Island Iced Tea that I got as soon as we arrived undoubtedly helped, but the people were actually nice. Now, I hadn't been around military people for almost a couple of decades. But these people were nice. Normal. They weren't dressed-up macho gorillas, they were people with dreams and plans and hopes, all of which we talked about over dinner. They weren't conservative idiots trying to shove their beliefs down my throat. (Note: there are liberal idiots out there too; idiocy knows no party lines.)

And they were deeper somehow than us "ordinary" civilians. Perhaps it was the constant reminder that life is uncertain. Dinner began with a tribute to friends and family members who had been killed in action, but rather than bringing down the spirits of the group, it was a simple acknowledgment that "We miss you and wish you were here, but life goes on." It was touching and meaningful, and much more than the "It's Christmas, let's get drunk" sort of party I'd been halfway expecting.

I liked it. I met Christine and Mary Helen, two potential "kindred spirits" in Savannah. I don't know their religion or politics, but I've come to realize that it doesn't matter. We can agree to disagree and still have a good time.

Why can't the rest of the world? Why does it always have to be us vs them (whoever "they" are)? Why can't we let others be the way they are (as long as they aren't trying to force anything on us)?

Anyway, I'm just rambling, trying to test Elliott's new Plone portal and I wandered far from my original intention, which was to say "I enjoy being a girl." Once a decade anyway.