My smile is fading (A Thousand Words). Karen is back home. But my heart is still singing. My friend flew over 4,000 miles to be by my side. To cheer me up. To give me some much needed love, support and face-to-face time. There aren’t words enough to express how grateful, happy, and loved I feel.

The last weeks, months, year has been rough. The transition from military to civilian to government employee is long, arduous and lonely. It’s one thing to do it at home with my partner, my love, my husband, at my side. Now though I’m in Germany. He’s in the states. I’m manning the fort, keeping the kids status quo. In school. Familiar. He’s battling government bureaucracy. We are together but divided. Each caught in our own battles.

He’s a warrior. I’m a trooper. We will win this war. Still, last week morale sank to an all-time low. I’m usually a glass-half-full optimist, but I was struggling to shake the dark cloud following me. Us. My own battles don’t make me immune to my friends struggles, plights and lives. Karen was going through a big transition of her own. After 20 years she was retiring from the Navy. Right as her husband, Emmett, completed school after his retirement, and his transition back into the work force.

Going civilian after being military is hard. There is no easy path. We are struggling. Mia & Drew are struggling. Karen  & Emmett are struggling. Sometimes, even when all the lemons stack higher than I ever imagined possible, a light shines through. Karen was on terminal leave. Those days before retirement is final. It means she can still fly Space-A (space available) on military flights. Even more serendipitous? There was a flight from Norfolk. From her home base. To me.

I needed her as much as she needed me. She hopped the flight six hours after deciding to come see me. On a whim. I’m not sure who has been happier this week.

Karen and the Narren (jesters) in Weil der Stadt

Karen & the mineral water lady

Karen at the Baumwipfelpfad

Playing at the Baumwipfelpfad

Karen & Karen’s tongue

The slide is closed for winter ☹

We are alone at the top of the world!

The trees look like freshly iced cookies ❤

A robin?

I set the auto timer on the camera and RAN!