#82

Today was pretty awesome!

The B crew went to Bastogne, Belgium!

About 5 hours driving there, 5 hours home. But I think it was worth it. We got to stand in the same spot as so many American heroes.

So, I woke up around 5 am, after a horrible night sleep. Got dressed, did my makeup, packed snacks, loaded up my purse. Then at 6 we got the girls up, put clean clothes on them, and headed out. The drive was fine. J was tired after about 2 hours, so to keep him awake I had to think of anything and everything to talk about. Yeah, I exhausted just about every conversation topic in the world!

We drove through Luxembourg. I think I am going to count that among the countries I have been to. Because really, what is there to see in that country?!

When we got to Bastogne, we headed to the museum and memorial. Both were pretty great. I guess this is a good spot to mention the Bastogne region is French-speaking. I don't speak French! So we are walking through the museum, looking at cool things and taking pictures. About halfway through the place, I see a sign that said 'no pictures' in 5 languages! Opps!

But the museum was really cool, a lot of artifacts and fun stuff. I was disappointed in the gift shop, but oh well. After that we walked the 1000 feet to the memorial. Really, that was just too cool. Check it out, Mardasson Memorial in Bastogne. It is for the US, in the shape of a star with the whole battle story etched into the monument, all 50 states written on it... The thing is huge and beautiful and just great. Loved it.

Lunch was fun. J and I always pick random places to eat. We are not fancy, so most of the time we eat at sidewalk cafes or little shops when we travel. That just feels like more fun to us. Today was no exception. And it's always fun when you can't read the menu!! Thankfully, the stuff we picked was tasty. And I got my Belgian waffle! Though in Belgium they are called 'Brussels waffles' but not really because they speak French! Whatever you call it, call it Tasty! Waffle that was crispy on the outside and soft at the middle, topped with whipped cream, chocolate, and powdered sugar! Yep, awesome.

After lunch, we drove out to Bizory-Foy, to see the monument for Easy Co, and to see their foxholes. It was really great! We got to walk among the foxholes that soldiers dug and lived in during an amazing battle. It was just mind boggling to think about what went on in that forest in Dec 1944 and Jan 1945.

Like I said, Just Amazing.

So yeah, it was a pretty great day for the B crew. J and I got to experience something we have wanted to do for so long. We got to honor the men that fought for our country, the men that made our lives a possibility. P and K, of course, had no idea what all this was about. They were busy saying "look! Trees!" while J and I were contemplating 60+ years old holes in the ground. But we hope, one day, they will look back (through pictures!) at this day and think it was pretty cool.

In June, we went to Normandy, France and stood on Omaha beach. I thought that was one of the most amazing things ever. I have a shell and a pebble from that beach to remind myself of the feeling of Awe.

Now, I have a couple rocks and pine cones to remind me of that same feeling in a different location.

And all because of so many men in uniform... Really, it's the uniform that always gets me!