Along US Route 11 South at Fort Defiance (Virginia) is the defunct Augusta Military Academy, on a beautiful large campus, with an active museum and at least one company in some of the abandoned buildings. The academy "called it a day" in 1984 but still maintains alumni functions. Below is a picture of the dormitory building. Magnificent facades with beautiful architecture, but with a bit of a melancholy tone, given that the main one is disused...many broken windows...no way to tell what it looks like inside.
There were no "miss-identifications" enroute at hotels or restaurants. Servers universally omitted any forms of address, and referred to us as "folks" or "guys" - which was no problem. Not sure what they were thinking - but that's no real issue.
When we were getting ready for bed at our son's place, I realized that I had left my nightgown at the motel on the way. Since it was gone, I told my wife that we needed to get another, and slept in a pair of shorts with tank top. We went to a nearby K Mart, and though she commented that she wasn't comfortable buying her husband a dress, seeing him wearing it, and that she wasn't satisfied with the styles there, she did it so I'd have something to wear to cover my bod... More on this later.
The next day, enroute from our son's place to the hotel near the wedding venue (our home for the next 4 nights) I detoured for a stop at the Beechcraft Heritage Museum, in Tullahoma, TN. It's a fabulous museum containing some old (and also more modern) Beechcraft flying machines.
Mandy (wearing one of her typical androgynous outfits) n front of a 1930's era Beechcraft Staggerwing
Now for something more modern - a Beech Model 35 Bonanza with V-tail (called a "ruddervator" - combinded rudder and elevator. The model tended to have unexplained crashes, and production (begun 1947( finally ceased in 1982.
My favorite, however, was the following Beechcraft Staggerwing, presented naked, without its fabric "skin" and showing off all its "bones and innards." A truly fascinating presentation...
This visit was "alone" - my wife had no interest. And that's a good thing...from arrival to departure, I was addressed as "Ma'am" by the lady attendant on duty. My wife would not have been at all happy. As she was waiting in the car, with a cooler full of chocolate favors for our son's wedding, I hurried through my visit, vowing to return another time when I didn't need to rush.
When we were waiting at the hotel the second night, my wife noticed (and commented about) my nails, which had been shortened at her request during my last fill. "Why did they make your nails so shiny?" I explained that I have food oils on my hands from eating a hamburger, but that my nails done the same as they have been for months, if not years. Nothing is different. And "yes, they are shiny but it can't be removed. Bright side is: at least they're short, just like you requested." She wasn't at all happy, and expressed it...but she gave up on that battle (perhaps for now?) And I heard no more...
More later...
Mandy
Mandy
ReplyDeleteI am sure that by now your wife is somewhat immne to your nails. Weddings are some of the most stressful events in any person's life and as a CD I am sure that you can appreciate some of the extra concerns and stresses that your wife may be dealing with regarding the wedding. As such your nails that normally do not get any adverse reaction from her may trigger some of her other wedding related stresses.
My wife has not been out of the house much lately due to her recent eye surgery but yesterday a crew of her old college buddies had there semi-annual lunch. Since she cannot drive she asked two of her friends to pick her up and bring her home. She knows that most sunday afternoons will find me somewhat if not fully dressed and she asked me to not be dressed around the condo incase her girlfriends wanted to stop in when they dropped her off. I stayed in almost full male mode until the late afternoon drop off when the never came in anyhow but before we went out for shopping and dinner I did put on my pantyhose and slacks and then when we got home from dinner I was quick to get into my nylon nightgown.
Pat
Since there were no issues (that my wife heard - there was one she didn't hear, but more on that later) at any of the wedding events, even with 150 of the Bride's relatives seeing/meeting us, my nails faded from my wife's radar screen. That's a good thing.
DeleteGlad to hear your wife is doing well after surgery...and I understand her hesitation to have you seen en femme.
Mandy