This is an added note to my previous post since I now realize I left out a vital part. BEFORE, I go to Europe and all that good stuff, I AM driving down to California and making Oakland my home base with Dave and John. Then from there I will be visiting Christy and Erika up and down the coast for a couple weeks before flying to Atlanta to see Max. When I get back from Europe I will be flying back to Oakland where I will have yet another week before I fly out to Hawaii.
So no worries, Christy. I am still coming. 
I don’t consider driving to California so much as a road trip as going “home” in Navy terms. As a Navy brat we all know that there were never any real vacations, just moving to a new place or visiting the last place we lived. I’m doing that. But in the true fashion of evolution, as a daughter of a Navy captain, but not a military employee myself, I shall break the cycle of “pseudo-vacations” and go to Europe and Hawaii as well.
Can’t wait to see everyone. If I am skipping you on this trip, believe that I am making plans in my head to tell my next employer “I’m sorry, you did say this package includes 5 weeks vacation, right?”
