FROM MELISSA MARTEL SHORT

Hello,

 

Kathleen, thank you for setting this up for everyone!  What a great idea and an excellent way to communicate…and the price is right.

 

Dan and I are nearing the end of our geographical separation, so we are ecstatic!  I am currently at the Navy Annex, in Washington DC, as the Head of Advanced Education.  Mostly setting policy and determining what education the officers and enlisted personnel of 2020 should have.  Dan is running his business DRS Automotive Fantomworks, www.drsfantomworks.com, down in Norfolk, VA.  He is restoring antique automobiles and loving every minute of it.  On the list is my 57 Chevy Corvette Convertible, which he has promised to restore to its original condition and red with white coves paint job.  He is also a part-time consultant (30 or more hours a week) at Fort Eustis.  There’s never a dull moment for him.  We travel each weekend to see each other.  On the one hand we are blessed to see each other every weekend; on the other hand, traveling I95 & I64 can be a curse.

 

Our four-year-old son, Zachary, is here with me in DC.  He is attending pre-school at Fort Myer, only 2 miles from our house and my office.  The commute is quite convenient, and we are blessed to have such a wonderful home (thankfully we are renting) in Arlington.  Zachary enjoys Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, and Legos.  His favorite day of the school week is Friday, because that is show-and-share day.  He will start kindergarten in the fall in Norfolk.

I have orders (hard copy forthcoming) to Center for Naval Leadership, which is merging with Center for Personal and Professional Development, to form the Center for Sailor Development.  I’ll have to drive to Dam Neck everyday, so it’s ironic that I will actually have a longer commute in Norfolk than I do in DC.  Should be leaving here at the end of July, which is none too soon as far as we are concerned.

 

I will pin on Commander June first; actually, 30 May since the first falls on a weekend.  We are looking forward to that (especially the pay increase), and I’m very excited that my family is actually thinking of making the trek from TX & NM to see it.

 

If you are ever in the big city, give me a call.  Surprising how many people you run into here!

 

Take care and best wishes to you & yours,

Melissa Martel Short