We are back in Virginia Beach for a mini-vacation to the place we called home for almost two years. It, and nearby Norfolk, are places we never wanted to visit. And then the Navy moved us here.
Our first weekend here we were driving to the base and a dog ran in and out of traffic. We pulled over, as did a woman in a real beater of a car. She and I chased after the dog for about a block and a half until she was able to grab his collar. The dog pulled her into a ditch.
As she got up and brushed herself off, the first person we met in Virginia Beach introduced herself: “Just all in a day’s work — I work for PETA”.
PETA is headquartered in Norfolk, but the odds were much greater than we would first meet someone in Navy. There are about nine military bases in the greater Hampton Roads area, with 110,000 active duty servicemembers. Plus, another 200,000 reservists, retirees and family members. 40,000 to 50,000 military spouses (and a lot of children’s consignment stores).
With about 16 percent of the local population connected to the military, you can imagine that among younger people the percentage in the military is enormous. When a ship is deployed or comes back, it is front page news. Families here know firsthand what it means to be at war.
Our other early experience in Virginia Beach when we moved there a few years ago was a hail and farewell party we were invited to at a karaoke bar. Somehow I had made it through life without knowing “Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl)” by Looking Glass. It plays here all the time. So much so that I don’t think it was a coincidence that our doula, a Navy brat, was named Brandy.
Someone also sang Imagine and I was surprised to see that the streaming lyrics omitted “And no religion too”. Maybe not surprising given that Christian Broadcasting Network and the 700 Club are headquartered here. When you fly into Norfolk Airport you are greeted with a giant mural of a warship firing its guns – I think it is the USS Wisconsin doing something like this – and then there is a lifesize poster of Pat Robertson’s Regent University with a giant picture of John Ashcroft giving the commencement address.
Virginia Beach turned out to be a nice place to live even though we barely settled in. There is at least one good Cantonese restaurant (Jade Villa), and we found a few places that made good New York style pizza (Bella Pizza), something impossible to find in Maryland. Even with the hordes of summer beach tourists, it is a calm and relaxing place.
For the next few days we are camped out at the Navy Lodge, taking a vacation that has the familiarity of home.
One Response to “Greetings from Virginia Beach”
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How did you get that far without hearing Brandy? I’m in shock. Seriously!
I’m also upset about changing Lennon’s lyrics but sounds like it was to be expected.
Have a great mini-vacation. It is nice to get away to a known place! (I just went to the bay area last weekend).
MMMMMM, pizza! (I’ve been craving it lately, though I normally avoid it…)