Oh, BOYZ-ee! (Boise, Idaho)

In the late 1980s, a group of young people seeking opportunity and adventure, joined the U.S. Air Force and, after six weeks of basic training, descended on the Defense Language Institute (Army post) in romantic Monterey, CA. We all had similar dreams, outlooks, and capabilities. Recruiters across the country had drawn each of us into the “linguist” career field, and we were on a year-long journey together to learn a new language and prepare for overseas assignments. Even if we'd wanted certain language or assignment, we knew we’d end up doing whatever the Air Force decided for us. As it happened, several of us would become Russian linguists, while a smaller number would master languages like Polish, German, Spanish, Arabic, or Chinese.

Craig and I both got the same language (Russian). And that was a good thing because, as we were warned by our squadron, if you fell in love with someone studying a different language, the Air Force couldn’t guarantee that you’d be stationed together. (It would be even more complicated if you fell in love with someone in another military service, as we attended classes with the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps as well). Craig and I managed to work it out so that we both got stationed in Japan. Another Air Force couple, Darrell and Tammy, had to take a chance on their assignments, as he had Russian, and she had Polish. Luckily, they both ended up in Germany and had the amazing experience of being there when the Berlin Wall came down!

The friendships we made in Monterey (with Darrell, Tammy, and many others), were life-defining. It was a magical time, and all the people we encountered seemed simultaneously just-like-us and totally unique.

We stayed in touch through whatever means we had in the military back then. (The Internet was not yet available.) And, as luck would have it, many of us ended up stationed in Maryland together after our overseas assignments. By then, Darrell and Tammy were focused on their next chapter after the Air Force, using their GI Bill to go to college, and pursuing other career aspirations. However, he stayed in the Air Force a little bit longer than she did, and they remained in the area for some time. In fact, they graciously maintained our yard while we rented out our Maryland house during our next assignment in Hawaii. When they moved to Seattle, we visited them there twice, and we had the distinct pleasure of enjoying their amazing hospitality.

Now, almost 30 years later, we finally made our way to their current home in Boise, Idaho, with Chisoku in tow. D&T are the kind of friends who tell you to come whenever you want and stay as long as you like. There is something inexplicably miraculous about reuniting with old friends like these. The years collapse the moment you're together, and conversations pick up as naturally as if no time has passed at all. We found ourselves laughing at the same things and nodding along to ideas as we reminisced and filled each other in on recent adventures. Tammy and Darrell regaled us with stories from their faraway travels to places like Cambodia and Botswana. But, as much as we have led different lives, we all share the same zeal for seeking new experiences. We talked about our current crazy journey to find a new home, and they got it — the restlessness that pulls you toward a new location, the thrill of planting yourself somewhere unfamiliar just to see who you become there. Darrell even described himself as a potted plant, able to be set down anywhere.

And then there were the dogs. We had a little trepidation about whether our feisty little Boston Terriers (both girls) would get along with their two lovable, galumphing Golden Retrievers, Bertie and Oliver (both boys). Oh, boyz-ee!

We carefully introduced them on a walk. Lizzie, as usual, took some cheap shots at the boyz. Dottie was quicker to warm up to them. And little by little, as luck would have it, they got along! Sometimes, our girls would come on a little strong, and we weren’t sure if they were playing or not. But by the middle of the week, they all would be bounding toward each other like old souls reunited, rolling and chasing with an ease that seemed to mirror our own friendship with D&T.

And then there were the outdoor activities. Against the backdrop of a clear blue sky, a high sun, and rolling foothills, we went for a nice hike in their gorgeous community. We also went for a bike ride, and Craig did some mountain biking throughout the week. I walked the dogs and went for a run almost every day. On Friday (Craig’s birthday), he took the day off, and we shuttled the dogs up into the mountains, to Kirkham Hot Springs. Darrell and Tammy had rounded up the recommendation for us and told us to go early. We were so glad we did because we practically had the whole place to ourselves. We soaked in the hot springs beneath a small waterfall and then took the dogs for a walk. (Enjoy the pictures and a video that I’ll link to below.) And, although we didn't do a ton of sightseeing, we did manage to check out Freak Alley in downtown Boise, which is a gallery of outdoor murals.

And then, there was the food! Darrell and Tammy moved around their kitchen with the quiet confidence of people who genuinely love food and embrace the effort needed to make something truly delicious. Every dish was thoughtful, every flavor deliberate, every meal an act of generosity. Luscious salmon with cream sauce, perfect rib eye, delectable shrimp tacos. Plus, they took us out to two superb restaurants. One was a very nice sushi restaurant called Raibu. The other was the extremely popular hot spot known as Percy. The meals at both places were the kind that you'll vividly recall over and over and know you'll never quite reproduce. Wonderful flavors, magic, and ambiance.

There’s so much more I could say about our visit... the small ways that D&T made us feel welcome, the favors they did for us, the beauty and craftsmanship in their home, the gorgeous yard and landscaping that they’ve lovingly cultivated. It’s just too hard to capture it all. Similar to the way that Jon and Terese welcomed us when we needed a place to stay after selling our house so quickly, D&T gave us not just a place to park Chisoku, but also a place to exhale, where we were truly, unhurriedly at ease. It was hard to say goodbye, and it also made me miss our friends back in Maryland and elsewhere. However, it strengthened my resolve that we will stay in touch with all these friends that we are so lucky to have and never would have met if not for the journey we started by joining the Air Force.

Some more random photos:

Video:

• Kirkham Hot Springs