For the past six Halloweens Joe has gone as something little and cute – a bee, skunk, lion, gnome, chicken and a dinosaur. This year he was a doctor because he’s getting to be a big boy.

I RESPECT AND VALUE NURSES AND OTHER HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS! EVEN THE GIRLS!

Joe visits some recent patients. “I’m six, they shouldn’t have let me scrub in.”

Have you met Harold Ramis yet?

Now let’s go get turnt and egg something.

There are a few World War II airplanes still flying. Not just air-worthy, but actually flying all over the country as mobile museums.

Last weekend Joe and I met up with a couple of them at the Chesterfield County Airport. We got to kick the tires of a B-24 Liberator and an honest-to-god B-17 Flying Fortress. Yeehaw!

This is why I take photos.

Joe running through his pre-flight checklist. Juiceboxes? Check.

It was a beautiful, grey misty day. It felt like we were in England, 1944.

That Rosie does nice work. You go girl.

That’s a big-ass propeller.

I’ve been to the factory in Connecticut that made these propellers. They’re still pumping them out for C-130s and other warbirds.

Virginia is a hotbed of Czech and Slovak folks – who knew?! Evidently, hundreds (thousands?) of people, because they were all in Prince George today for the annual festival. It was very Central European, meaning lots of cabbage rolls and polka. Mmm mmm good! Joe dug it, and we did too.

This woman, in her 70s, was tearing up the dance floor.

Wherever they’s a tuba, I’ll be there.

Joe eyeing the cotton.

Could be the beer, or may be the music, but this woman is content.

Joe is participating for the second time in a VCU program called Virginia Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. Through Va-LEND, people who will be working in healthcare are paired with families that include kids with intellectual disabilities to give the future pros a taste of what the families experience.

I like to imagine it was a cut-throat, Hunger Games kind of thing where a remarkable young woman named Joyti defeated a herd of pretenders for a chance to work with our boy. It was more likely just smart work on the Va-LEND team’s part. Either way, Joyti has now earned a spot on Team Joe – another terrific person who will grow and mature under his tutelage.

Tonight she beamed in for a quick visit. The iPads were cracklin’ with mutual admiration. Welcome to the team Joyti!