Every once in awhile I get to cover a military story if it's the weekend, or if Mike's out of town or if he's already on another assignment. Saturday night was one of those rare occurances.

13News photographer Beth Brown and I boarded the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt at Naval Station Norfolk for the 100th anniversary celebration of the Great White Fleet's trip around the world. It was a grand reception with speeches from Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter and other Navy brass.

If Mike Gooding was in attendance, he wouldn't have been awestruck by the size of the ship, the crush of uniforms inside the carrier and the pomp and circumstance. I was. It made me stand up a little straighter and realize what an amazing job I have.

To the men and women of the Navy who helped Beth and I on and off the ship, thank you. To Mike, please don't be mad at me...I'm not trying to steal your job. Seriously.