the box...

When your child departs for Navy boot camp you understand
that communication will be extremely limited. The night of arrival
 there is a 30 second call to say "I'm here." 

The recruits basically read from a script for that call.
It is hurried and succinct, but the few words
 you hear are like gold. "I love you" never sounded sweeter.

Then follows the wait for the dreaded "kid in a box". 

My son arrived in Great Lakes this past Monday and "the Box"

arrived on our doorstep on Thursday. In my continuing effort

to "man up" and face this Navy thing square in the face,

I opened the box. Inside were the clothes and shoes my son

left home in, along with his boarding pass and a few other 

papers. That cardboard box really makes this Navy thing real.

My son is there, in Great Lakes, wearing Navy issued clothes

and shoes... he is gone! Cue the violins,,, but wait! What's that?

There on the box flap is a message... a few words that lit my face

with a grin that has accompanied me for 2 days! 

"This is already too easy! Love y'all!" 

After 5 days does he still think that? ;) Did he write it to

soothe his mom's troubled heart? All I know is that

it made me remember that this is his dream, his life

and I would be a fool to be sad. 

Yes, I miss him... so very much! 

But I am glad for him. And so proud of his choice to serve.

I am so grateful for the gift of those scrawled words.

~♥~