This is a long overdue update.
After Power School graduation things
got super busy in my life.
got super busy in my life.
I sell my handmade jewelry at shows and fairs
and fall is, naturally, the busiest time.
and fall is, naturally, the busiest time.
My sailor was busy himself, with Grad Hold in
Goose Creek. He had a good
Goose Creek. He had a good
job off base for his 2 month hold time.
I got very used to talking and texting
I got very used to talking and texting
with him very often. Gone was the worry
and stress of school. His schedule
and stress of school. His schedule
was predictable and relatively easy. I slept at night
with a peaceful heart, knowing
with a peaceful heart, knowing
he had a break from the rigors of nuke school.
In late October I got the best surprise of my life!
My sailor came walking in our back door!!!
My sailor came walking in our back door!!!
I felt like I was dreaming! He was home for week!
Everyone (and I do mean everyone)
Everyone (and I do mean everyone)
except me knew he was coming,
but it was a complete and total surprise to me!
but it was a complete and total surprise to me!
I did not want to let him go!!!
But of course our week flew by and it was time to say good-bye.
Our sailor was headed to his next level of training
in Ballston Spa, NY, somewhere near the Arctic Circle. ;)
Ok, not that far north, but far enough.
So, now he is in his last phase of nuclear training~ Prototype.
The hours are long, but this is the homestretch.
After the successful completion of Prototype,
sailors are assigned to a ship or sub.
My sailor is "surface"~ he will be on a nuclear carrier.
He still has hurdles to leap and several months to go.
My Texas boy has learned how to drive in the snow.
He is learning the hands-on part of his job.
He has learned to cook in a crock pot.
And I have learned how to treasure every text, every phone call,
every (rare) time I see that he has been on FaceBook.
I have learned to live with a piece of my heart
always far away. I know the weather where he is,
the Google maps view of the road where his little
rental house sits hidden by the trees.
I have learned to keep to myself how much I miss him.
I have learned that pride and love and longing
can co-exist in a mother's heart.
I have learned to be a Navy mom.
~♥~
On the flight deck of the USS Yorktown
