It is rather surreal to think that in 2 weeks and 2 days
we will be Great Lakes bound!
My son graduates from boot camp on 9/30/11~ the last group
to graduate in dress whites until next spring.
My son is in a push division which means his time
in boot camp is 7 weeks, not the more standard 8 weeks.
So, we will see him soon!
The past 5 weeks has, at times, seemed endless.
Our contact with our son has been minimal...
the form letter, the 'kid in a box", 3 real letters
and ONE and only ONE PHONE call (2 weeks ago).
That is not much, but it does get you through.
I am also part of a FaceBook group for his division
and that is a great resource. I have made some wonderful
new friends. The Navy community is pretty amazing!
By sharing info from our letters
and calls, we can piece together a pretty good glimpse
of how things are going. All of the communication
from my son has been positive.
He says that being in leadership is one
of the best things about his boot camp experience.
Many in the division have been ill, which is typical.
I assume it is a combination of bringing lots of people together
from all over the country, mental and physical stress
and extreme fatigue that makes the recruits vulnerable
to the "Ricky Crud" and other contagious maladies.
My son had the crud when he called AND pink eye
AND 4 wisdom teeth had been pulled. This is my
"never sick" kid... but he did not complain and I am assuming
he is well by now. Nowhere is the adage "no news
is good news" more applicable than boot camp.
Hopefully the entire division is better now.
The last few weeks are certainly hard, but at this point the divisions
should be working together and the training is more...
fun?? Is that the word? Well, more hands-on anyway.
They should be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
I see my own little light, too. In a short time
I will see my son~ briefly. He will depart for A School
in South Carolina the day after PIR. And then the real journey
begins. His schooling is long (2 years) and then out to the fleet
for 4 years and them some commitment to reserves... .
it just goes on and on. My son will not be home for most holidays.
He belongs to the U.S.Navy now... for real, and that
is the hard part, the "my heart is bursting with pride" part,
the real letting go.
I am learning my lessons and the first one
may be this~Make the best of the time you have.
~not a bad approach to life in general, that "glass
half full" thing. I believe in that, try to live like that.
Gratitude is always the best choice.
For now, I am focused on our trip to RTC in
a little over 2 weeks, to that moment when the new sailors
enter the graduation hall...
For now that is enough.
~♥~
