so proud

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brave new world

Last week at this time we were in Great Lakes enjoying 

our son's brief liberty after his boot camp graduation. 

It seems like a year ago! 

The time flew. Those few hours over 2 short days were

not nearly enough. The good bye at O'Hare 

was brutal. Since my son's arrival at NNPTC 

communication has been pretty good... texts, phone calls,

FaceBook. But it is hard to realize that this 

is as good as it gets. I've been sad, but I am

determined to accept this new reality, and to

support and encourage my Sailor. 

It is a rough road, a lonely place for a mother's 

heart. But there is no option except to let go

and CHOOSE gratitude. 

Today I am grateful for family and friends,

for the supportive military community

and for the gift of this day. 

~♥~

bittersweet

A year ago my son was a high school senior

who was talking to a US Navy recruiter.

Today he is a a Sailor with three red stripes

on his sleeve, stationed at

Naval Nuclear Training Command

in Goose Creek, S.C. 

He begins classes later this month, 

the start of a long trek toward becoming

a Machinist Mate-Nuclear Field. 

PIR (boot camp graduation) was amazing.

Our short time with our son was an emotional

roller coaster. I don't like roller coasters.

I thought my first post after PIR would be 

a song of joy, a celebration of pride.

And I feel those things, I assure you,

but in all honesty, I am bereft.

Boot camp had a beginning and an end.

But this, ah this... this is our new reality.

Our son is a Sailor. He chose to serve

and he is gone and he is grown.

He is not in college or at a regular job. 

Nothing or no one comes before 

his commitment to the Navy.

I trust that this new reality will lose some of its

sharp barbs in time, that this ache will ease.

I am grateful for easier communication 

with my Sailor now, happy to know

he is safe and moving toward his goals.

I am trying to concentrate on these things

and thinking of Christmas, hoping 

he has leave.

~♥~

My son is a SAILOR!

At last! 

JOY!

HAPPY,HAPPY DAY! 

We leave for Chicago in the morning!

I am so proud of my sweet Sailor son! 

Millions of photos and details

to come. 

~♥~

the power of a smile

The shortest distance between two people is a smile.  

~Author Unknown

My sweet son is in his last days at RTC . He graduates  next week! 

His division's finals days will be filled with challenges~

final PFAs, inspections, drills, Captain's Cup

and Battle Stations. 

We received a short phone call on Monday~ a reward for a perfect

score on an inspection. My son sounded great, a bit weary, 

but upbeat and ready to wrap this thing up! 

On Tuesday, we got the best gift ever! 

Recruit Training Command's FaceBook page

 has two contests weekly. One of our division moms 

WON Tuesday's trivia game (no small feat, as there

 are MANY parents, spouses, etc playing). 

The prize~ A DIVISION PHOTO!!

So, with no further ado~ I  present 

Ship 7 USS CHICAGO Division 327

83 strong and lookin' good in their NWUs!!! 

 A photo from boot camp is a treasure!!! Winning the contest
is the only way to get a photo from boot camp.
It is just amazing to have this peek 

at the division! And best of all... look at those GRINS!!!!
They were told what the photo was for! They know their moms,
 dads, wives, girlfriends, etc will

see this photo. I love their beautiful smiles!
 LOVE THEM!

This photograph is a treasure. 

And where is my SR?
He is on the very top of the heap~ top upper right,

CLIMBING (oh, how he loves to climb) on something

and rocking the best smile ever!!

That's my boy! 

Note his collar device~ He is a Recruit Petty Office.

~Port Watch Section Leader~ 

That smile is a beautiful sight.

See you soon, son! 

~♥~

almost there...

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 is a Recruit Petty Officer  ~Port Watch Section Leader.

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.

~♥~

best day(s) ♥

How wonderful is is to have some communication from my son

in boot camp!!! We have now gotten TWO real 

letters and a glorious, long phone call!!!!

My son is doing very well and has the honor

of holding a Recruit Petty Officer position! 

He is the Port Watch Section Leader. 

He sounds great in his letters and on the phone.

In spite of having a cold (known as the Ricky Crud),

pink-eye and having all 4 wisdom teeth pulled,

he is upbeat and determined! 

He had his birthday in boot camp and spent

his first hours of being 19 standing watch and toting

a 9mm pistol. He is making friends

and says his RDCs are "smart, good people"

beneath "the show they put on". 

I am so grateful for his positive attitude! 

Our trip is booked now and in 4 weeks 

we will be at our son's PIR.

That will be another 'best day".

~♥~