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Comment by Marianne on May 7, 2012 at 9:21am

Kris - Sorry it took so long to get back to you. The end of the school year (I teach HS) is absolutely crazy. We are ending before Memorial Day for the first time, which means finals start in 9 days. Also had a family party for my brother's 60th and my birthday was Saturday - I'm exhausted and there's weeks to go. Then we have youngest son's graduation fom Northwestern  in mid June. Guess my summer break starts then.

Son's name is Conor; call sign is "Gloves". haven't heard the story about that one yet, since he could only talk briefly when we finally connected yesterday. I really hate this 16 hr. time change.

C had the same reaction to Friendship Day. Since it was his first time, he was surprised at all the autographs and photos the Japanese were taking. The latter made me laugh because he should be used to the fact that the Japanese students I have had as "foster family" from NU always seem to be taking pictures! last Thanksgiving I had a young couple who were just heading back after a year here, and they even took pictures of the table and food! I kept telling them that Thanksgiving was about quantity, not quality, but I guess to them it was exotic.

Didn't hear too much about the Zamba Crawl, other than it "got pretty wild". that's my guy - even in Jr. high one of his teachers told me that "Conor likes to fly under the radar". Hmm, maybe Jennifer had ESP.

Hope you escaped some of the wild storms and hail we had here last week. I'm itching to get out in the garden (my favorite addiction), but am glad I've held off. Since we had the warmest March in Chicago history, a lot of garden centers were pushing early planting and most of those plants look awful now. Guess I'll stick to my usual of no tomatoes, etc. in until Memorial Day.

Got to run - I took a "personal day" to catch up on grading, etc. and here I am on-line.

Hope all of you out there are well and your LOs are safe and happy. I've been reading about Michelle O'Bama's move to support military families   and thinking that it is about time that people realize how much the families are going through. My best friend rune the USO center at Navy Pier in Chicago; I stopped in to help out on Saturday and as the Great Lakes troops came in all I could think of was how young those sailors are.

 

Comment by lou2949 on April 19, 2012 at 1:04pm

Yes..I remember..how are you snowmc?? So glad your son is loving the E-6.....our son is on the E-2..training is very long....9 months to be exact, but he loves the E-2.....couldn't be happier. So, your son is in Oklahoma with all the tornadoes....have been thinking of everyone there with such bad weather....let's stay in touch....

Comment by snowmc on April 19, 2012 at 12:52pm

Hi lou2949...our DS were at OCS together.  I agree, it's hard to believe that was over 2 years ago.  My son is now an NFO with the E6B and loving it.  Congratulations on your son graduating flight school and moving on.  The adventure continues!

Comment by lou2949 on April 19, 2012 at 12:14pm

Hi everyone....just had to say that nearly 2 years later......flight school is now OVER!!!!! I remember when our son started flight school in Pensacola I thought it would take forever to complete. It's actually gone pretty fast and he has said the same. He's done a lot since being accepted into the BDCP program in college....it's so amazing when I stop and think about it all. He's being processed out of the training command and into his new command...hopefully, that will all be completed in time for him to leave next week on a training mission with his new squadron....then a long deployment shortly after that. He is one happy aviator right now.....can't wait to get to the fleet and do it for real....so proud of him and all our aviators...what they go through is mind boggleing.....

Comment by Marianne on April 12, 2012 at 2:09pm

@ Kris. Yes, found some sealed sausages and beef jerky, too. Hope you have a wonderful visit with Son #1 and those grandkids. You are one tough lady, having grandchildren far away is a double sad.

@Sandy - Sorry to hear about your package problems. So far none of that, but I haven't been at it as long as Kris P. One tip that a friend gave me before my daughter spent six months doing an internship with the UN. NEVER put a high value on the customs forms, even if what is inside is valuable. It is like a red flag to some thieves. You can insure things for a higher value if you want to, and at least at my post office they don't match them up with the declaration. I usually don't bother with insurance, but did so a few times when I had to send over some expensive stuff, like new flight boots and electronics. Hope your luck gets better because those packages mean a lot to our LOs.

Comment by Marianne on April 10, 2012 at 11:51am

Kris, once again you've really come through! I've been send snacks along with other stuff, but I know they will have so little room on the ship that I'd like to stick to stuff that will be used up. The sausages are a great idea, because my guy says that is the type of thing he misses the most. I did send him a "do it yourself" Italian dinner with pasta and sauce; he ordered spaghetti once and it came with a catsup-like sauce and a fried egg on top! I think he misses Chicago hot dogs more than anything, but those are out of my shipping skills... can you imagine how even the buns would be by the time they get there?? Will head out today for Johnsonville, which is sold all over here.

At least they have a little time before they head out again. It is so great to be  able to actually hear your child's voice.

Hope all of you in my "new" family are well and that your fliers are, too.

 

Comment by Marianne on April 7, 2012 at 6:31am

This crash really brought home three things: 1) the dangers our kids are in because of the careers they have chosen, 2) how important it is for the military to get funding for safe equipment, and 3) how wonderful it is to have the support system of every one of you out there. My son was in VB for training for a year and, of course, flew out of Oceania all the time. It is truely an easter miracle that both pilots got out and that they were able to dump fuel to avoid an even bigger disaster on the ground. The worst thing about having Conor halfway around the world was that I desparately wanted to call him just to hear his voice so I knew HE was okay, too. Irrational, I know, but that is part of being a mom.

The news network on navy4moms is incredible! I heard first on Naval Aviation a good half hr. before I could find anything on the news. Also heard here first that the pilots were conscious, always a good sign.

Kris, loved your idea about Famous Dave's! I really laughed because it fit with the whole bland food thing. Now I'm on the hunt for something similar because the small packets are a great idea. I'm Italian, and my guy is already craving good pasta, so I did get off a "do it yourself" package of Italian foods. Hope he will have time to use it between Guam and heading out again. Any other suggestions for shipboard packages? I know they don't have much room, so I'm thinking nuts and other snacks.

 

Comment by lou2949 on April 6, 2012 at 8:34pm

I was a bit unnerved as well until I heard from my son. He lives in Virginia Beach, too. My stomach was in my throat as I watched it all on the news but it sounds like the pilots did an amazing job given how major the problem was.......could have been so much worse. Praying for the pilots and everyone involved.

Comment by sheriswick on April 6, 2012 at 8:12pm

Yes I agree with you Kris!!! It really scared me. My son and his wife are there and I didn't know how close to their apartment it was until I heard from them. They are about 13 miles from where the crash was.

Comment by lou2949 on April 4, 2012 at 9:04pm

Hey Sandy.....my son is leaving shortly on a long deployment.....his 3rd......is finishing training on the E-2.....one more week...YAY.....what aircraft is your son on? My DS has been told of some of the stops they'll be making.....he's excited and ready to go....So glad there is more activity here.......

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