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Comment by iris - Wahiawa, Hawaii on October 17, 2010 at 1:17pm

Morning Ladies.

AJ - oh such a ride. It's really tough watching them grow up and it feels like they don't need us anymore, but remember, they do just in another way. We have to be patient (I hate that word...lol) and allow them to spread their wings. The have so much to learn and it's not through us anymore. I keep trying to tell myself these things, cause my daughter is so happy with her life and that makes me happy but a little sad too. Our full time parenting job is at a close and now we have to settle for part time, on call. Also, very cool about the USO. I need to check into ours here. We aren't close to an airport, but have a place in the mall for all service members. Kind of resource/support center.

DO - Yeah, if she gets Hawaii it'll be a real hardship to visit. LOL.....

Mary - Holidays are going to be tough. I feel for you. Hang in there and keep that Christmas date as a little ray of sunshine for you to hold on to every day. I'd love to see H. graduate, but Florida is just not in my budget right now. So I'll have to be satisfied with seeing her on leave before she ships out to her duty station.

Hope today finds everyone in a little better spirits. Remember they do love us, we just aren't on their radar 24/7 anymore, but when we are, they need us to be there for them. I can live with that as long as I get a little radar time now and again. =)

Big Hugs to you all.

Comment by AJ on October 16, 2010 at 11:02pm

Good night Mary and D.O. -- so glad you guys were on here tonight.

Hallelujah!

Comment by AJ on October 16, 2010 at 11:00pm

Just checking in here before heading to a bath and a book.

D.O. - the tenderness and friendliness in your post brought tears to my eyes just now ...... the thing we do here so well .... see, hear, and know the journey in each other. Thank you for that. Yes, Now What Lord? A was my baby and now everything feels kind of empty. I should take a lesson from your little preschooler and look toward the ceiling and cry out Hallelujah! Bless the little children ..... they do lead us for sure!

Comment by d o on October 16, 2010 at 9:47pm

AJ, I cried a little when I read your post. I think it's something about them not needing us anymore or something like that. Now what Lord? What will give our lives the purpose that we felt when they were close?
I'm finding it with my little preschoolers. We were clapping the other day getting ready to sing the "workout alphabet" song when one of the little ones looked up to the ceiling and hollered Hallelujah! She must of forgot that she was at school. Maybe the clapping reminded her of church. I still smile when I think of it. We all laughed.

Comment by AJ on October 16, 2010 at 7:10pm

Wow Mary - that is so cool that they are that close and that Dereck is willing to pay for his little bro to come visit. Certainly changes up the holiday, but I'm glad you have a daughter in the middle to help with the adjustment of both of the boys being away. At least we will all be here for each other with the holidays coming. The bright side is that you can buy a smaller turkey and bake one less pie!

I don't think I mentioned earlier about the USO thing .... they require an FBI background check and you have to get an airport security badge clearance. Holy moly.

Comment by AJ on October 16, 2010 at 2:37pm

Just got off the phone with the USO Coordinator at the Denver Airport. Get this! There are so many volunteers right now (in the Denver area anyway) that there is a wait list ..... one and a half years! I would never have guessed this. There is a way to get in sooner and that is to help at USO Special Events. This involves greeting all soldiers as they are coming home and being with their families; special awards dinners; etc. So I'm sending my e-mail to start that process as soon as I finish typing here. And here I was all ready to start donating a couple of days a week right now. It is a fabulous thing though that so many people want to help.

Comment by AJ on October 16, 2010 at 2:24pm

Hi Mary! You are so right - I know you are. They have gone through huge changes over these months - and most of it is down right awesome!

So are you sending your other son to spend Thanksgiving? And I don't remember, do you have other children besides these two boys? I plan to make our Thanksgiving meal during A's 10-day visit home. Then, I might volunteer at the USO on the real Thanksgiving. I am making my visit there to talk to the USO tomorrow to see what they need.

Comment by AJ on October 16, 2010 at 12:01pm

Helllllooooo! Since I haven't posted for a week - I will say right here at the beginning that I love our group and you ladies and our Sailors and have missed being here.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. B! I know you are cherishing these moments with your new little guy and I look forward to seeing pictures.

Iris - very cool that H is going to be in Hawaii - you will have so much fun going to visit - Woo Hoo!

My older son and I did go to Great Lakes last weekend to visit A at A School. It was wonderful, wonderful to see him. This time was completely different than graduation weekend. He wasn't exhausted. He wasn't sick. And yes, he was a little less excited to see Mom (or so it felt). He has settled into A school quite nicely and has the routine and rhythm down. I know that this is normal and healthy individuation and letting go ..... but it still sucks! Something seemed different ..... I'm not seeing my happy, engaging young man as much (I mean his demeanor). Things seem so much more serious and flat. The first thing he did when he got in the car was to take his electric razor out of his backpack and shave his face. He said that he was paranoid about that now as a couple of guys were denied their Liberty and didn't get to leave for the weekend as planned because their faces were not shaved close enough and well enough. He was getting in our car to leave and still feeling that pressure to have the perfect face. There is something in that that saddens me .... does anyone here understand that .... or am I being too something?

I got to drive around base on the school side of it all. It is huge and there are so many people over there. I was able to see the entry of his ship as I needed to go there to sign him out for the weekend. We had him from Friday late afternoon until Monday mid-day. It was kind of cool to see what they go through for entering the ship and all the procedure and protocol.

As the 'recovering idealist' that I am, my vision of the weekend looked slightly different than my two boys' vision of the weekend. We had two rooms so they saw each other 24/7 and I saw him/them when they got up (it did feel good to know that he was getting to sleep in). I understand that a 24 and 19 year old don't need or want to spend every waking minute with Mom .... and while I intellectually know that .... emotionally, it was a bit more challenging in that setting. Okay, so I add that here for my bit of realism and honesty ..... but otherwise, the trip was fabulous .... and we did do many of the things that we didn't have time for on graduation weekend. (That his birthday was 10.10.10 was way more cool to me than it was to him.) I had dreams of taking more pictures and posting some here for you guys .... but having more photos taken wasn't A's idea of a good time .... so I put my camera away and snapped just a couple with my iPhone when he wasn't looking! I am still very grateful for my time with him and just being able to see him.

He graduates on October 25 and will come home for ten days or so before heading to San Diego and the USS Boxer.

We flew into Milwaukee this time, which was so much easier and quicker. All of it. I should go post to upcoming groups that it is a great choice.

Have a great weekend everyone and I'll be here more than I was this past week. Smiles and Hugs all around. :)

Comment by d o on October 15, 2010 at 10:44pm

It must be rough to have a reason to go to Hawaii.....Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Comment by iris - Wahiawa, Hawaii on October 15, 2010 at 7:50pm

Hi everyone! H. called me today and she has verbal orders for Hawaii. So cool cause her best friend is Hawaiian and is planning on going to college there, plus my husband was stationed at Kaneohe Bay for 3 years when he was in the Marine Corp, so when we go visit, he can show me around. =) We didn't get to talk too long cause she was looking for her Liberty buddy to go dress shopping for the upcoming Navy Ball on Saturday. I sent her a dress but she's lost too much weight that it doesn't fit right. She also volunteered for watch Sunday morning 0000-0400 so she could go to the ball. I can't wait to hear all about it. What a great day. =)

Hope everyone is having a great start to their weekend.

Hugs and hope to hear more from you all.

Hi Teaparty - missed you but knew you were going a mile a minute doing something. Lol... Glad your husband got to chat with your son for his bday. Precious moments aren't they. I'm bailing on the Pensacola group, they just don't cut it and I'm sticking with you ladies.

Have a great weekend and sound off when you can ladies. Miss you all. =)

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