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Comment by AJ on February 22, 2011 at 12:21pm

I think I freaked everyone out .... so deleted that one personal post.  Sorry girls.

Comment by AJ on February 22, 2011 at 11:39am

LynB - we were given this link to connect to a webcam for today's deployment launch, and as I was setting up my computer, I noticed that Coronado is listed as an option.  You might be able to catch a glimpse of that base via this link.  It might be worth a shot.  Good luck.

 

http://live6.truelook.com/face/newface.jsp?func=live&name=/ecod...

Comment by AJ on February 22, 2011 at 10:27am

As published in a local San Diego newspaper yesterday .... I copied and pasted it here so apologies for the size of the caption .... ugh.

CAMP PENDLETON: Warships head for troubled waters

3 SHIPS ARE PART OF CAMP PENDLETON'S 13TH MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNIT.

Three San Diego-based warships will deploy for seven months, starting Tuesday.

The USS Boxer, an 844-foot amphibious assault ship, will be followed by Green Bay, an amphibious transport dock, and Comstock, an amphibious dock landing ship, a Camp Pendleton spokesperson said.

The ships are part of Camp Pendleton's 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

About 2,200 Marines and 1,800 sailors will be aboard the three ships. Their mission will be to provide humanitarian aid, support operations overseas and combat piracy.

A California couple, Jean and Scott Adam, and another couple from Washington state are believed to be held hostage by Somali pirates, who seized the 58-foot sailboat Quest in the Indian Ocean last week.

The 13th MEU, also known as the "Fighting 13", was the first Marine unit to take action in Iraq in 1990, boarding two Iraqi tankers whose crew violated United Nations sanctions.

The Boxer is sixth in its Wasp class and was named for a British ship captured by the United States in the war of 1812.

 

Comment by AJ on February 21, 2011 at 10:46pm

My big girl pants have fallen off ..... and I may have wet myself ....... I waited and waited for our call to say goodbye .... when it happened, we only got ten minutes ..... he sounded so tired .... they have been working really hard to get ready to leave ...... this sucks big time ..... no tears on the call though ..... didn't expect the call to be so brief to say such a big goodbye ...... it feels like there is so much I wanted to say ................... back to reading my own words from before.  Good night.

Comment by LynB on February 21, 2011 at 8:28pm

Random side note:

Guess what arrived yesterday?  That darn official packet of photos taken in GL of A in his dress blues.  First freaking picture I've had of him except for one taken on my brother in law's cell phone at PIR.   I'm thrilled (because he looks so good!) and still slightly annoyed that it took him 6 months to mail them.  But they are already in their paper frames and in pride of place in the living room :-)

Comment by d o on February 21, 2011 at 6:40pm

OOOOHHH AJ     Just so you know, my husband is laying on the couch laughing at me because I can't stop crying.  He wanted to know why I was crying, so I read your beautiful post to him and again I couldn't stop crying.  We're both in awe of your eloquent words.  You have so profoundly penned what our collective mother hearts feel in this transitioning time between boyhood and now manhood. 

My husband (the Vietnam Vet) said, "I didn't know my mom had all those feelings when I left.  I just knew that I was excited to go, and I thought she would be on board with that."  Just watching me has helped him finally see what he put his mother through 40 years ago.  Okay, no wonder our sailors don't get it, apparently it takes 40 years and a child of their own to know this.

We will definitely light the blue candle and being praying for fair winds for your dear A and you.  We will add both your names to our pray groups list tonight.  

I've copied both yours and Iris posts. They are so beautiful they need to be posted on a plaque at every PIR and given to the mothers.  I hope we have your permission to print them. Hallmark would be lucky to have you!  God bless you tomorrow, and may His presence give you peace.

Comment by AJ on February 21, 2011 at 6:36pm

It must have been something like - keep feelin' good and keep on ridin' .... love knowing that you are this happy.

And then I wrote something about a strange dish we had in the Caribbean side of the country this weekend.  They have lots of bananas over there .... and this was weird.  You take green bananas and peel them.  Place them in a large pan with water ... whole.  Put some white vinegar in the pan, a dash of salt and a Panamanian chile pepper cut in half (which is really hot).  Boil these for about 15 - 20 minutes and serve whole.  It sounds horrid, right ..... but with the right food, they were actually kind of good.  Kind of like a spicy potato sort of thing .... strange to eat something that is normally so sweet and have it be totally different.  I think this might be a 'don't try this at home' thing.  I'm not sure what else I wrote, so maybe I should take this as a sign to stop, eh?

Comment by AJ on February 21, 2011 at 6:32pm

Dang - it cut off the last of my post again!  There must be a limit .... and of course, it's Iris and I that keep typing and typing and typing ......

 

Comment by AJ on February 21, 2011 at 4:47pm

Good Afternoon Girls!  Yuppers d o ....... I still have my big girl panties on and up ..... (thanks to Mary for the metaphor) ..... but they are only staying up with a lot of Super Glue, duct tape, miles and miles of bubble wrap, and sheer will ...... and the only thing keeping me from being in San Diego right now is the raw embarrassment of such bulky big girl pants ............. so, in less than 24 hours A will be deployed ........ breathe in ...... breathe out ..... breathe in .... breathe out .... oh Mary, I could use a massage! ..........  I am trying to visualize his youthful, expectant, and innocent excitement for this next chapter in his Navy adventure to be beginning ..... and will do my utmost to sit still in my breathing, knowing he is living his new dream .... a young man's eyes opening further to the big, amazing world beyond his home and his experience so far ...... may he have all protection and care of the US Navy .... may he keep a touchstone in his heart to all that he knows to be true, and to the infinite love that surrounds him from afar ..... may he have the courage to face any uncertain or fearful moments with his amazing character, strength, perseverance, kindness compassion and integrity, for himself and for others .......... may his angels be in front of him, behind him, above him and below him, to his left and to his right ..... and please keep him safe until he comes home again filled with the spark and passion of all that he will experience ..... may the difficult days build him up, rather than tear him down ....... and may God's grace and speed bring their homecoming back to San Diego safely and proudly ....... and no matter what happens, I will be there waiting, waving, smiling ...... until I can look in his face once more and hug the new person he will have become.  

I have a 'sort of blue' candle down here that I will light in the morning as I watch the webcam of them pulling out of the Bay ..... please oh please, let there be internet (sketchy service here sometimes).  If you still have one, or any color, please would you light it for him/them?  10:00 a.m. PST.

I have another piece of story to share .... but trying to decide if it will be too embarrassing or okay ........ will give it a few minutes to ponder and will decide.  Then I will move to some new pictures that I didn't get to do yesterday because internet was out a lot.  I am going to go re-read Iris' words of sharing the other day and will check back in.

Comment by d o on February 21, 2011 at 1:05am

WOW has this site ever got interesting!  AJ keep it coming, I 'm loving it. A's job sounds so interesting.  I'm sure he's trying to wrap his head around it.  Could that be part of the macho attitude?  I know it is taking everything inside of you to keep from hoping a plane and just showing up anyway.  Way to keep those big girl panties from snapping.  This has got to be one of the hardest things in the world for you.  I know it would be for me.  I hope keeping us enthralled with your exciting life will distract you enough to help dull the pain.  I really do enjoy your posts. There's a couple of things I don't get though.  You're afraid of spiders, but not volcanoes?!!  I think  you made a good choice on the meat...just saying.

  Mary you have hidden talents. We're gonna have to watch you!

Iris, I think I'll have to print out that speech and read it once a week...maybe we all should.  It was great, and so true. Once again you lend us Navy Moms wisdom.  I hope you're feeling great now that you're not drugged to the gills.

Nicole, you have to feel great on so many levels!  I know your grandma must want to squeeze you all the time!  How fun to have some one else that wants to too;-)

The weather was so beautiful this 3 day weekend, that I had to pull my dusty motorcycle out of insolation and ride!  I love a full moon, and there's nothing I like better than to ride with it shining on me.  It's been a tease to me these pass 2 winters not to be able to. Can you image how wonderful it felt to get out and ride finally until after 10:30pm with the moon on my shoulders.  I finally had the ride I've been dreaming about for the last year and a half.  I feel like a chick bustin out of its shell.  Its good to feel good again.  I hope you all do too.

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