GROTON, CT. SUBSCHOOL & "A" SCHOOL MOMS

I'm here in So Cal too-Rancho Cucamonga.  That's a lot of miles to cover!!!  Not sure if I'm up for it!!!

Right, I knew that! We are both So Cal gals!

Annette-thanks for the info.on pizza places in Groton. I am counting down the days until we see and hug our son! I am not going to think of the "till next time" part.I don't good-bye, I prefer so-long or till next time. Hoping to have our son home for Christmas. Thanks for the details on your road trip to CT from CA. - Oy!That is what my husband and I will be doing in October.We live in San Bernardino. We will be driving our Sailors truck out to him and flying home. I think I am up for it - hey, our son is on the other end - I AM up for it! We miss that boy sooooo much.....young man!

DeAnn - I too am thankful for the internet communication with our Sailors and other NAVY moms. It must have been much more difficult for our mothers and grandmothers to not have contact with their sons while serving their country or to be in contact with other Mom's for support. I have a letter from my uncle to my grandmother while he was was in the NAVY WWII - beautiful! And we get to text - it is so instant. I know it will change while they are underway - I'll take it while I can! NAVYFORMOMS and FB info. has helped us tremendously through this NAVY journey. 

mrsb - I am glad you mentioned the I.E. Mom's group lunch @ Mission Inn.I hope to make it. It would be great to meet new I.E. Mom's. Another group is Blue Star Mothers Corona, Ca. - this group is involved with collecting items for care packages, helping deployed families, attends welcome home's and deployments, as well as beautiful support for all involved.They are a national organization.

Rascal73-it would be wonderful to share pizza with you and yours in Groton! 

Amandamom and Sharon - awesome to hear of the graduation of A school! Job well done for your Sailors. Fair winds and following seas!

if my son is to arrive in groton oct 19th, will he have any free time on thanksgiving

Yes, he likely will,, but not necessarily able to take  leave, just liberty. And unless he has blue card liberty, he has to report back to barracks every night.

You're welcome Fathomom!

stylist613-I am pretty sure they must meet their qualifications first, it takes a while.I have mentioned before, from our experience only,Groton holds these young men accountable and they must earn first. We are glad Groton does! Blue card allows further miles in travel on leave, and overnight stay. Perhaps you can go to him! Navy Lodge is close buy and is great in price. Book now for Thanksgiving. Did I sound like a commercial? I hope your son feels at home and thrives in Groton. Our son is very happy in Groton. YOUR home will always be HOME, this will be his new home for a while.

Rascal73-congratulations to your Sailor on BESS graduation. Wonderful for you to offer taking pic's. LaxDogsmom did it for us - brilliant!! The only way we would of seen it happen! Safe travel. 

Have any NAVY mom's out there looked into joining Blue Star Mothers? I have recently joined a chapter here in So. Cal. It is a national organization congressionally chartered in 1942. They provide support for active duty service personnel, promote patriotism, assists Veterans organizations, collect and assemble and ship care packages, attend welcome home  and deployment. Wonderful support in many ways. 

Fathomom, I'm still thinking about the blue star moms.  I tend to spread myself a little thin sometimes, especially going into the fall.  I know there was a meeting last night but my husband was out of town and I really just wanted to be home by myself!!  I know, greedy, greedy, greedy!  Can I come to a meeting and see if I want to join?  Maybe the next one?

stylist613 try googling it, with your city at the end? :)

Rascal73, My grandson will be graduating BESS on October 4, but I will not be there.  I would appreciate whatever pics u might get.  I will friend u and give u the info.  Thanks for ur kind offer.  Give him a BIG hug for me, if u wouldn't mind. lol

Hello stylist613...our son went fishing on base.  He said there is a lake near the Exchange and went with a buddy.  He just bought a car from a sailor that was leaving Groton.  We tried to discourage it, but he is his own guy, so he got his own loan and is happy to have his own transportation.  He drove down to New Jersey to visit his aunt (my sister) over the Labor Day weekend. 

LaxDogsMom, I hope it wasn't Rock Lake he was fishing in! It is right near my son's barracks and when I asked if he has been swimming there (my friends and I used to go, it was such a neat place), he said it is off limits, declared a hazard zone or something. But, he says, guys do fish there! If it's unsafe for humans to swim in, I would wonder about the fish! North Lake is also on base, used to be for officers and their families only, but now open to anyone, He could probably also do some good fishing in the river!

Some of you may have seen my post on the FB page, but some not. I am asking for prayers for my brother Steve, Ret USMC. He was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer today. Next step is a referral for a good oncologist, who will then do more biopsies, xrays and whatever to determine where it has spread and how quickly it is growing, to decide on a course of treatment. My brother feels really good, said if not for a biopsy would not know he was sick. He has a strong faith and a very positive outlook, which will be tested a lot. His wife was diagnosed with and treated for uterine cancer a couple years back, and is in excellent health today. He has a long road ahead I am sure, and definitely a rough one. This brother is 2 years older than me, he sang at my wedding and at our oldest son's funeral. I appreciate you spreading the word and sending up prayers. I will keep you updated as I hear anything. Thank you in advance ladies, bless you.

Annette, you, your brother and your family are all in my prayers.  God is good! God bless you all. {{{HUG}}}

Oh dear Annette, I'm so sorry to hear about your brother!!!  So many prayers are coming your way.  God Bless him and keep him. 

Annette - I am sorry you are going through this difficult time. I will keep your brother and family in healing prayer and I truly pray that God guides him and his medical team in every way. 

LaxDogsMom  / Annette , I am not sure if this is the same lake that our Sailor mentioned.  It is on the base and is now off limits due to West Nile. A few tests of water have come back positive. So glad I had recently mailed OFF Bug Spray his way! 

mrsb & stylist613 - yes google w/ your city name. I hope you have one in your area. mrsb, you can attend a meeting anytime and never greedy, greedy, greedy. Us Mom's need to learn to do a little for us! We often give, give and give it is perfectly good and ok to do for ME! Like I said before one does not have to be a member of any organization to donate prayer,  time or items to our Armed Forces. You do so much already - you go girl! And thank you.

Well, LaxDogsMom, you are not alone.ALL of our Sailors are becoming their own guy. I am sure he will be safe.  Our son feels he needs his truck with him. That is the reason my husband and I are driving across AMERICA (literally....we are in So. Cal.!) Could he sell this one and get another out there....yes, could we ship it too him....yes (it would be less expensive). SO, we are road trippin and taking in the Fall scenery - we have always wanted to see the East Coast at this time of year. It's all good. Besides our Sailor is waiting for us on the other end!! ALL good! We have not seen him since P.I.R. end of May - we can hardly wait to hug him!! I cry just thinking about it. I will try to do my best not to cry all over him. Hooyah! Keeping ALL of our Sailors in prayer. 

FATHOMOM, I am so happy for you!!! You will get to see the trees in beautiful autumn shades. I imagine, because in TX we only have hot and not so hot weather!!! HAHAHAHA!!!  You go ahead and cry all you want!!! You are the momma and have special rights!!! :-)  By the time you see your beautiful Sailor, you will be so happy that you will laugh instead of cry when you see him! OK, maybe not. I cried at PIR so I will prob cry again when I see him at Christmas break.  I last saw my Son in June (PIR). You are so blessed!!! Hug him as many times as you can. And tell him you are making a memory each time!!!! HAHAHA one you want to hold and take back with you. Have a safe trip there and back! And please thank your Sailor for his Service to our beautiful Country of the Brave and the free!!! BIG HUG!!!!!

I think North Lake got closed for West Nile, Rock Lake had already been closed. My brother works on base and confirmed it.

Thanks everyone for the prayers. I will post here when I know more>

Peace.

Annette, thinking of you and your family during this difficult time.

FATHOMOM, last time I saw my son he had on his dress whites and I hugged and cried after he looked down and said "Mom you got makeup on me!"  Then he wanted to know if we had a Tide stain stick.  LOL

Kevin's submom - tooo funny. My Sailor was introduced to Tide stain stick - he loved them. I believe in October they put the summer whites away and bring out the blue dress uniform, like the ones in their P.I.R. formal picture. Dark colors will hide stains - yay! 

ProudNavyMom - I WILL cry.....there is no way I cannot!! I miss him so very much. Hey, I am a mom, his mom and he knows crying is bound to happen!

FATHOMOM - my son says that when he wore whites, he spent so much in cleaning them that he just bought new ones but he says the blues are more expensive uniforms and believe it or not they get just as messed up but cost more to clean and replace.  He says something about wearing his uniform when he takes me back to the airport, and I said - just wear your regular clothes.

They do have rules about wearing their uniforms - 24 pages long - and can't put hands in pockets, eat or smoke while wearing their dress uniforms.  They can't wear working uniforms to take someone to the airport - it has to be dress.

They can't wear flight jackets unless flying?  I am still trying to get over the no talking on the cell phone while walking.  My son says he has to be able to salute at any time.  Wow!  I was expressly told that when I come on the base, I must be with him at all times and not to whip out my camera and take pictures. that is a No-No.  So many things to learn.  Moms should be exempt by reason of being a mom.

Random question here but does anyone know when, approximately, the school shuts down at Christmas time?  Just trying to get an idea of when our Sailor might be coming home.  thanks!!

mrsb! I spoke to my Sailor earlier today and he either said Dec 16-27 or Dec 23-Jan 3rd? I was so excited i didn't even think of writing it down!!!! I believe our Sailors have 3 weeks if they have been saving their time off. But he said he better be careful and return to Groton on time. He wants to make sure he follows the rules! :-)  Praise God for our Navy! Makes good Sailors out of our young men! And Sailors are more than men! They are brave!!!! I love my Sailor.

mrsb, My son came home last year on Dec 21st. He had had one week of A school at that time.

oops forgot about school! Thank God we still have time to work on that.  So excited to have Christmas to look forward and seeing my Sailor.

so I just mapquest and from groton to my front door is 313 miles, did i read somewhere they can only travel 300 while on liberty

stylist613, I believe there is a difference between Liberty and Leave.  Liberty you have during the day.  Leave is the time off they have accumulated. I may have it all wrong. So don't go by this.  You may want to go to the Sub moms group. Mark or William know all about this.

stylist613, I just read the files again on the fb page for BESS. Even blue card/phase 3 liberty they can only go 250 miles from base, only on weekends, and can sleep off base on weekends. So yes, leave allows him to travel wherever, liberty does not, unfortunately. But 313 miles is not so far for you to go and enjoy a weekend from time to time!

navymom2013 - yup, lots of no-no's for our guys on base. Our Sailor told us the same about staying on base with him. So when we visit,  we will stay at Naval Lodge. He is blue card so he can stay with us. Oh well, our Sailors are the ones who must take good care of their uniforms now. Too bad there is not a dark blue Tide stain stick. Our boys are getting ready for the CT. cold - our son is a So. Cal. guy and was introduced to Chicago cold during BOOT. Oh I miss that boy of ours. I pray that all of us will get to have our son's  home for Christmas. 

Fathomom, only a couple more weeks and you will get to hug your son!  I'll beat you to it though, as I only have 8 more days til I can hug mine!  And any others who might be handy!!!  So looking forward to seeing you there!!

mrsb, 8 more days before you see your Sailor!!! YAY!!!! I am so happy for you!!!!  Thank you for hugging our Sailors if you see them!!! Give your Sailor and extra hug from all of us Navy Moms!! If you do see mine, please tell him I miss him and love him and hug tight!!! hahahaha!!! God bless you and your Sailor!!! God bless us all. {{{NMH}}}

I certainly will ProudNavyMom!!

mrsb you need a t-shirt that says Warning: I randomly give free hugs to Sailors!

All of us here know how special this trip if for you and are so happy for you! I know you'll have a grand time and you deserve it :-) Can't wait to hear all the details!

FATHOMOM, our son told us the weather took an immediate turn recently. So glad my last shipment contained some warmer clothing. I suggested maybe he should pack up one of the boxes I've sent and return some of the cooler clothing to make room. He said that sounded like a good idea. 

Also wishing you a safe and fun trip to Groton! The rest of us will continue our grueling wait for December but we can do it like others before us! 

Kevsmom, that's a great idea about the t-shirt!!  Not sure if I have enough time though.  It would be fun though!  And yes, I'll take lots of pictures and hope to meet some of the other mom's sons as well.  :)

Good morning ladies!  I'm hoping to have fun but after talking with our son yesterday I am sorely disappointed.  He has duty on Sunday and the following Saturday.  He has tried everything to switch with someone but apparently it's not so easy.  So we will have next saturday evening, little bits of him on Sunday then we're gone until the following friday when we'll have our pizza party with fathomom and others, then only bits of him on that Saturday.  I'm just beside myself.  It's a long way to go for just a few hours with him but I guess I'll take it.  And we're having greyhound medical issues-geeze, what a week.

Thank you Kellyd!  just sent you a request!

When do you arrive in CT mrsb? Are you going to be there for a graduation? (too lazy to scroll back through the entries, LOL)

Hi Annette!  No graduations, just to visit.  We had planned a trip back there last year and for some reason it never happened.  Since our youngest is there it seemed like we should go this year and see some historical places.  We're trying to fit things in around his schedule but now it's all up in the air.  I'm still going of course but would really like to spend more time with him.  

Oh and we arrive this saturday afternoon.  :)