Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

Hi Norfolk Navy Family & Friends, My sailor will soon leave Great Lakes and report to Norfolk at the end of month.  I have so much to learn from all of you. So grateful for this group :)

For anyone in Norfolk/Portsmouth this weekend - the westbound lanes of the I-264 Downtown Tunnel (to Portsmouth) will be closed 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights this weekend. Traffic will be detoured to the Midtown Tunnel.

My Sailor finally got his orders after being released from limited duty, he will be heading back to Great Lakes for A school for 4 months, since he had the blood clot go to his lung he was disquailified from submarines and had to choose a new rate. He has been so patient during his long wait. I thank the Lord for giving him good health so that he can go back to doing things he enjoys.

donnab

great news!  You must feel relief and pride all at once. 

What I don't understand is how your sailor is sent back to duty and another one of our sailor is sent home.  It doesn't make sense to me.  Sorry for celebration and griping in the same email.  I still can't get over it.  Do I need forgiveness here or is it justified anger?

jw'smom

Welcome to Norfolk group.  Pointers: it is a big base but good reason to take up walking.  Many feel that you have to have a car there.  My son has managed just fine for the last 9 months without one.  There is a bus system that will take him lots of places.  He needs to start socializing at the MWR (morale, welfare, and recreation) bldg.  Free games, internet, etc.  Bowling alley, movie theatre at the mall, bus takes them to the mall, etc.

Any other ideas out there ladies?

NavyMom2013 and CO-TwinSailorsMom

I understand completely if I had my way and if my son was ok with it I had rather him had been sent home. In case something like this happened again. I will always worry no matter what.

I suppose the doctors know best, my son ask them about getting out or staying in and the time it would take them to process him out he would have been almost finished with his enlistment. But I am sure it would have been the doctors final decision.

Welcome Forever proud!  Sent you a Friend request :)  

I'm saying this with kindness and wishing everyone involved well:  I personally think it's time to stop speculating about recent situations about which we don't have all the information, nor should we.  These are private issues involving sailors, the Navy and their families and that needs to be respected.  

Hello everyone--

I have been following this group for a while, but not posting much ever since I knew my son would be going here for his next duty station.  Well, the time has come--his 30 days leave is over and I will be taking him to the airport tomorrow for his flight to Norfolk.  I am nervous in one respect, but glad in another,  to have him back in the States and not across the ocean.  We will be able to stay in contact by cell phone again....lol...  I am looking forward to being a more active member of this group. 

Thank you Navy Mom 2013, I appreciate the tip.  I will relay to my sailor about the transportation offered!

Hi everyone! We just got back yesterday from seeing our sailor son in Norfolk.  Does it ever get easier to tell them good-bye?  I am so bummed today and was not ready to come home.  Of course the weather started getting nicer the few days before we left.  When we left Saturday, he kept wanting us to stay longer.  It was really hard to tell him we couldn't. 

It seemed like during the week when we picked him up we had time to visit during supper.  Then once he showered he couldn't stay awake.  We were waking him up at 4:30 a.m. and leaving our condo every morning at 5:00 to take him to the shipyard.  It was about a 30 minute drive.  So really the weekends were the main time we spent with him.  I will say though, that I WILL NOT MISS THAT TRAFFIC from Virginia Beach to Norfolk. ha  We do not have that crazy stuff where we live and it was making me nervous. I do miss the sound of the ocean though.  Where we live in Illinois is blah compared to the east coast. Even the drive home through the mountains was beautiful. 

The room he stays in on the base on the weekends is even way far away from the main gate of the base.  He doesn't have his motorcycle out there yet, so he usually just stays in his room all weekend unless going out to eat.  Those cab fares are getting expensive for him to do stuff all the time.  He also has to use a cab when he leaves the shipyard during the week to do anything.  His room was so sterile so it made his dad and I feel better to take a TV and some of his clothes.  Then before we left we went to the NEX and bought him a bunch of stuff so it looks a little more lived in when we left.  He wanted me to bring his favorite blankets and a couple of his pillows.  Knowing he had some comforts from home put a smile on his face. 

Don't get me wrong, he is glad he chose the NAVY, but it is just hard for mom and dad and his sisters to not see him more often.  Hopefully he will get back in the swing of work this week and not be too bummed we are gone.  He has never once told us he is homesick or wants to come home.  He is very private with his emotions so I don't always know what he is feeling.  I couldn't believe how many sailors I saw sitting by themselves eating at the NEX in the food court.  They were eating and messing with their phones the whole time. ha  My son is the same way and it makes me sad.  But I know many kids are fine with doing things by themselves.

Sorry for the long post! :)

HuffyMom23 - I have not seen my son since early January and it was so good to read your post. I miss him so much.  Like your son, he is very private and does not tell us too much.  He just arrived in Norfolk in mid March and still stays on the ship.  We plan to go out and see him (we live in N. Minnesota) the end of June. We are staying at the Navy Lodge outside of the base.  We are hoping to fly but it is getting expensive for all 3 of us.  How long did it take you to drive out?  How long did you stay?  Anything you can suggest would be appreciated!

It took us about 15 hours.  We divided it up between 2 days.  We stayed at the Navy Lodge the first night we got there which is very close to the base.  For us that part didn't matter because our son is at the AEB shipyard and it is still a bit of a drive from there. But the Navy Lodge is awesome for the price and very clean.  I love them!  We might go back out in the fall and we are planning to stay at the Navy Lodge then if we go.  My brother lives in Virginia Beach but he is out for about 4 or 5 months on his deployment.  We missed seeing him. :(  We left on April 24th and got back yesterday.  We stayed at a condo on Virginia Beach for 1 week.

My son will talk to us about everything that is going on with him out there and usually calls us about every night.  But, when it comes to his emotions, he just won't say anything.  Honestly if he would have said I really miss you guys and don't want you to leave without me, I would have lost it. ha  But this was his decision to join the Navy, so I know he understands that he will be away from everyone. He is a strong kid and as long as his path steers the way he would like in the Navy, he will most likely make a career out of it.  Two of my brothers were in for 20 years and my brother-n-law was in the Air Force for 20 years.  So he has good role models. But I never missed my brothers like I do my son! ha ha  Would it also be a long drive for you? My biggest adjustment was that traffic.  I did every bit of the driving the whole trip because my husband never drives my car and isn't comfortable in it.  He has a big quad cab truck and he is used to sitting up high.  So I wasn't real happy about doing all of the driving.  Usually he does. :) You might be used to crazy traffic.

HuffyMom 23 - we are from Duluth, Minnesota so not used to much traffic.  I do have a sister in Minneapolis so we drive there but is it worse than that?!  We are thinking of flying into Richmond and driving to Norfolk. 

Hello to all.

My Sailor will be heading to Norfolk in a couple of weeks. Her PIR was 04/18 so here I go again, moving along, with the help of N4Ms, of learning as she moves on to the next part of her journey in Navy life. Just wanted to join the group and say Hello!

mariecb - I drive a 2 lane highway that eventually merges into 4 lanes on my way to work.  So I am not used to major traffic. When you are not use to it, then it is an adjustment.  I just hope when I go back to work tomorrow that I remember to not drive 75 or 80. ha I am sure it will be nothing for you guys. The end of June will be here before you know it. I bet he is excited for you to come..

HuffyMom- What part of IL do you live?

Mariecb - 

I have used both Norfolk and Richmond airports and Norfolk is much closer to the base - about 10 minutes. Richmond is a good 30+ minutes depending on traffic. Flying out of Richmond the TSA there are stricter than anything I have encountered before.

Last week I rode from Michigan back to the base with my son. We took the Ohio turnpike which becomes I-76 E; Merge onto  I-70 E at exit 161 towards Breezewood, PA. Breezewood, PA (very easy off and on) and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express, which was very clean. We ate at the sports bar directly in front of the hotel and our waitress’s husband was retired Navy. We then took US 522 South towards Winchester, VA. Next take US 17 South towards Fredericksburg, VA and then I-95 South towards Richmond, VA. The final leg was 64 E to Norfolk, VA. This was a great route, traffic wasn’t bad, and it takes you through the Blue Ridge Mountains and north end of the Shenandoah Valley – so picturesque! Loves of places to stop for gas, restroom, and food. 

DARmom - thanks for that helpful information.  If I could get my husband to take more vacation I would love to drive out there!

Nice article about visiting Norfolk in yesterday's New York Daily News ...

"Looking for a great road-trip this spring? Perhaps a little farther south than the Washington Mall cherry-blossoms? Then beautiful Norfolk, Va., is the perfect locale to spend a few days, or better yet an entire week."

Link:  http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/road-trip-norfolk-va-article-...

Tracy - I live in a small town outside of Springfield.

We're actually not that far apart. I'm just south of Shelbyville. Small world.

Oh this is confusing for me because I am a Tracy also. I live in a small town outside of nowhere. 

That's the very reason why my user name is my actual name. I don't have to try to figure out if someone is talking to me. :)

Happy Mother's Day, all of you Navy Moms! May the Lord bless you on your special day. And even though you may be separated from your sons and daughters you can be proud that you are their moms.  On your special day, spend some time remembering them as they grew from babyhood to adulthood and may all those memories bring a smile to your face and joy in your heart!  :) Yvonne

Thank you Yvonne, I wish the same to all of the Navy Mom's too. I will be missing my son this Mother's Day, as will many Mom's I am sure. Prayers for our Sailors safety where ever they may be on this special day and every day.

Yvonne - I pretty much did just what you suggested some tears mostly joy.  I finally finished my son's photo albums. I had them done up until high school.  So I finished that up just the other day.  I even looked through the old ones.  Such great memories.

Thanks BReady, got a box with goodies yesterday!  

Thinking of holidays - here's a Memorial Day travel reminder from Navy FFR, maybe your sailor will take you along!  :)  Reservations http://get.dodlodging.net/

Beautiful flowers, B-Ready!!

Happy Mother's Day to all you wonderful Navy Moms!!

B-Ready

Oh, how sweet!  You must be so proud and can't wait till you see him again.  Love that mother son picture.  It speaks a thousand words and with true love a son has for mom.

My sailor sent me chocolate covered strawberries, they were delivered on Mother's Day! So sweet of him, he called me and we also Facetimed later in the day after the strawberries were delivered. Love my son, he has always been so thoughtful on special days.

B-Ready  What a great idea to put your story on paper for your family to have it will be something they will cherish for a life time.  Good luck 

Can anyone tell me a good moving company that the military can use?  My son is wanting to have his motorcycle shipped to him.  I am not sure who would be dependable to use.  He has been asking around but doesn't seem to be getting any help from the people he has talked to.  I told him I would ask on here because moms always know something. ha It would be getting moved from Illinois. We have tried our best to convince him not to get a motorcycle, but he is stubborn.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Hello and good morning to all!

I'm a newbie here and so grateful for this group and N4Ms.

My daughter is home on leave now and will be going to Norfolk next week. I know she has been in contact with her sponsor in Norfolk. Since this will be the next step in her Navy journey, can you moms help me to come up with questions I should have her ask her sponsor before she leaves?

thanks!

Leach73,

one questions she needs to ask is how she is going to get from the airport to the base and where she will be staying.  quite a few sailors fly into the airport and have to find their own way to the base and have had to get a hotel room for the night because nobody was there to help them.

if she is not assigned to a ship then she will need to know where she is going to be staying, if she is assigned to a ship then she will be assigned berthing there. 

if she has a car and is planning on driving it to norfolk she will need to find out where she can park it.

hope this gives you a good start.

Leach73 - what Duhhuh said!  

Be sure your daughter has her sponsor's cellphone #, and tell her don't be shy about calling or texting the day before and/or day of, to confirm that the sponsor has her flight info if she's flying in; and what the lodging arrangement is.  I had to rescue a sailor last fall who arrived (from overseas, no less!) to find out his sponsor was not only absent from the airport, but partying somewhere - he'd forgotten all about the arriving sailor, no room lined up, nada.

Her sponsor should also let her know when and where exactly she is to check in to her new command, how she'll get there, and what uniform she is expected to wear.  

I'm sure it will go smoothly; how exciting for her and for you!  

abuon18 - thanks!  I will check into that company.  I am also going to check with a motorcycle dealership tomorrow.  Since he is buying it from his cousin, it is making it a little more tricky to do everything.

  We told him we will help with all this stuff now, but after he gets it out there, it is his problem. It is being delivered to us this weekend, then I need to get all the insurance switched over to him.  I also need to order plates for him too.  I told him I think it would have been easier buying one out there. ha  I am hearing that we should order his license plates from his home state and not Virginia.  Does this sound correct?

I am also glad my son had an awesome sponsor that picked him up at the airport and took good care of him when he first got sent to Norfolk. 

Hi....my son had a great sponsor ....only problem he had was base is huge and you need a car.....We drove his down to him ....he would have not have survived without it....cabs are expensive...and its important to get off base and do fun things...he lives to fish so  car have him opportunity to explore find fishing s pots.  His time in Norfolk soon over....I will be leaving group....Goodluck to the new sailors stationed there.take care

Welcome ALNavyMom!  There are some good programs for Single Sailors at Norfolk.  Activities and liberty programs are here - http://www.discovermwr.com/navalstationnorfolk/ and keep an eye on https://www.facebook.com/NavalStationNorfolk.  

John and Yvonne Wagner have a ministry that reaches out to sailors and they are members of this group :)  They have sailors over to their home on weekends for dinner and game night; sailors hang out, help with cooking, whatever :)  Here's their page to get in touch with them - John and Yvonne Wagner.

Thank so much to you wonderful ladies with helping me out! I really do appreciate it.

If anything else comes to mind, please let me know. I will def. be checking in to see. i'll be praying for everything to go smoothly too! 

Marcy - special thanks to you! Don't know if you remember me but i was part of the Corpsman group and then found out my Sailor signed as Undes...It is nice to reconnect with you on this group. Your help is priceless!