Karen(Nick's Mom)

Karen,

Sorry I haven't got hold of you sooner.  My son is at Great Lakes now in Ship 3 Div 336.  He will be leaving for Monterrey soon after PIR.  I'm wondering if your son is one of the guys he mentioned in his letter I received yesterday.  He said there were a couple of guys from Indiana that he has gotten to know fairly well that will be going to Monterrey at the same time.  I'm really glad that he got the chance to meet them.  I'm sure it will make it easier on all of them knowing that they will at least know a couple of people when they leave.

I'm still having a hard time with his leaving.  My house just seems too quiet.  He was in college at IU last year, but the feeling was different knowing that all I had to do was drive an hour to see him and I knew that he would be home on some weekends and all holidays and breaks.  It seemed like he still lived here, but this is totally different.  It also makes a difference when he is just a text, phone call or e-mail away.  I know we will get back to that where we can contact him again soon, but I'm still having a real difficult time.  My daughter also left the same time for her Senior year in college and she will be starting her new job a couple of hours away from me the day after she graduates in May and she will be getting married in July.  It also hurts a little knowing that she will no longer be living at home.  My nest seemed to empty all at once.

I've got to go for now, but would love to hear from you.  We are going to try to go to the "meet and greet" at the hotel the night before graduation.  Maybe we will get a chance to meet in person.

Tammy

We think either T/W or W/Th for BS.  Let us know if you hear a date from your SR.

Just got back to hotel with my son. He got Arabic. He leaves Chicago at 3 tomorrow. His classes start nov 15 and should graduate Apr 2013. It was an awesome experience. I can't stop hugging him.