Last weekend my family and I attended the PIR or graduation ceremony for my son and the other recruits. If anyone is reading this and considering whether or not to go, GO! The ceremony was impressive. When the Sailors started marching in, I became teary. The sound of the feet marching in step, watching them parade past the families and dignitaries, listening to them call out the Sailor's Creed in unison all are experiences you should have. The video clips do not do it justice. I hope…

Today I woke up at 5:30. By 6:30 I was up. I am a teacher and on summer break, and it's Saturday. Why couldn't I sleep?! I fixed some breakfast, and at 7:30 I went for a walk/ jog. I'll admit I am not a little girl, and am working to get in shape. I pushed myself to do more than I have in the past, and found I really can do more than I think I expected.  It is what I always told my son in the past when he wanted to give up. At one point I had almost decided to start walking, and told myself…

I thought I was doing great. I wasn't crying, or whining about my son being gone. Today I realized I needed to change what I was doing though. I was writing to him every day, thinking of him constantly, and had retreated into my house. Waiting in the silence. Waiting for the box, or letters. Today I got up at 8:30, and did little things around the house. By 10:30 I took a nap. I wasn't especially sleepy, just tired. I realized at noon, that this was not good. I cannot retreat into silent…

Yesterday we delivered my son to the recruiters. Today I drove into town to the base to see him sworn into active duty. I got teary last night and today, but didn't really cry. I thought I was doing amazingly. Then when I got home my phone had slipped under the seat, and I thought I had lost it. I fell apart. The picture of him before he got on the bus, and the message that told me "see you later momma, I love you" were on the phone. Thinking I had lost it, and I might have to get another…

I just watched the Memorial Day Concert in DC on PBS. I sniffed my way through it. I was once told thank you for raising a son who was willing to serve. I just want to pass that on the moms here. Thank you for raising sons and daughters who are willing to serve our nation. My  dad was in the Navy, and always spoke of his days in the Navy with pride and love. My grandmother spoke of waiting to receive letters and information from my dad, and treasuring those. Soon my son will leave, and I…

We are now to the last two handfuls of days. It is in our thoughts often, and wherever we go, our friends are all saying "good luck", "be careful", "we are proud of you", "thank you for serving", and "we love you" to my future sailor. (It makes me teary when people thank me for raising a son who wants to serve.) I know he is thinking about leaving soon as well. He told me that he is not a good writer, and needs to stay focused on what he will be doing, so if he doesn't write that is why.…

Today I realized that my son's countdown to the date he leaves has trumped the countdown to the end of school. I teach school and the students have 11 more days. I was with some teachers at the end of the day today, and one asked, "How many more days?" While the others said "11", I said "29". Everyone asked, "What?" I realized that I was now counting down until my boys leaves, and had  no idea how many more days we had until the end of school.

Yesterday on the way to the gym…

Tonight we wait and see. I just found out that my son's date to leave for basic may be moved from June 6 to next week. Some initial tears on my part, but trying  not to cry any. We have some fun things planned already this weekend, which will make a nice weekend for him. If it happens, then he will go for an overnight visit to his grandparents.

My son isn't due to leave until June. We are treasuring all our holidays, birthdays, and crazy moments. This Thanksgiving the extended family met at a restaurant. A lady came up to my son and told him she had noticed him because he looked like her son. Her son is a marine and is currently deployed. She gave him a hug as she left. After that I got a bit teary watching him with the cousins. Then my sister said that him leaving is just like sending a kid to college. I have sent a kid to college…