The Box 2013

[YooperMom]

On July 1, 2013 our daughter left for Milwaukee with her friend Bri. Yep, h.s. buds joined the Navy together and actually got the same bc date!

We met at the local recruiting office.  There were friends & family.  Recruiter POP arrived and we all started talking & laughing - trying not to cry.  We took pictures and met Bri's family.  So thankful for just a few more minutes together.

When they pulled out of the parking lot most went there separate ways...but my dad decided to come over for coffee.  I didn't encourage him to stay long...this was MY time to grieve, my time to let myself cry/scream/laugh/whatever.  I went to her room and just looked around at all the memories.  I didn't like it when we moved to this town, but now I am so thankful for all the opportunities she's had. After the hysterics I fell asleep on her bed holding her Build-A-Bear...dressed in a little sailor uniform that I had surprised her with last Christmas...had to dig forever to find the box she had packed her bear away in. 

Texted with her through email when they got to Milwaukee.  Just enough to know they made it and she was "meeting people".  Well, I should hope so!  We didn't raise no wallflower.  Then again to say "good night".

I texted in the morning, I thought it was early enough that she wouldn't have left for MEPS...but I didn't get a reply til 1:02 p.m.  Bri, herself, & 10 other recruits were in a van heading to GL!  She didn't call, didn't want to talk in front of people (maybe cry?)...so we texted til she said she was going to take a nap.

I got "the call" just after 3 p.m.  The "scripted" call. I started asking her questions (like I haven't been reading about this for a year!) and she only hesitated a heartbeat...and then kept going.  I talked over her and said "I forgot about the script...keep talking, 'cause all I'm going to say is 'I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOV...'" "Got to go. <click>"  Sat there and just sobbed.  That was the loudest click ever!

I was very numb for 2 days.  Kept the drapes closed, didn't answer the phone...just like I was mourning.  After that I got my butt in gear.  Showered, started cleaning house, getting my act together.  I mean life DOES go on and I don't want it passing me by.

I waited for 8 days before I called her recruiter. He said he should have her address & possibly PIR date in a week.  So when I talked to him I was just ecstatic that I he did and I could finally write to her!  Got the addy out to family, the boyfriend, and other friends.  And THEN got a quick card out in the mail!  :)

So ALL of that just to say that today, yes TODAY I got the box.  Wasn't home when Fedex came...grabbed the sticky off the door and prayed all the way to the terminal that it was there and not still in a truck running around town. 

And sooooo (copied from a post of mine earlier):  I got a box of dirt....ty laundry! I got a box of dirt....ty laundry!  Yep, I'm running around the house like Johny Depp ( I got a jar of dirt, I got a jar of dirt) from Pirates...I NEVER thought I would be so happy to have laundry to do.  So thankful for laughter after all the tears...can't wait to get the letter now.  :)

[Hello2u]

lol,,, I kept the box!

[Barbiew (Ship 9 / Div 341)]

Loved your post! I'm sure your daughter and her friend are comforted having one another at GL. How cool is that, to have your best friend alongside you when you are taking the journey of your lifetime!  Can only imagine how different MY LIFE would have been if my BF and I had stuck together and followed the same career path... : )

Got my box today and was actually disappointed. I was looking forward to its arrival, but it was very anti-climactic for me. I would have loved to have found a secret message written inside the box or a note hidden in my son's jeans pocket. Oh, well...Just have to wait for the form letter with his address so I can start mailing letters.