The Call Home......a new chapter

[Nancy69]

The first call came tonight!! I was so happy to hear Christopher's voice (through a ridiculous amount of coughing)! I can tell you in 3 weeks he has CHANGED but he still can make me LAUGH! So, in his last letter he was trying to abbreviate his position in the division. It is not an ACPO it is an AHPO. What does that mean? Ready? He doesn't call cadence - he cleans the head (bathroom). I thought I would roll over laughing! He said it was one of the only positions they had left when he got assigned to the division so he volunteered. Then he told me, "what's the difference? It's just like being at home." Well, true enough I suppose. He did say that the benefit was that while he had to get up earlier - he also got to go to breakfast earlier and actually have time to eat. The worst part? Cleaning "smurf shit". That would be the blue fuzz from everyone's sweat pants that accumulates in the showers. Too funny.

I had sent him a letter and told him that there was a Bubba Gump's restaurant at Navy Pier that we could go to on PIR weekend. (He loves that place when we go to New York).So, I asked what he thought of that. He said, "that's definitely the best plan - but if there's one thing I'd like to do more....it's go get new glasses.These things are ridiculous." On the subject of his new military ID...he apparently looks like he's just undergone some experimental medical treatment. "They took it when I hadn't slept for 48 hours and they had just completely shaved my head. I look like I have hours to live". OOOPS... good thing he's not too vein. I also told him it could be worse. They could have made him wear the "birth control" glasses! Now THAT would be a picture!

Chris was excited about his uniforms...particularly the digi-camo (which he had to inform me he was wearing on our call). Apparently digi is the rage these days;) Funny - digi is sort of the polar opposite of "nature" - but I guess to serve all these modern masters it is best when attempting to "blend" in. LOL. the dress blues might look great - but the 13 buttons on the fly - not so much a hit with my boy!! All in all he is well. Motherly instinct told me to ask him to get some cough medicine. A month ago he probably would've been lying on the couch letting me cater to him. Nope. Not now. 'I really want to tough it out if I can. I don't want to go to medical and be put SIQ (sick in quarters) and miss anything." Well, I am proud of that - I just hope he doesn't cough up a lung in the process and fail his final PFA because he can't breathe!!! Oh well... the older boy is becoming an honest to goodness young man. Time to cut the proverbial cord I guess.!

[Michigan Cindy]

Nancy, it sounds like your son is doing just great. The Navy does a terrific job of turning boys into men in just 8 weeks. By the way, on his military ID, my son looks like a serial killer and he hates the dress blues because of the 13 buttons. You will be amazed when you see him at PIR.

[jamesmom(kim)]

nancy im kim my son is part of the nasty nine lol he said thats what they call the cleaners of the hesd lol.. james does have those bc glasses so he said his pic is pretty bad too lol hes in ship 11/div115 wheres your recruit?

[Nancy69]

Thanks all..!!! Life has taught me one thing - and it's that you have to roll with the punches and look at the bright side.!!!! :)

[lisabt64]

Thanks for sharing nancy, my son left for boot camp tues only a week! I am missing him so much waiting for an address can you tell me when it comes? I guess I wont get a call yet so soon......glad your son doing well

[Bluejeansmomx2]

My first son must of gone to book camp the same time Alaina{Bob's Mom} did!