Daughter Leaves from Jacksonville, FL 9/17 - Anyone Else?

[cab1213]

My 19 year old daughter is leaving out on 9/17 and I was just wondering if anyone else out there has a loved one leaving the same date?  I come from a military family, dad's retired Air Force and I spent a few years in the Air Force, so I have a bit of an idea of what she'll be going through. I actually had a good time at Basic and technical school, so I hope she will also.  I'm sure I'll be a little anxious when she leaves, but mostly I'm just hoping she goes in, embraces the experience and does well.  We went through a rough patch (putting it mildly) from the ages of 15-17, so I was completely thrilled when she told me earlier this year she intended to enlist in the military.  I think it will give her some direction, and a new level of maturity.   

[cab1213]

I sent you a friend request or whatever it's called so maybe we can exchange contact information for the girls through private message.  I talked to her about it yesterday and she was open to the idea of having someone else leaving the same day to communicate with.  I know she's getting anxious, and really none of her friends/family can truly understand how she's feeling as much as another person getting ready to go through it also. 

[AZerin303]

AHawk, are you in the west valley? My son says there is a girl leaving same day from his recruiting station, I'm wondering if its her.

[AHawk76 (Div 920)]

Yes ma'am. We are in Goodyear!

[daizygirl72]

Am reading this as I sit next to son asleep on the couch snoring with our dog sleeping draped over him. I can't imagine how long my days will be without seeing him or hearing his voice everyday. I notice everything about him now. His smile,his laugh and the funny dances he does around the house. Thankfully he quit working three weeks ago so he is hanging out at home a lot more. He is the youngest of four at just 18. I just look at him sometimes and feel my eyes water. I am so proud of him for following his brothers footsteps yet am dreading his good bye dinner. He has planned the menu, salmon(which I hate lol) asparagus(yuck) but its his choice... I am afraid the dog (kenziee) will also fall into a depression. They are very close. Oh, this navy thing affects everyone!

[cab1213]

It's amazing the bond we have with pets, they really are members of the family.  I'm getting anxious but trying to hold it together when I'm around her to keep things lighthearted.  She wants to have a bbq at the beach next Saturday so even though I'm not much of an outdoors type, I'm going to suck it up and go hang out with her and her friends.  I'm with you on the asparagus, have nasty memories of the stuff as a kid where my parents drenched it in that awful canned cheddar cheese soup, but I've never liked the taste of it even sans cheese.  I do however love me some salmon!! 

[AHawk76 (Div 920)]

That brought tears to my eyes!

[daizygirl72]

My son also going to San Antonio! Go corpsman !

[daizygirl72]

Lol about the asparagus. We are keeping that on the menu (yuck) but now have changed to prime rib(yay) and and king crab(ugh) not a seafood girl can you tell? Good for you on toughing out on the beach! We went to lunch today at a gastropub. He is such a foodie lol. Going to buy him a black wallet tomorrow since his is not navy approved. Not too many days left and I can't believe it's coming so quickly. The list of stuff to do is getting shorter and shorter. His brother face timed him last night to give him the pep talk of what to expect and "you can do this man" so proud

[cab1213]

I don't care for prime rib lol!  Like crab, just not all the work that goes into getting the meat out!  I just finished a culinary program in June and so I'm with your son on the foodie thing!  I have a stack of about 15 cookbooks I've checked out from the library sitting next to my bed, I read them like they're regular novels lol! 

The wallet is on our short list of things to do this week also.  I'm going to put together a list of phone numbers and see how small I can print them out so they can fit in the wallet and not take up too much space. Also want to try to print out some small pictures of friends/family, maybe create a little collage that I can scale down small enough to fit in there for her also.  She lost 2lbs in 2 days this week, so I think she's going to be ok with the weight thing.

I actually like the beach, but at like 7:00 a.m. before it gets too hot, maybe I can get them to have a breakfast bbq that's over by 10:00 a.m.!  I'm from CA and this Florida humidity has been the absolute worst part about moving here. 

It's great your son has his brother to talk to about what to expect.  I can tell her having gone through Air Force boot camp myself years ago, but she just looks at me and tells me that everyone knows the Air Force is the easiest branch, implying that my experience won't be as tough as hers was!  I just have to laugh, she might be right though!

[daizygirl72]

Lol cab1213 I think eye rolling at your moms experience in anything comes naturally to them! They are allowed to take a small notebook or address book with them. That's what my other son took and I just filled it for him of addresses. We got it back before he went to A school so now his brother is taking it with him. They are also allowed a small bible if they want. I also am going to shrink some pictures own. A collage is a great idea. Our dog is sticking to him like glue. Like she knows he is leaving. Yes having his brother tell him what he is in for has been a tremendous advantage especially since it was last September that he went through it. His pir was November 7th. It's very déjà vu. Except this time it's the baby and he is only 18 not 20. They talked for two hours yesterday. Thank god again for iPhones that let you talk for free to Japan! Well I will end this by saying after they talked now he is going to try and qualify for search and rescue. So will appreciate fingers crossed or prayers or whatever everyone is most comfortable with! Enjoy your Saturday's with your future sailors!!!!!

[cab1213]

If you use Picasa for pictures it has a collage feature that's pretty cool and easy to use once you play around with it a little bit.  I'll have to look for a little notebook/address book for her.  It sure is coming up quick...one more week.  :-(

[AZerin303]

My son left today from Phoenix, I know the plane has arrived....now just waiting for him to call to say he is there. I am really excited for him to go on this journey, but already miss him. I'm thankful for the support this website offers, it's wonderful to know what to expect. Hope you are all having a good night, remember they're in good hands....even though they aren't ours right now :)