Here's to the Girl!
She did it! The girl, my beautiful first born, graduated Navy Basic Training on Nov 18.
We arrived in freezing cold Chicago on Thurs morn, right in time for rush hour :) and of course got promptly lost - but hey - no biggie. My youngest is 15 and moved to Hawaii at age 17 months, so the intense cold and the 'huge city' ambiance were very new experiences for her. It was actually really funny to see her reactions to things. In true denial (as is typical of a young American/Australian female aged 15!) she got off the plane in slippers (flip-flops) and some pj bottoms, together with a light sweater. ME: "uh..babe?...pleeeeese put on your coat - its 3 degrees out there." HER: "I don't think its really gonna be *that cold mom, and I'm NOT wearing shoes or a coat...." Me: "long,deep sigh" HER: (waiting in icy cold winds for the Budget bus to come)"Its frickin COLD, mom. I think I'll put that coat on" lol
Anyway....after eating and then catching up on our sleep for a few hours we went shopping, got gloves, scarves etc. The next day was the big one, where we fronted up to the base for the graduation. It was amazing. Nine hundred and something new grads all doing their thing. They were marching and doing drills etc - it was very moving to see row after row of young, fresh faces. I can't bare the thought of these kids going off to war (they were told that their class would eventually be going to Iraq).
The officials put an announcement over the speaker that once the grads were on 'Liberty' and out with their families, they were not to drink, smoke or do illicit substances. As soon as we picked up Jessica, we went and bought a bottle of champaign (not sure if that is how you spell that!) and then split it between the 5 of us. Then on to an Indian Restaurant, then back to the hotel for Jess to take her first nap in 9 weeks...she was chronically sleep deprived and said that most of them had stayed sick (as she was) with some sort of bug or another being passed back and forth. Her feet have been ravaged by ill-fitting boots, and they are marred with scars and blisters, bruises and calluses, and wierd painful swelling ...Hey, US Navy - you'll be fitting all these kids with orthotics in about 20 or 30 years hence! lol (one good thing about being in the military - life long medical benefits)
The stories she told of her experiences were amazing.We listened in awe. I'll wait for another post though - this has become something of an essay. All I can say is that despite it all - including the terribly conflicted feelings *we have, having a family member in the Armed Forces during war time- my heart is bursting with pride for all that she tolerated and accomplished. It was 9 weeks of sheer physical and emotional hell on earth, and she made it! For that I am grateful. Now I continue hoping steadfastly for peace, and for the withdrawal of troops... for safe deployments for our girl, and for her to be happy within herself as she ventures forth. What a chic!
We arrived in freezing cold Chicago on Thurs morn, right in time for rush hour :) and of course got promptly lost - but hey - no biggie. My youngest is 15 and moved to Hawaii at age 17 months, so the intense cold and the 'huge city' ambiance were very new experiences for her. It was actually really funny to see her reactions to things. In true denial (as is typical of a young American/Australian female aged 15!) she got off the plane in slippers (flip-flops) and some pj bottoms, together with a light sweater. ME: "uh..babe?...pleeeeese put on your coat - its 3 degrees out there." HER: "I don't think its really gonna be *that cold mom, and I'm NOT wearing shoes or a coat...." Me: "long,deep sigh" HER: (waiting in icy cold winds for the Budget bus to come)"Its frickin COLD, mom. I think I'll put that coat on" lol
Anyway....after eating and then catching up on our sleep for a few hours we went shopping, got gloves, scarves etc. The next day was the big one, where we fronted up to the base for the graduation. It was amazing. Nine hundred and something new grads all doing their thing. They were marching and doing drills etc - it was very moving to see row after row of young, fresh faces. I can't bare the thought of these kids going off to war (they were told that their class would eventually be going to Iraq).
The officials put an announcement over the speaker that once the grads were on 'Liberty' and out with their families, they were not to drink, smoke or do illicit substances. As soon as we picked up Jessica, we went and bought a bottle of champaign (not sure if that is how you spell that!) and then split it between the 5 of us. Then on to an Indian Restaurant, then back to the hotel for Jess to take her first nap in 9 weeks...she was chronically sleep deprived and said that most of them had stayed sick (as she was) with some sort of bug or another being passed back and forth. Her feet have been ravaged by ill-fitting boots, and they are marred with scars and blisters, bruises and calluses, and wierd painful swelling ...Hey, US Navy - you'll be fitting all these kids with orthotics in about 20 or 30 years hence! lol (one good thing about being in the military - life long medical benefits)
The stories she told of her experiences were amazing.We listened in awe. I'll wait for another post though - this has become something of an essay. All I can say is that despite it all - including the terribly conflicted feelings *we have, having a family member in the Armed Forces during war time- my heart is bursting with pride for all that she tolerated and accomplished. It was 9 weeks of sheer physical and emotional hell on earth, and she made it! For that I am grateful. Now I continue hoping steadfastly for peace, and for the withdrawal of troops... for safe deployments for our girl, and for her to be happy within herself as she ventures forth. What a chic!