OT (totally) - Birds And Children Fly Away

Been an eventful 24 days around here:

22 year old daughter got married at our farm mid-May.

Our baby of the family - well, she just turned 13 about 10 days ago. So this is the start of our last trip down the "teenage" road.

Yesterday, our 17 year old son left with his Marine recruiter for processing in a neighboring state. He's giving his best shot at early-enlisting to become a United States Marine. I think my heart actually did a little flip/flop as they drove out of the farmyard. Expect him to return home tonight - I believe if all goes well, he will be considered as an enlisted man, though he won't go to Boot Camp until after he graduates high school next spring.

Last night, husband and I hung out in the shop and listened to music and cooked out. He got a little misty eyed...I cried like a baby.

I watched the Navy recruiter drive off with my youngest son. I cried.

That was 7 years ago. He served 4 years. Saw a lot of the world that I would have given anything to see. I dont think it really made an impression on him yet. It will as he gets older.

Gene

Grandson enlisted in the Marines a bit over a year ago. He was "pre-enlisted" for several months while they waited for an opening in the job he wanted (Combat Vehicle Mechanic) and he did a lot of physical training and indoc stuff with weekly trips to the recruiting office.

His Mom, his little brother and I made the trip down to Parris Island to see him graduate. I'm not a particularly emotional guy, but I don't mind telling you I teared up pretty heavily when I shook his hand after the ceremony. Entirely different person. "Yes, Sir" and "No, Sir" and not a "Whatever" or "Dude" to be heard. Stood up straight, looked me in the eye and exuded confidence. Best part was when he told his little brother to "square your cover away, you look like a moron".

He's in Okinawa now, meeting people, trying new things (SCUBA diving!) and just generally widening his world view. He REALLY needed to get out of East Overshoe and away from all his little no-account drinking buddies. Best thing that ever happened to him, whether it's one enlistment or a career.

'Course, I might be just a little prejudiced, being retired military myself...

Our Marine son did the same, enlisted while still in HS left for boot camp day after graduation and was in Iraq when it started TOUGH DAYS FOR A PARENT if a military car had ever driven up the driveway those Iraq war years not sure my heart could have stood it. But you gotta be proud of someone so patriotic, he left a boy but returned a MAN with a firm Marine handshake and look ya in the eye woooooo hooooooooo.

When the last kid left home IT WAS VERY TOUGH after years of school and ball games and sports and activities and dance practices etc etc all a sudden IT WAS OVER so now what do parents do grrrrrrrrrrr took a while but we adjusted and now its fun to visit grandkids

Its the cycle of life, we did our job we raised our kids now they fly away to raise their own families and were left with only "memories"

Look up and listen to "The times of your life" by Paul Anka

...." Memories are moments that you borrow, to spend when you get to tomorrow".........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWHL_4_ia_Y

A Nostalgic Ol John T
The times of your life by Paul Anka

Sweetfeet,

I enlisted in the Navy while I was a senior in high school. Left for San Diego bootcamp about two weeks after graduation.

Best decision I could possibly make. I was only in for four years, but it had a life-long impact on me.

Congrats to you and your son on a wise, serious decision.

Tom in TN

So, if that last song (Paul Ankas The Times of your life) I posted didnt do it for ya, take a listen to this one, you will be crying again, gets me all worked up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ifTfRvNFlg

John T
Teach your children well

Congratulations to your son and I wish him well. My son has been in the Corps for just under a year and is currently at 29 Palms CA. He is very happy with his decision which makes it easier on us. There are alot of kids that have no plans for their future, but it sounds like your boy has his head on straight!

Fud,
Thank you for your relpy. Congratulations to your son and you as well. Good to know he likes the Corps. Though I think nothing makes it easier - it's hard for me when they fly the nest...even if it's only to the next town away. *See photo at bottom of replies.

Nostalgic ol' John T,

You have good reason to be proud of your son. Congratulations.

Yes, I can even see some difference in him already just from the monthly POOL (sp?)functions that he has been attending since last October.

Thank you for the music links! And yes, they made me cry - last night and this mornin'. Planning to buy Times of Your Life (looking for a more rockin' version if possible). Already own Teach Your Children. *See photo below replies.

Tom in TN,

Thank you. Glad to know you feel military service was a positive influence on your life. We believe it will be for him too. Just tough, he was only a baby just yesterday. I posted a photo below these replies.

Fawteen,

Thank you for your reply. Congratulations to your grandson and you. Thank you both for serving our country.

Our son has been doing the monthly workouts since last October. He was invited by a friend who is enlisted (that young man ships out to Boot Camp in a few weeks). We also feel it will be a positive experience whether one enlistment or if he chooses longer. Hope I can get my husband off the farm for his graduation from Boot Camp next year (he is not much of a traveling man).

Son also wants to do diesel mechanics - so it may be the same job as your grandson. We suggested he aim for something that transfers over to civilian life in case he does not make a career of the military.

Gene,

Thanks for your reply. Thank your son for having served our country.

Pretty sure I will cry like a baby again next year when the recruiter drives off with him again. That one will be even harder still for both my husband and me.

By the way everybody... HE MADE IT! The Sargeant drove him home into our farmyard in this little Hummer and asked us if we wanted our future JarHead back. We said, "Yeah, we'll take him".

(quoted from post at 04:22:27 06/05/12) By the way everybody... HE MADE IT! The Sargeant drove him home into our farmyard in this little Hummer and asked us if we wanted our future JarHead back. We said, "Yeah, we'll take him".

Click to expand...

LOL Sweetfeet......can't call em jar heads.....they are pin heads......you can put something in jar! Was told that by a Marine on the jar head team that I worked with while at Ft Knox teaching Armor Tactics to new officers. The Marines don't have enough tanks to justify thier own school system for enlisted or officers so they piggy back off the Army.

I was still in Germany when my oldest graduated from Air Force boot camp (maybe they should call that slipper camp) so I missed that but I did make my youngest's graduation from Navy Boot camp. The youngest has now decided to "man up" and is Army National Guard.

I didn't get misty eyed but the wife did. They gotta grow up sometime.

I wish your son well in the Corp.

Rick (US Army ret)

Old tanker,

Thank you also, for serving our country.

Will have to remember the "pin head"... in case he needs a little come-upence before he ships out. LOL. And yep they do have to grow up sometime... it's just that it happens so fast! One day they're babies, next day they're coming home for visits. Guys are just more real about it...takes a little adjusting for mama.