My world has been very busy lately, although you'd not know if by my posting to this blog. I've been very quiet lately, thinking about things, how to deal with certain things, if I should change a few things, old things, new things, inevitable things. So, I have come to the conclusion that I NEED A DAY OFF! So, I'm taking one this Friday and going up Northern Arkansas for some cool fresh air and I don't even care if it SNOWS me in! Not that it would ever happen...this IS Arkansas.
Anyways, I am kind of on an emotional rollercoaster of sorts. My "rock" has disappeared, just when I needed HIM most and I have no clue as to why. Plus, my son, my baby boy, is leaving for basic training on Wednesday. I'm taking him to a hotel tomorrow evening where they are all meeting up before the flight. So I'm a little sad....OK...a LOT sad. He's 20 and he has taken a long time to decide this is what he wants to do. He has not yet decided that he will join the Army full time; he may stay in the National Guard and stay local. But, I do have a feeling the "call of duty" is pulling him hard and he may well enlist full time. Whatever he decides to do, I'm behind him 100%. He will be gone for about 15 weeks (10 weeks of basic training and 5 weeks of AIT) at Ft. Benning, Georgia. He won't be here for Thanksgiving, but will be home for Yule. Then, he'll be off again to finish it all off.
So, I'll be an empty nester for the first time and part of me is looking forward to it...the Mommy in me is NOT. I guess that is just more weekends that I will have to get the grandsons and keep those babies!
Okay, nuff whining....
Many Blessings!
May your son be safe, wherever he goes!
ReplyDeleteI wish him a safe, happy basic training.
ReplyDeleteStay strong, mom.
)O(
boo
Empty nesting is tough - you have the tug of wanting your "baby" near you, but there's also a pull of freedom. I say treat yourself to something you've been putting off while the kids were still home. I got a cat when Meg left home and took some art classes - not that I couldn't have done that when she was home, but somehow I never did.
ReplyDeleteBlessings to your son for following his heart to serve. We are all indebted to those like him who make that choice and I wish him luck and great safety!!
Thanks SO much for your comments. I'm taking your suggestion and getting away for a long weekend AND I have considered adopting a lil' black kitty from the shelter down the street. Willie needs a sibling!
ReplyDeletegood luck to your son......
ReplyDeleteAs a pagan veteran, I will say that the road is difficult but the rewards are many. I was 23 when I joined and unable to hold a job or focus any type of work ethic out of my system. The Army helped me in ways that I am still uncovering. I joined a month after 9/11 because my life was circling the drain and I wanted to do something about what had just happened to us all. I did not know where my life was going so I closed my eyes and jumped. I am happy to say I survived my time in and now I am back in college, working on my book, and trolling the blogs.
ReplyDeleteWhen your son is in Basic, send him lots of letters. These public mail calls will make him smile. When we had our hour of free time in the evening it was mostly letters from home that kept us going.
Don't send cookies, the Drill Sergeants won't like that.
Send pictures, they will remind him of home when he is far away.
I know 15 weeks may not sound like a long time but it is. Fort Benning does training the right way and he will be changed when you see him again.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. I will do my best to answer.
Paul