It Really Happened!

June 15, 2014.

What's so special about this date?  Well, it's the day my youngest son, Logan, left for Boot Camp at Parris Island, SC.

A little over a year ago, we were sitting in his guidance counselor's office to talk about college applications.  I almost fell off the chair when he said he was joining the Marines!  After all, he had just turned 17 and was enrolling in a dual track college program that allowed him to take his first year of college classes during his senior year of high school - college was a given, right?  Well, after some tantrums and pity parties (by both of us), I finally agreed to talk to his recruiter - what, he had a recruiter?!?

We left there, on that Friday, with him enlisted in the Delayed Entry Program (DEP).  They lost no time taking him to MEPS (The Military Enlistment Processing Station) at Fort Jackson, SC.  By the way, the Marines have tons of abbreviations!

With that, he began training three times a week with the recruiters and every single day at the gym.  I watched as a huge change quickly took place in him physically and mentally.  Hmmm - discipline at 17 might not be such a bad idea after all and we were talking about a whole year away - I thought he would surely change his mind.  Not so, he became more positive every day.  For the entire year, we lived, ate, and slept Marines.

Before I thought possible, he had turned 18, graduated from high school (with his first year of college classes behind him), and left for Boot Camp - all in the space of two weeks - WHEW!

Tonight (6-16-14), I got that "Oh so intimate" scripted phone call to let me know that Recruit Hunt had arrived safely and would be contacting me by mail within 7 - 9 days.  And so, the journey begins.  We won't get to see him or talk to him (insert pity party here) until 9-11-14.  I know he has started the next chapter of his life and am very, very proud of him.  I am officially a convert and am so thankful that his recruiters were so patient with me!  They have all become valued friends.

I'll continue to update his progress as the summer progresses.  Fair warning to my mailman - I am now officially your stalker:)

Please keep him and his friends that went down with him in your thoughts and prayers.