Thank you

[Guest guest]

Rita, thank you for your reply. There are some things that happen

in a mother's life that are filed away in the " hardest thing I ever

had to do " file, like the first time you had to leave your new baby

with a baby sitter for the first time, or the first day of school or

kindergarten or preschool when you watch the child enter the class

room and the door closes with you outside, that kind of thing. For

me the hardest thing I ever went through, and a lot of other mothers

can say the same thing, is when I watched my daughter leave for the

airport with the recruiter. I had told Pam about this...we (my

hubby and my older daughter and I) had gone with my youngest when

she was ready to leave and met with the recruiter. He was going to

take her from there and this was where we had to say goodbye. There

is no way to describe the feeling when you see her drive away in

that car, knowing where she is going to and what is ahead of her and

not knowing when you would get to see her again. In our case, she

had used her car and drove us to the recruiters because she wanted

to drive her car for the last time and we were all being brave for

her and no one was crying, we were making jokes and trying to make

everyone laugh to make it easier on her. It was really starting to

sink in to her of what she was doing, and we knew if anyone started

to cry, she would lose it and that was not a good way to start,

especially with the recruiter looking on. Then she left, and as we

saw her drive off, we all got back into the car, and guess

what...the keys were in her purse and that was on it's way to

Lackland AFB! Like I told Pam, it was like something you would only

see at the movies...we took off after them (it was a really big

parking lot and they hadn't gotten to the highway yet) and really

feeling stupid, tried to flag down the right car (funny how many

cars all of a sudden looked exactly like the one the recruiter

used). We got their attention just as they were about to make the

turn onto the busy highway and was able to get the keys. I can't

believe we had to chase that car all over the place, especially

after this was over and she was really gone, it suddenly occurred to

us that she still had her cell phone and we could have given her a

call. Believe me, we won't forget that for a long time! She is now

an Airman Leader and actually has some authority where she is. She

has gotten her first Rope and there has been talk of Officer's

Training School for her. Whatever way or whatever happens, we

support her all the way. I know already she has changed a lot, from

the times we got to talk to her..there is a difference in the way

she talks..you can hear she has gained a lot of strength and

definitely has a military bearing and she will a different person

when we see her and I am glad. This is the making of her and as a

parent, you always hope you did a good job in raising your children,

especially in facing the world right now and you always wonder if

you did enough. I now am strangely comforted with her being in the

military because I know they are teaching her how to take care of

herself and no matter where she goes, and whatever she does, this

will serve her for the rest of her life. We started the process and

the military is refining and strengthening and building on what we

did and my daughter, no matter what, will be a better person for

it. Well, enough on that. I do get carried away and will not be so

long-winded on this (hopefully) in the future. This is still pretty

new for me (she joined in March of this year), and I thank you all

for bearing with me. Thank you for letting me vent...I so

appreciate this group! You are the best!

 

Cherry