I am a Marine Mom. I live and breathe for any word from my son. You really can never understand it (my friend Romy will kill me for saying that-she doesn't like that saying), unless you are in my shoes. Or maybe I am just too emotional. I get choked up at the smallest things. I worry about him all the time, as any parent would.
It isn't like he is off in another country, he is right here in the good ole' U. S. of A. But he is not HERE. His room is no longer his room. He isn't here in the morning drinking all the coffee and only leaving a drop of creamer in the bottle, because he knows it drives me nuts. He isn't here on the computer discussing news articles with me or watching youtube videos of animals doing stupid things (Have you seen Simon's Cat?). He isn't picking on his younger brother. He isn't calling his older sister names or high fiving her, when they gang up on my youngest. No. He isn't here.
He has been in Florida since August of 2011, which is pretty much as far as you can get from California. There were delays with his schooling, then a minor medical issue, and then more delays. Well, we got word that he will finally be graduating on Friday from school and then he is off to somewhere new. Of course, we won't know where until right before he leaves. I have tears in my eyes thinking about this.
We won't be there for his graduation. He says it is no big deal and that he will have someone take pictures. LOL No big deal. Maybe he doesn't understand either. I am his Mom.
I have been there for every major event. His preschool graduation, elementary graduation, homecoming, high school graduation, boot camp, MOS graduation, dentist appointments, the time he had to have a small ball taken out of his nose at the doctors, and probably a million other things that are major to me, but aren't really news worthy. Then there is this.
He was supposed to graduate next week. Ummm...he forgot to tell me it was moved up. Sure, he forgot! I planned on making him cupcakes this weekend and sending them off, so he would have them for his graduation. A little token for him to know that we are all thinking of him. I mean what is a graduation without a little bit of a party atmosphere?. Maybe I should have gotten party hats and horns to send too. He would have loved that!
I know what you are thinking, but I am his Mom so don't tell me to cut the apron strings. It isn't like I tell him how to dress and I don't comb his hair for him. He is a big boy. But, I miss him. Plain and simple. However, I will paste my usual smile in place and act like all is right with the world. That is the life of a Marine Mom. I will tell jokes. I will clean the house. I will eat. I will go to work. I will act like I am not glued to the news about world affairs that might send him off to some far away country. I will keep living, because that is what he expects. He wouldn't have it any other way. This may be a major event to me, but to him it is just another day on his ride with the Marines.
I am going to give you a pass this time because your blog made me cry and the truth is, you are right, I can't imagine how strong you have had to be.
ReplyDeleteI am so grateful to strong men and women who raised such wonderful children who are willing to risk their lives for our liberty and safety.
Congrats to your brave son. I wish there was a way you could be there with him but you know as much as I do that the reality is that you both carry each other in your hearts every single day.
God bless you and yours, my brave friend.
<3 *Hugs*
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