On December 6, 2016 I said “see you later” to my sweet, wonderful, brave son as he left our home to venture off to Navy boot camp, the first step of his new career that will take him to the ends of the earth and back.  To date, this was the single hardest thing I have ever done as a mother.

We raise our young in hopes that when the time comes they will leave our little nest and soar with open wings as far as their heart is content, but I don’t think we ever really consider the excruciating void that comes with that.  We never consider what we will feel when that time comes…not really.  I remember thinking how proud I would feel, how excited I would feel, and how thankful I would fell.  I did and still do feel all of those things, but I am devastated that 19 years flew by so damn quickly.

Our family still has the four of us, me, Mr. Medic, The Little and the Middle, but it sure does feel like an empty house without The Sailor.  I miss him so much that it physically hurts me.  It pains me in a way I never knew I could hurt.  He called us that night just about midnight and it was the dreaded ‘scripted’ call.  Anyone who’s had any calls from navy boot camp, knows that awful call.  I remember it as if I’ve just hung up the phone with him.

The Sailor: “Hey Mom.  I’ve made it.  I’m safe and ok.  I’ll call you soon.  In 10 days you’ll receive a letter with my information in it.”

*Pause to swallow back the tears*

Me: “Hey son, I miss you already and I love you so much, will the letter give me your addre..”

The Sailor:  “I’m safe and ok.  In 10 days you’ll receive a letter with my information in it.”

There was about 2 seconds of silence and he whispers, my wonderfully brave son…

The Sailor *whispering*: “I love you mom”

Me *whispering like an idiot since they can’t hear me from my living room*: “I love you, too!  Can you talk?  I mean is it ok?”

The Sailor: “Well…I’m not technically supposed to, but…I love you, mom and I’m ok, I promise.”

Me: “Are you going to be ok?”

The Sailor: “I’m fine, mom.  It’s all ok.”

Somewhere the RDC has circled back and I hear him tell The Sailor what to say and he does, then we hang up.  I cry for what seems like an eternity, but then I laugh and that lasts even longer.  My sweet, by the book son has rebelled from the robot speech to let me know he’s got this.

The journey has been interesting so far, to say the least.  Stay tuned as I try to update this little venture of ours as often as possible.