The Dreaded Date

The dreaded date has finally arrived.  I now know the date my 18-year-old son will leave for basic training with the Air Force.  I almost hate typing it.  But I know that I not only have to face it, I have to accept it.

August 7th, just over three weeks away.

This certainly doesn't come as a surprise.  After all, this path was prepared many years ago.  If you don't believe me, take a peek inside one of my scrapbooks. 

Well, since you can't...let me explain what you would see.  A picture of my son at 9 years old taking his first flight in a Cessna.  Then at 10 years old, pictures from his military-themed birthday party.  It was called, "Bootcamp 101."

The page immediately after that is from Memorial Day, 2004.  My son walking around the soldier's graves, straightening the flags and brushing the dirt off. 

The next page is a tour my son got of the 440th Air Base here in Milwaukee.  It has since closed down but he is inside a C130 and these two words grace the page, "Air Force."

See what I mean?  It was already determined.  Yes, the date I am now coming to dread was already set in stone.

I am writing this blog mostly for myself.  I find writing therapeutic.  But I am also writing it to share with family, so they can get a peek inside my heart...even though I know so many of them are also struggling with the fact that my son is leaving.

But I wouldn't mind if this blog reached beyond, to other moms who are going through the same thing.  I think we could help each other. 

Well, I leave you with a picture of my son a couple of years ago when he was enrolled in Civil Air Patrol--I told you this dreaded date was already determined.

(My son is the one on the far right)