A lot of posting for one day. I want you to be caught up, though, so I can write updates on a more regular basis. I last left you with the end of saying goodbye to Anthony on the day he left. His experience through boot camp was tough. The hardest thing for him was getting used to not getting enough sleep. He did well in his tests and pt and he ate well so that wasn't a worry. He did have his moments where he was very down, felt a little ill and missed home. Boot camp was very different than what he expected and that made him lose a little more faith in people.
I counted the days until I would get a letter. This first was just a pamphlet where Anthony filled in the blanks so we could have his mailing address, graduation date and guest list. I called his mom and dad to fill them in so they could share his address and begin writing. Anthony had to start sending back letters because he got so many from a lot of his family he didn't have enough room to keep them all. I wrote him everyday but sent about 2 letters a week, his mom sent letters almost everyday. It felt good knowing he had so much support back at home. The letters that were personally for me were the most wonderful. He would go on and on about me and our relationship and how much he missed me. He got in touch with his feelings, which he rarely does, and expressed them in a way that I never thought I would see. Every Thursday I was bursting at the seems waiting for the mail to come. My mom would call me at work to say I got one and I would come home on my lunch break to get it. I just couldn't wait until I got home, I needed to read it asap! Those letters are very special to me and I will treasure them forever.
Overall, Anthony did well and was very happy to get done boot camp and go out the way he did. I was so very proud of him and couldn't wait to see him at graduation. Nine long weeks after he left I got to see him on August 3rd, 2012. Anthony's brother, his mom, her fiance and myself flew out to Chicago-Midway on August 2nd. We drove a rental car an hour up to Waukegan, Illinois, where our hotel rooms were at and spent the rest of the evening preparing for our early morning the next day. I could hardly wait. The next morning his mother and I got up at 5 to catch a shuttle at 6 to the Recruit Training Command base in Great Lakes, only about 10 minutes away. We stood outside the gates and, in what seemed like no time at all, the gates were opened. We found where Anthony's division would be standing during the ceremony and got a seat on the bleachers. We saved a couple spots for Anthony's brother and his mom's fiance, who would join us a little later. I had picked out my outfit a month in advance, and I must say it came out well.
I was ready with my video camera and digital still camera to capture every moment. His mother and I watched the large room (maybe its classified as a hanger?) slowly fill with the families of the new sailors. Anthony's brother and his mother's fiance joined us just in time for the ceremony to start. It was a thrilling experience and we were all so proud. When the divisions of fresh new sailors marched into the space there was a sense of camaraderie among the crowd. We were all gathered for the same purpose; to show support for our sailors. As I was taping Anthony's division marching in I found him in the crowd. I could hardly contain my excitement when I saw the most important person in my life marching in step in dress whites. Although, he wasn't as excited as me, since he was still tired and almost fell asleep during the ceremony like several other sailors. As the event winded down the entire crowd was on the edge of their seats until liberty was called. Then the building exploded with families trying to find their sailors. When I found mine nothing else in the world mattered. I dropped what I had in my hands right on the ground, gave him a hug and burst into tears. All I wanted to do was hold onto him for as long as I possibly could, and that I did. We took him back to the hotel, had some alone time, and after we all got a chance to spend some good time together. It was the best and fastest weekend of my life.
I hated to leave him again. The next day we had another chance to spend some time with him at the airport were he was flying out. The next nine months of his life will be spent at Charleston, South Carolina at A school. Another teary goodbye was waiting in the wings. I never wanted to let go but time forced me to move on. I squeezed him tight and we exchanged I love yous and last kisses. I can still feel his hug, how he held onto my hand when I turned away, and how it still hurts. We left earlier than I wanted, but we had a long 13 hour drive ahead of us.
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