Well, Today starts day 6. 7 days ago, this house was the "go to" for all of my son's friends as a hang out for all night X box and Magic card sessions. A month ago, I'd be sitting right here as yet another girl would knock on the door and ask to see Sean. His male friends would just walk in like it was their house, so much so that the dog stopped barking at and sniffing butt on everyone of them months before.
Now the Air Force has him.
I used to get annoyed at the "revolving door" as some other different kid would walk in, or at the noise that the bunch of them made at 1:00 AM, or the starting cars at 3-4:00 AM right below my bedroom window as they departed.
Now the house seems empty. His room is "haunted" w/ memories.
Sean has been on delayed enlistment status for almost 18 months, starting the process in the last part of his junior year. He has since graduated last year in May, and up until 3 months ago, didn't have a job slot to even be trained for.
The Air Force has become so selective, that they actual "shut down" recruiting now for months at a time, because they are at quota.
My son elected to become a S.E.R.E instructor. A program where the instructors teach all air crew members how to Survive, Evade, Resist, and Escape in the event the plane they were in goes down behind enemy lines. In order to teach, he has to learn by doing.
In his case, it is an elective program, w/ no guarantee of completion. Like a Seal or a Ranger, He has to want to do this. He can fail and wash out, 50% of instructor candidates do. W/ basic training lasting 2 months, and the S.E.R.E program lasting another 5.5, it'll be over 8 months before he can be free to resume any degree of normalcy in his life. 8 months before his mother and I have any hope that he will someday be back to visit.
I miss him terribly already. I am very proud of him.
All this goes to say that if you are a parent of an older child that has moved on to the next phase of their life, then you've been where I am now. I can now say that I know what it feels like.
If you have children, cherish the time you have w/ them today, because like the song says;
Don't blink.
19 years goes by very fast.
I know that this really doesn't belong in 5.0 talk, but this is my "block" in this neighborhood.
Just trying to move on.
Now the Air Force has him.
I used to get annoyed at the "revolving door" as some other different kid would walk in, or at the noise that the bunch of them made at 1:00 AM, or the starting cars at 3-4:00 AM right below my bedroom window as they departed.
Now the house seems empty. His room is "haunted" w/ memories.
Sean has been on delayed enlistment status for almost 18 months, starting the process in the last part of his junior year. He has since graduated last year in May, and up until 3 months ago, didn't have a job slot to even be trained for.
The Air Force has become so selective, that they actual "shut down" recruiting now for months at a time, because they are at quota.
My son elected to become a S.E.R.E instructor. A program where the instructors teach all air crew members how to Survive, Evade, Resist, and Escape in the event the plane they were in goes down behind enemy lines. In order to teach, he has to learn by doing.
In his case, it is an elective program, w/ no guarantee of completion. Like a Seal or a Ranger, He has to want to do this. He can fail and wash out, 50% of instructor candidates do. W/ basic training lasting 2 months, and the S.E.R.E program lasting another 5.5, it'll be over 8 months before he can be free to resume any degree of normalcy in his life. 8 months before his mother and I have any hope that he will someday be back to visit.
I miss him terribly already. I am very proud of him.
All this goes to say that if you are a parent of an older child that has moved on to the next phase of their life, then you've been where I am now. I can now say that I know what it feels like.
If you have children, cherish the time you have w/ them today, because like the song says;
Don't blink.
19 years goes by very fast.
I know that this really doesn't belong in 5.0 talk, but this is my "block" in this neighborhood.
Just trying to move on.