Wishing him safe travels and a wonderful 3 years ahead.

Oh, Glenda, I know how it feels to watch a young soldier depart--my son was in the army. So happy you had this time with him! Safe travels, Parke, Jr!

It's interesting, in my old Army days (early 70s), military travel required Class A dress - "office" attire for you civilians. The rules have obviously changed in a few ways, since he's in normal street clothes. I've seen military personnel in BDUs (formerly called fatigues) on flights in recent years, it used to be that those uniforms weren't allowed off base except for travel to/from home.

That's a change for the plus, better to be dressed comfortably

Glenda, I must have missed it. Where is Parke, Jr going?

Hawaii, for 3 years with the Navy, jkayd!

Glenda,

I was Navy and never spent more than two years at any land-based duty station. He gets three?

I am jealous.

When I was flying overseas in the late 1960s (on the way to Southeast Asia), it was a charter flight for the military and all passengers were in uniform of the day. Flying out of Oakland in February meant our Navy blues (woolen), but it got warmer and warmer as we got closer to our destination. Wow! It was HOT when we arrived at 2:00 a.m. and I was still in my blues. Next day, into the whites until processed and then dungarees. Much more comfortable.

the little boy is no longer......he's so mature looking. A nice young man. You are so lucky to have had him nearby growing up. My one and only grandchild is in California. I'll never know the pleasures you had sharing in his growing up.

I had a somewhat similar experience leaving Boot Camp. It was a rainy, 55-60-ish day at Ft Lewis, WA in late July (Seattleites needn't tell me how nice they think the summers are there), where the Class A uniform year round was the green wool suit with shirt and tie. So that's what we wore for our flight. Flew on an evening charter to San Antonio, where it was in the mid to high 90s and humid when we landed (Texans needn't tell me how nice they think the summers are). After about two hours standing outside in formation, during which several fellow soldiers passed out from the heat, we were allowed to get bedding and go to our non-air-conditioned barracks where it was even hotter inside than outside, and where I lived for the next 3+ months. At least I never had to go where people might have shot at me.

That processing that I mentioned was a three day ordeal. Once out of my blues, I showered and hung up my towel in our un-airconditioned building. When I left for my permanent place, my towel was still wet. I tossed it!

The new place was good, air conditioned and only three guys to a room.

So proud of our PJR! God bless and keep him.

Definitely bittersweet.

I can only imagine how proud you must be. My dad was a sailor, I remember those sad farewells all too well!

Thank you, KT'er's, for your kind well wishes for Parke Jr. You have made him special over the years and I am grateful!

Bittersweet is truly a fitting word for these moments. So hard to see them leave but yet so proud to see them going on to a new life serving our country. My GS is now home on Navy leave for a few days and as much as we have missed him we are thrilled to see how he has matured. Three years will fly by quickly. I have no doubt that you will visit him and what a fun place to be able to see him. I keep remembering the "old days" when my DH was in the Navy. We were not lucky to have cellphones, text msg, couldn't afford long distance phone calls...Skype o my how nice that would have been when I gave birth while my DH was overseas. So now we count our blessings that our service men and women even if afar are still fairly able to be close to us still.

Best wishes for a happy and fulfilling three years!

These pictures brought tears to my eyes, remembering when I saw one of my grandsons off to Marine Boot Camp. Definitely bittersweet! And the same emotions each time he left after being home on leave. He did his four years, and came home safe and sound, thank the Good Lord!

So I really and truly understand your feelings, Glenda. Your grandson is a treasure to be proud of.

Rusty

Wanda, how do I connect with you about quilting?

Gail

You can email me at wandaquilts@gmail.com

Glenda, best wishes to your grandson.