5:13 PM

Wild Blue Yonder

My son was born on an U.S. Air Force base a little over 19 years ago in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This afternoon he stepped on a jet bound for San Antonio, Texas, to start basic training for the Air Force.

As I stood at the back of the ceremonial room watching him be sworn into active duty military service, I couldn't help but think back to that time.

He is the first grand child for my parents and consequently holds a special place. He's named after his grandfathers. One who he has never meant because he died shortly after his father and I married, the other who holds him as the idol of his eye. He carries his father's swagger and his mother's stubbornness. He is always the first to help a friend in need regardless of the cost to himself. I'm proud to call him my son.

I knew that one day he would leave. We raised him to be self sufficient, responsible, and to grab life by the horns and live it. Still it hasn't made it any easier watching him leave. Knowing I won't hear the "Love You Mom" nearly as frequent as I've grown accustomed to. That he won't be dropping by to peruse the refrigerator and inhale any unsuspecting leftovers. I'll even miss the petty squabbles between he and his younger brother.

A page was turned today, a chapter closed, a book completed. I hope he knows how much I love him and will miss him.

1:48 PM

Priceless

One red silk tie, $12.99

One black dress shirt, $21.99

One black pin stripe suit, $74.99

Watching your oldest son teach your youngest son how to slow dance before his first homecoming dance, priceless.

7:11 PM

One Month Down

It seems like my life has transformed into a series of count downs or ups as the case may be.

It's been 56 days since my husband left and I don't have any more information now then I did then.

In 26 days my first baby leaves for basic training in the United States Air Force.

It's 4 days until my second baby's first high school homecoming dance.

And it's been 30 days since I declared war on my body and decided to work on my weight. I've lost 18.4 pounds and 14 inches in that 30 days. The last couple of weeks I've managed to add some excercise in every other day.

Although everything seems to be on a time line around me, I'm on the shortest one of all...one day at a time.