SURVIVING

I have made it through three whole weeks with out Stephen and have suffered from stress, fear anxiety and worry. As the controlling paranoid parent that I am, I worry about his safety, health and if he is getting enough food and keeping warm. It’s the small stuff that keeps us up at night and worrying. Silly, I know; as he is a grown man now, but the mother in me can’t quite let go.
I finally got to talk to Stephen on the phone Sunday for the first time since his departure. His letters have been trickling in but hearing his voice was indescribable.
A mother knows the sound of her Childs voice and can tell if he is being real or covering. He sounded good! He talked quick as there is a strict time limit for the personal call and he had to squeeze a call to his girlfriend too.
He said he is warm enough, eating good and exercising like mad. He said he loves the mail, so keep it coming. He tries to make time to write but it is hard and he does it mostly when he should be sleeping. He asked me to mail him cough drops, knee high Nylons and stamps. (I never envisioned shopping for pantyhose for my son.) That was it. Time was up! I sent my hugs and kisses with tons of love before we hung up. He said to tell everyone thanks for the letters and keeping him in your thoughts & prayers. He was in good spirits!
So I left home to go shopping to Wal-Mart for the things he listed. As the mail takes 5 days to reach him, mostly because they take forever to sort it at the base and delivery it. I wanted this package to arrive this week. Stacy went with me and we had a hoot trying to find the perfect size of knee highs. It is hard when your son has a size 12 foot. Most knee highs are meant for smaller feet. The time he puts them on, they will be anklets. So we went with thigh highs. (No guarder belts needed) I am sure when he opens this package he will be laughing! I bought lip balm, lotion, germ x, hot hands and tons of nylons. I hope out of all of the choices one will fit.
He has been training hard and running a lot. They want these boys fit and in top shape! He still has no facial hair but he shaves every day. It’s a rule. In his letter he said he received his M16 riffle, his chest vest and where ever he goes his riffle goes with him. He was left 6 miles from camp and had 2 hours to find his way back. He had his 50lb pack and full uniform, along with his riffle. He made it! He also conquered the obstacle course and loved it. Lots of rope climbing and muscle work. He has experienced the gas chamber and said it was horrible as his throat, eyes and skin burned and he couldn’t breathe. He stayed calm and survived the ordeal. Some didn’t and threw up, freaked out and those soldiers will have to repeat the chamber again. He bought the video! Why, I don’t know. Maybe his medal to prove he made it through the torture, but I know I wont be able to watch it! At this time, he is safe and sound! He is surviving the training and I am surviving the separation. This world is full of survivors!

Now I am focusing on planning the trip to attend his Graduation on March 18th.
I am getting ready for another roller-coaster ride of emotions and stress . . . but on this ride there’s a wonderful light at the end of the tunnel. I get to see by solider graduate!
I will write more, when I get more info!