July 3 -- PIR!

There was a great deal of discussion about what time we should get to PIR. Someone (I think Nicole) said that one of the Navy Lodge housekeepers told her that people sometimes began lining up as early as 3 am. That sent a panic through the crowd. We were all wondering if we needed to be there that early. I decided that I was not leaving the hotel until 6 am. If I was late for a 9:00 ceremony, they'd have to start without me.

I think Nicole and her crew left about 5, because about 5:15 I got a call that said, the gates don't open til 6:30. Leyna and I went to the wrong gate and were promptly stopped and set back on the right path.

The drug dogs walking by the car made me a little nervous. Not because I don't like dogs nor because I had a bunch of drugs, but it WAS a rental. I don't know what the previous driver had done... But we got through the search procedure with a minimum of hassle. We just kept saying, "They do this every week?!? How awful for them!!" There were almost 900 in my son's PIR group. If everyone brings 4 guests (more about that later), that's 3600 people that have to get through that gate. And there is only ONE gate. They are VERY efficient -- mostly because they have to be!

We got to park at the far end of the NEX building and as we were walking up the sidewalk, Leyna stepped into the street a few feet before the crosswalk and was promptly told to get back on the sidewalk. We were much more conscious of the rules from that point on!

We sailed through the admission process at the Drill Hall. I was surprised -- and somewhat dismayed -- that more than 4 guests were being admitted. We were afraid my youngest son (who would have been the 5th guest) couldn't get in so we left him at his dad's hotel.

So now, it's about 6:45 and we're sitting on cold metal bleachers waiting for a 9:00 ceremony! I wish I'd brought a book or a deck of cards or a pillow!! There was NOTHING to do except sit and wait. Leyna and I walked around a little bit, but mostly we just SAT. Fortunately, I was sitting with good folks: Nicole and her bunch, Pam and her husband and several others from our PIR group.

We spent a great deal of time talking about how excited we were to finally see our kids and wondering how the young lady standing by the 933 sign was sleeping while standing up. Literally, her eyes would roll back in her head every few minutes, but she stood there like she'd been told to do! We wondered if they would let one of us stand there for her and let her go sit down?!? Probably not...

Finally, 9:00 rolled around and the drumline entered and did their thing. It was thrilling! It just made my heart swell with pride!! Then came the flags. Nicole's son was carrying the South Carolina flag, so it was really cool to get to see him! Jamie was in Div 933, but he wasn't performing, so I wasn't sure where to look for him. Eventually all the divisions were in the Drill Hall and the ceremony started. Watching all those young people standing up so straight and tall. So proud of themselves. Trying so hard not to look for their families. Trying so hard not to lock their knees and pass out...

When the chaplain said, "Let us pray" and all 900 heads dropped forward in unison, it brought tears to my eyes -- again.

I kept waiting for the rest of 933 to join the division, but that never happened. Where was my child? There was a whole group (20-30, I guess) of recruits sitting in the "end zone" of the drill hall. Surely, he wasn't there, was he?

Never being one to sit back and wonder, I tapped the shoulder of the RDC sitting in front of me and asked, “Where is the rest of 933 (I even made sure I said it right: “9-3-3” and not “nine-thirty-three”). He said they were all on the deck. I told him that my son was not on the deck. He asked who I was looking for. He then leaned forward and asked Jamie’s RDC’s where he was. I think he misunderstood them because he told me that Jamie was holding a flag at the other end of the drill hall. I knew he wasn’t doing that, either. THEN I got REALLY worried.

Surely nothing had happened that prevented him from graduating?!? Was he sick?!? Was he in trouble?!? I just couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

I did manage to enjoy the remainder of the ceremony, but I was really worried about my missing child. I was sitting on the front row right on the aisle. My plan was that as soon as they announced “liberty call,” I was going to rush down and find one of his RDCs. Little did I know that the RDCs get the HECK outta Dodge the very SECOND that liberty call is announced. In retrospect, I guess I wouldn’t want to deal with 80 recruits’ parents, either.

So they announce ‘LIBERTY CALL,” and I rush down to the Drill Hall deck trying desperately to find someone who might know where Jamie is. For whatever reason, I looked to my left (where the “extra” recruits had been sitting). When I turned back around, there was Jamie about 15 feet from me, hand on his hip, head cocked to one side with a totally goofy grin on his face!

If you happened to be between me and him, I humbly apologize if I hit, pushed, body checked, or just flat knocked you out of my way! I honestly had total tunnel vision and didn’t see ANYONE but him. He grabbed me and gave me the biggest hug of my life! I was sobbing and trembling and laughing all at the same time. He, of course, was just laughing…at me. I just held on to him like I’d never let go! He kept worrying that I was wrinkling his dress whites or that I was getting mascara on them (little did he know that I had “auditioned” waterproof mascara and eyeliner for several weeks just for this occasion!).

He looked SO good. He seemed taller. I think it was just his attitude! He looked like he'd lost 30 pounds! I have NEVER been so proud of him.

It was a GREAT day!!