August 1

I got my PIR video today.

I considered NOT watching it. First of all, I was THERE and saw it LIVE. Second of all, Jamie was not actually on the Drill Hall deck with his division (because he wasn't performing which doesn't seem quite right, but it's the Navy...) so I wouldn't get to see him. Third...well, there was no third because I was putting the DVD in the player by that time.

My heart still swelled with pride when the drumline played. I could still pick out my friend Nicole's son in the flag line. I was still awe-struck when 900 heads bowed in unison for prayer.

I was in and out of the room, cooking dinner, catching bits and pieces of PIR when I realized they were filming the individual award winners from behind as they were going down the line saluting the officers (I'm sure that has a name, I just don't know what it is...). Jamie's job was to stand in front of the bleachers and retrieve dropped cell phones, baby bottles, etc since spectators were not allowed on the deck during the ceremony.

In filming from behind the recruits, I got to see Jamie standing there. He was with several other recruits, but he was the only one applauding each award winner. I sent him a text message to ask if that was him and he said it was. So I got to see him after all (I didn't see him during the live PIR ceremony).

But the best part was right at the end. I was really concerned (at the ceremony [I wrote a whole blog about this]) because I couldn't find him so as soon as they announced "Liberty call," I was the first parent on the deck to try to figure out what had happened to him. The cameraman caught the picture of Jamie grabbing me and giving me the biggest hug of my life. Center frame for several seconds.

I cried just as hard at the video as I did at the ceremony. Those 5 or 10 seconds made the whole 90-minute video worth watching again!

It was a good day.