My son (19) completed his enlistment process with the Marines yesterday. He leaves for San Diego (in Spanish, San Diego means "whale's vagina") and Boot Camp on November 5. He scored pretty well on the aptitude test and, while he can pretty much choose any area in which to serve, has chosen to serve in the infantry.

As a dad, I obviously have mixed emotions. While I couldn't be more proud of him, I nevertheless struggle with releasing him into a life-threatening environment. He could be killed. Since becoming a dad, my prayer has often been, "Please God...anything...but please don't cause me to bury one of my children."

I've been fine, but very busy with work. I was retired but went back to work doing something I really enjoy. The pay is lousy, but the job is very good. Plus, I've been seeing a very fine woman over the past few months. I plan on marrying her one day. She is very precious. My daughter's (17) life is in the can. She moved in with her mom this past school year and went from being an "A" student to an "F" student. She's involved with a group of kids that are very bad news, tested positive for marijuana, discovered with a bag of hallucinogenic mushrooms in her car, yadda-yadda-yadda. I've basically released her. I told her she is free to make any choice about her life she wishes, but she will do so apart from me. And when (not if) she gets in trouble, don't call me. Yeah, life is what happens when you're making other plans.

Onward through the fog...

Fife

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"Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival."
Winston Churchill

Hey, Barn. Long time no see.

Best wishes to your son (make sure he understands the difference between "cover" and "concealment"!), sympathy for the daughter, and best of luck to you and your new romance!

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Man up.

and good luck to your son...and best wishes with your daughter. Having seen friends from school and a cousin go through that I know hard it must be for you.

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JMS gets another English lesson:

Quote:

there is no "mostly unique;" thats like saying "sometimes always," its an oxymoron - its either one or the other.

The result:

Quote:

By the mid-19th century unique had developed a wider meaning, “not typical, unusual,” and it is in this wider sense that it is compared. The comparison of so-called absolutes in senses that are not absolute is standard in all varieties of speech and writing.

That's certainly a mixed bag! Once kids get to be teenagers there's only so much you can do. Most kids like your daughter end up just fine. It's a phase. Fingers crossed. Fingers crossed for your son, too. Best of luck on your love life.

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Where are we going? And why am I in this handbasket?

Good to see your name pop up. You always added a nice interesting historical foundation to the discussions as well as a wry humor that was not always appreciated.

Pray for the best for your daughter and son as well as your new romance. Kudos to your brave son.

Us Brits are rolling strong Barn. The transatlantic alliance is rolling babe, You should have seen Bush wheeling Gordon Brown round the woods in his golf Buggy, the British had a field day:- sale's in a new dog leash called "I like Browning Bush", [to be worn by Brown and fellow Brits of course] have soared. Good luck with your kids, my cousin lives in America and she's had simular problems, but it's now well and truly over, hopefully it's just a faze!

I remain most hopeful. I've seen much worse turn out much better. It's the unknown that is frightening--the unknown of my son in combat, and the unknown of whether my daughter will ever return to herself. I suppose we all endeavor fruitlessly in managing and controlling the unknown, yet we do so in vain. At the end of the day, you either believe or you do not. I believe. I believe in my children, and I believe in their Maker. On that basis alone, I have hope. If my hope rested in my ability of so arranging circumstances that neither child would ever be harmed, my hope would be most futile. I gave up on being God a long time ago. So, my hope rests in my God and my children. How the story plays out remains unknown.

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"Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival."
Winston Churchill

Thanks to your son for choosing to serve our country. I'm sure you are proud....as you should be. I have a good friend whose Marine son is coming home in a couple of weeks from Iraq....having served two tours there. He loved it over there and his parents always said that's just where he wanted to be. Don't worry....they train them well and he'll learn to take care of himself. He'll be fine. I pray for him and all the rest who serve us every day!!!

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"This is a time for a national imperative not to fail in Iraq." Condoleeza Rice, January 11, 2007

Barn, Good to see you posting again. The VERY VERY VERY BEST to your son. I understand your concern as a parent. My daughter and son in law both joined the Air Force reserve this past year. They are both medical people and want to be there for our wounded. I am very proud and very nervous of both of them. Have faith and project positive vibes for your daughter she very well may surprise you.

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"I was born at night, but it was not last night night"

Blessings and thanks to all for your very encouraging thoughts and words.

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"Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival."
Winston Churchill