<p>And my wife is crushed. Every single listserv, resource, communication we had recieved stated that his call would come today between 1600-1645 EST. That is the time the first one came. Well today we were doing some yard work at 1430 EST and he called and we missed it. So I will not rely on anything anyone says from this point further. I really don't understand how so many seemingly informed folks could post something so important so wrong. In the end I realize it was our fault for not staying by the phone for 12 hours straight just in case.</p>
<p>Are you serious? You have a HUGE awakening coming to you if you are this angry over getting some bad gouge. As your son's military career begins there will be many times that things change at the last minute and things are missed. Imagine being one of family members of the USS Scorpion awaiting their arrival at the pier and not being told by the government that it was missing for several days. This is an extreme example, but little things like this happen all the time. </p>
<p>It is likely that your son will be given another chance to call today if nobody answered the first time and he didn't call someone else instead.</p>
<p>I cannot imagine your disappointment....but that is such a small window for so many calls...surely it had to be a typo? Certainly he will call back...they won't withhold his privilege.</p>
<p>Doubt if it was a typo. Probably a few free minutes and they allowed them to call early. I am betting that he will have a second chance during the promulgated window. Stay by the phone. I'm with 2001, if this makes you really angry, you are in for a long haul.</p>
<p>I believe that message was written in reactive mode. Gotamidin has shown through his other posts to be an intelligent, level headed person. When the gut reaction subsides and their mid calls again, everything will settle down. I have no doubt that this family will endure with strength all the challenges to come, even if someone loses their temper from time to time. </p>
<p>They don't call it a roller coaster for nothing.</p>
<p>Yea, here's hoping it's an over-reaction, of which we've all been guilty. No sweat.</p>
<p>But it's a reality check that this isn't summer camp. They've been appointed to do a job which they're doing. And while their employer is working to enable communication home, and I'm confident the understood, intended time of call was communicated courtesy of the USNA. But I'm not at all confident the situation merits any blame or elimination from one's bookmarks or faves. Oh my ... :eek:</p>
<p>Note that the weather has been rough in Annapolis today. Severe thunderstorms rolling through. That's surely affected the daily schedule and ability to make phone calls.</p>
<p>With lot of sympathy, but isn't that why god created portable phones?
Plus, assuming he is using a cell phone to call, he/she is permitted a re-dial during the alloted time.
We were NEVER away from a cell/portable phone during plebe summer and into the year. Heck, even now, we carry our cell phones around even at home just in case he calls one phone or the other. [Plus you may want to get to know how to conference call your cell phones in case he calls one of you while another is somewhere else.]</p>
<p>I will admit we really looked forward to our sons calls during Plebe summer, carried the phone around to every room until the call came, once well past the “indicated time” etc. </p>
<p>It’s easy for me to say but if you are expecting military life to be a series of perfectly timed and choreographed movements that occur precisely as represented the next 9 plus years are going to be hell… Dates and times of leave will change, orders will change, you’ll inevitably buy and have to modify air/travel reservations, holiday plans will change, the list goes on etc. </p>
<p>Step back and think about it as I hope you consider yourself blessed, you have a child that is safe and sound attending the United States Naval Academy. I’m sure you miss them very much as we miss ours. As much as we like to hear from him we consider ourselves quite lucky as we think about the parents of those sons and daughters about the same age as ours that are also wearing a uniform and not sleeping in a rack at Bancroft tonight.</p>
<p>Look guys, I know a bunch about the Military, I was on the ground in Grenada. My wife was very upset and that is what set me off. We were told by very authoritative sources that what time the call would come. It did not, we are over it. Look I know my Mid is not in the least concerned about us missing the call, it is my wife that I feel for. He did leave a message on my cell phone. Simply stated, "Hey guys, I tried the home and Mom's cell and could not get you, everything is fine, can't wait to see you on PPW." Ok for me but I am the one that told my wife that he would not call until 1600 EST, so I feel like a pile of bull manure. Get it. And USNA 69, you are getting a little long in the stride for me. Your comments are mostly insulting, condescending and otherwise to strident for me. You may know a bunch, don't worry for me and my family we will do just fine.</p>
<p>Gotamidin - </p>
<p>If you really know a bunch about the Military then might I suggest you spend your energy giving you wife a big hug and a kiss. Reassure her that this is OK and your son is OK. Stop taking your anger out and bad mouthing people who are trying to help you to understand something which you seem incapable. This same thing happened up the river at West Point - during the week before the first phone call, some kids got to call early - as in days early. Some parents got the call and others did not.
From what I understand is that the cadre try to allow all to connect and keep trying if they don't - I hope this is the case but if not then it's not the worst thing that could happen.
Sorry if I sound harsh but this is "how it is" - everyone who posted agrees upon that one. As to why you are taking your anger out on only USNA69, I am at a loss on that one.</p>
<p>I suggest you go get a bottle of wine, put on some music and get out the baby books or videos- sit with your wife and give her some reassurance and some loving. If she feels like crying - well then, let her.</p>
<p>No, leave him alone. I think he is onto something. Let him stay angry, become disillusioned and cynical. Instead of comforting his wife, he should convince her that he was correct, that they made a huge mistake by ‘allowing’ their son to go to the Academy. This way, he can spend his next four years being miserable and making all those around him the same.</p>
<p>OBTW, in the future when you post, you might want to preface it with the caveat that only those should reply who are willing to blow smoke up your butt. That way you can continue to avoid reality.</p>
<p>Maybe if you learned anything in the military you would realize that phone calls are not a right, they are a privilege. Privileges are earned.</p>
<p>
[quote]
In the end I realize it was our fault for not staying by the phone for 12 hours straight just in case.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Well if it makes you feel any better, it happens to just about all of us at some point or another. At least you were smart enough to have an answering machine to get the message!!!</p>
<p>So do like the rest of us do....
stay within earshot of the phone until the call comes.
Have faith that it will.
Missing a phone call can be tough, but it is not the end of the world. At least you know he is still alive and where he should be.....so everything else is uphill! </p>
<p>Seems as good as the gouge is (and it usually is) anything can happen to throw schedules out the window....including thunderstorms that reek havoic on the schedules. </p>
<p>So take a deep breath and go and do it the old fashioned way...write a letter, send a card. Your plebe has already "moved on," and so will you. It takes time to understand the "hurry up and wait" atmosphere, but you will get it down in no time! And PPW is clearly in sight!!!</p>
<p>Could it be that he called a girlfriend or someone else? Also I have heard that if they have duty or some other obligation that they will call at a later time. </p>
<p>I am reminded often as a wife of a Navy Chief (21 years Ret) that the family is not issued in the sea bag. </p>
<p>I do hope you get the follow-up phone call from your MIDN. And please know that they are in great hands if you don't.</p>
<p>Mom to a MIDN '10
Wife of a Navy Chief Ret.</p>
<p>"If it wasn't so hard everyone would do it. It is the HARD that makes it great." -Tom Hanks in <i>A League of Their Own</i></p>
<p>69 I always am anxious to read your notions and ideas about these things. I only wish you'd be a bit more transparent and candid. It's hardern heck reading thru your lines.:eek: ;)</p>
<p>Hopefully he calls today. That sucks, I would have been ****ed off if I couldn't have spoken with my mom during one of my calls...
And btw, I'm pretty sure phone calls are a right, I've never heard of them being taken away during plebe summer. Sure they threatened it, but I don't think it ever happened.</p>
<p>Sorry Jack. No right.</p>
<p>ok, gotamidin, i understand that you are mad. but as a first set detailer, i'll give you a little insight into what probably happened.</p>
<p>that first sunday, each company had to figure out how/when to get forty plebes their cell phones (we stayed up until the wee hours charging their phones for them) and where to take them so that they could find service, bancroft hall being the bomb shelter that it is. we also had a full afternoon of activities and had no designated time in our schedules for the calls-we had to fit them in wherever we could.
i'm sorry your wife and you were upset. life's tough like that. but don't worry-you have a whole four years of similar situations to look forward to. if you freak out about this, and try and blame others who were just trying to give you the best information they could, imagine what you'll do when something REALLY gets fouled up and you have no one but a messageboard of strangers to complain to/blame.</p>