<p>Krissy always has had great penmanship, but this letter looks like she was trying to write it while she was running during PEP....lol, time management at it's best. Anyways, all is well....of course she says she is homesick, but we expected that the first letter...didn't we all? Anyways, she say's it's HARD, but doable.... She said to send bottled bodywash...already tired of cleaning soap scum...and she thought she had it rough with Drill SGT Mom...ha. Things to send included: Hair Clips, Granola Bars, PICTURES (I think I'll print off all the ones I've taken of her in formation and send them with all the others..lol) her favorite gummy bears, and letters to read of course. Overall, she sounded ok, but it was Sunday when she wrote it. She should have received a few nice boxes with alot of stuff today....hope it gets her and her friends through the next few days. </p>
<p>I can now see why some of you have 1000+ posts......I want to share everything. Oh well, it gets me through the day.</p>
<p>Got my second letter today- Bobby is still Bobby. I had started a card:Dear Mom, I need_<strong><em>,</em></strong><strong><em>,</em></strong>_____ and Bobby filled it in and added the details. I laughed so hard- then promptly headed for the grand opening of our new Walmart to purcahse everything on his list. Don't have a clue where he's going to store it. Also today- his GF got a letter from him and she says he wrote that he's loving it also. I'm just glad there doesn't seem to be any homesickness- he did ask for homebaked cookies- even though I'll be the first to admit- I am a terrible baker- but all the same- they got baked and sent out in the afternoon mail.</p>
<p>We got the postcard! She told us that she was still there... ;-) And that it was cool they got their rifles. She said she was excited for tomorrow. I noticed someone else's plebe wrote that too--I wonder what they were excited for in particular????</p>
<p>2010_DAD -
Thanks so much!!! It's so nice to have someone right there if the kids need it! You are wonderful and have made this Plebe Mom just a little more comforted!
-gypsycl</p>
<p>You guys are melting me with news of these first letters. They are a Godsend to receive I know. They sure do make you smile (& cry some more). </p>
<p>Dad2010, :) In a year from now, I hope you have 1,000 + too! Share every little tidbit of information. This is about the only place I know of where everyone here GETS IT. Realize that as proud of your daughter as you are, we are too. These kids are truly amazing. I look so forward to everyone's updates. You'll soon know everyone here & who their kid is & what they're doing. Its so fun to keep up with them all. LOVED the picnic photos! Its probably the first time they had to laugh & be themselves for a while. So good to see the smiles. Thanks for posting them!</p>
<p>USMMA is at this very moment registering kids for thier Indoc. Pictures should be coming by this evening. Let the haircuts begin!! Many of last year's parents, including myself, will tell you that it just seems like yesterday that we dropped them off. I can't believe its been a year. We've all been on here yacking it up for the entire year & it has flown by. Free therapy! :D</p>
<p>When you guys get that first phone call, post it!! We want to hear about how you almost thought someone had the wrong number. Their voices will be hoarse from all of the screaming & yelling & won't sound like them at all. They'll sound tired but they will be jazzed. Its awesome! Post more photos as you get them!</p>
<p>The mighty barque Eagle departed San Juan harbor today after a three-day liberty stop. The cadets toured Old San Juan, El Morro and other local sites. A number of them had a ball surfing at Rincon beach. My son watched the fireworks from an old castle and yesterday called me from Borders Books where he was picking up some reading material for his two weeks coming up at sea before the ship docks in Charleston, SC(JM alert!) He had kitchen detail yesterday but it was kind of slow as most of the kids were eating shoreside.
Not as much fun as swab summer, beast, bct or Buckner, but I guess it'll do...
:D</p>
<p>Any chance we can all meet sometime during PPW. I would love to meet the parents out there that I have gotten so much support from during these first tough weeks. Also has anyone figured out what they do with the boys and girls who don't have parents who can make the PPW?</p>
<p>Middiesmom, I do so hope that some of the kids have signed up for sponsor families. If I wasn't so darn far away, I'd take ten of 'em from any academy! One of our USMMA Mids, that graduated this year, said he adored his sponsor family & wouldn't have made it through without them. They are true family now, he says. </p>
<p>LFWBDad!!! AWESOME!! Wish we could follow a ship tracker on your son's ship, but I know... Its military sea lift. I just want to see where he is though. Its driving me nuts. I'm figuring the whole ship tracking thing out. With mine leaving soon, guess what?! I bought new underwear for the voyage. He's going to cringe. Can't imagine the places they visit & the things they'll learn. Yours went to one side of the world, & mine is going another. Amazing. If I could only fit in his bag..... I did buy him an extra camera battery.</p>
<p>Something about The Eagle just makes me want to go pirate that thing. I wish it were all mine! LOL I'd keep the Coasties on to sail it for me. They'd have to take me back to Bermuda. If you see where it left Charleston & is headed back to Bermuda, you'll know I have it. Yo Ho Ho & a bottle of rum. Have eye patches ready for the dogs. Ya'll are invited.</p>
<p>Get Google Earth on your computer and use the mapping function to chart the path and the miles and divide by the number of days between ports and you can get a pretty good idea of where they will be each day.</p>
<p>Alliance NY is supposed to be in Savannah on Sept 3 </p>
<p>Should I be worried- in two letters we got- one to me and one to his girlfriend my kid says he loves it. My second letter just told me what to send in the next care package. I can't wait till sunday and he it from the horses mouth.</p>
<p>peskemom is arranging a get-together for Sunday 13 August after we say goodbye to our plebes. Give her a holler! Can't wait... will definitely need the support ofm this group by then!</p>
<p>On the one listserv for plebe parents, the times for the phone calls was given out. I am going to check it out- to make sure this is accurate- One piece of advice given-the kids will call that day at some point. There was one post from a parent of lasts years group saying they didn't get the phone call during the hours posted and assumed they were not getting a call so they left- missing a call that came later. Will pass on whatever I find. If you have not- join the plebe listserv- the advice and experiences are wonderful to read.</p>
<p>My experience is that phone calls aren't made with military precision. Just hang on to your phones. You'll be fortunate if it arrives within the timeframe you expect.</p>
<p>Of course they will make all of us wait all day, but it will be worth it I'm sure. Went out to the 1200 formation today, they all looked great. I hope everyone has a great weekend and we'll share our phone call stories tomorrow. </p>
<p>good to know we have some "close" contacts. I just phoned the wife about the time. Her first question, just one phone call? What if she calls her boyfriend instead of us? LOL! The poor women is NOT taking the lose of her first born graciously! ;)</p>
<p>We got our first letters yesterday, scribbled on small note pad pages. Pretty upbeat (for now), nothing encountered that wasn't expected. Requested handi-wipes, tic tacs (one candy she said she's allowed), nutrigrain bars and icy hot ointment and patches.</p>
<p>Hopefully a little confusion will be cleared up tomorrow. We've been led to believ no cookies, candy or the like should be sent during Plebe summer but on another post several are sending home baked cookies, twizzlers, etc. </p>
