<p>Son called yesterday . . . said he was at Virginia Beach w/ four other mids; they had just come back from their grey hull cruise.
Conversation went something like this:</p>
<p>What are ya'll doing? Nothing much, just hangin out.
Where are you staying? Don't know yet, we'll find a place.
What is the plan for tonight? Don't know yet, we'll figure something out.</p>
<p>Ahh. . . .to be nineteen, in great shape, and looking for summer love.</p>
<p>Said the cruise was great becuase, althoug shorter than others, his ship was part of an Atlantic excercise prior tot he Eisenhower group being sent ot the middle east. Thought it was a great! experience in seeing how life onboard is.
Ran the Ridgid Hull Inflatable Boats, fire-fighting exercises, 50-cal gun time [they did have some of those onboard], some M-14 time, visting w/ helicopter pilot time, 0200 watch time [millions and millions of stars, watching night carrier operations]. All in all a good time.</p>
<p>Parents: After a long plebe year, this is what your 19-year old [maybe a bit older] kids will be doing next year.</p>
<p>Ha ha beats the summers the "regular" college kids are having by a long shot!</p>
<p>Boy you have that right!!!! I know my daughter was a bit sad that she only got a little more than a month off of school (as was I) but she had the time of her life this summer and didn't have to be working that 9-5 job like her civilian college counterparts. :) She comes home in 4 days. Can't wait.
Tricia</p>
<p>I saw one of my son's better friends the other day: Driving down the roadway, hanging out w/ a bunch of friends. This kid wants to be Navy ROTC someday. He stuck his head out and waved. Other friends are working at local stores, etc.
Can't wait for son to get back so he can share his stories of participating in "war games" [guess they don't really call them that anymore, uh . . .exercises] this past summer.</p>
<p>Amazing.</p>
<p>My daughter's high school friends are home for the summer from Northwestern, Ohio State, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Wellesly, USC, Stanford, etc. Some are working at the local university, ice cream store, Barney's of New York, etc. Meanwhile my mid is compiling a ranking of the yacht clubs in New York and Rhode Island...I'm sure she won't mind weeding the rose garden when she gets home...</p>
<p>so basically, navy and coast guard summers = camp fun-fun ;)</p>
<p>Ha ha maybe compared to Beast or Buckner but they work hard when they're on duty...16 hour days between two watches and regular duty hours. Just happens they make nice stops in between. :D</p>
<p>Join the Navy, see the world. </p>
<p>Join the Army, sleep in tents.</p>
<p>"I joined the Navy to see the world. Unfortunately the world is 75% water."</p>
<p>Join the Navy-See the World!</p>
<p>Join the Army-Dig it!</p>