Monday, November 1, 2010

My Marine (recruit) Monday

MOM & DAD         OCT 24TH 2010

YO!  I'M ONCE AGAIN AT CHURCH : )  TODAY HAS BEEN A GREAT DAY AND SHOULD BE EVEN BETTER HOPEFULLY.  I AM SUPPOSED TO BE CALLING YOU GUYS!!  WE WERE EACH GRANTED A PHONE CALL HOME SINCE OUR PLATOON TOOK 1ST PLACE IN THE RIFLE RANGE!  WE ARE ALL PRETTY STOKED.

WE HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN MAIL FOR OVER A WEEK AGAIN, SO IF YOU HAVE SENT ANYTHING, THIS IS WHY I HAVEN'T RESPONDED TIL NOW.

K, FIRST OFF.  JUST A FEW THINGS THAT WOULD BE GREAT!

1.  IN THE NIGHTSTAND I WAS USING BEFORE I LEFT, THERE IS AN RX FOR MY CONTACTS.   IF YOU COULD FILL THAT AND SEND ME A PAIR INSIDE OF THE ENVELOPE IN THE LETTER, THAT WOULD BE SO GREAT!  JUST TAPE IT TO THE INSIDE OF THE LETTER : )

2.  ON THE BACK OF THIS LETTER IS A PICTURE OF WHERE I AM POSITIONED IN THE PLATOON, SO YOU WILL KNOW WHERE TO LOOK FOR ME IN FORMATION.  I AM THE 3RD PERSON BACK IN 2ND SQUADRON AS OF RIGHT NOW.  IF ANYTHING CHANGES, I WILL LET YOU GUYS KNOW.

HALLOWEEN IS COMING UP!  I WISH I COULD BE HOME TO SEE SISSY & HER OUTFIT.  YOU'LL HAVE TO LET ME KNOW WHAT SHE IS GOING TO BE AND SEND ME PICTURES IF POSSIBLE!  : )

DAD - I WAS ABLE TO SNEAK OVER TO AN ATM AND CHECK MY BALANCE ON MY CHECKING ACCOUNT.  I HAVE SAVED MORE MONEY THAN A LOT OF THE OTHER RECRUITS SO I FEEL VALIDATED. WE GET PAID 2 MORE TIMES BEFORE I GET OUT AS WELL.

I GOT A VERY MOTIVATING LETTER FROM COLONEL SMITH AND T.  IT MADE ME VERY EXCITED TO FINISH BECOMING A MARINE!  HAVE THEY MENTIONED AT ALL IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE COMING OR NOT?  IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE THEM!

ALSO, IF YOU COULD REMEMBER TO BRING MY BLACKBERRY TO GRADUATION, THAT WOULD BE GREAT!

ANYWAYS, I GOTTA TAKE OFF FOR NOW!  HOPEFULLY BY THE TIME YOU GET THIS WE HAVE ALREADY TALKED ON THE PHONE  : )

LOVE & MISS YOU GUYS!
- RECRUIT CATMULL
'SEMPER FI'

PS - IF YOU COULD JUST UPDATE MY FB STATUS TO HOW MANY DAYS I HAVE LEFT, I'D APPRECIATE IT!  THANKS SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO!

So, we got this last Wednesday and obviously we hadn't gotten a call.  Totally bummed out!  And then this morning at work, I got a call with a 910 area code and KNEW it was HIM!!  I jumped out of my chair and ran down the aisle to an empty conference room so I could shriek!!
Two important lessons that I quickly learned:
1.  I can't run yet OW OW OW!!!!
2.  Phone calls from boot camp suck.  It was so noisy with yelling in the background that I couldn't hear most of what he was saying and he had to repeat himself.  It wasn't a fun 'how ya doing, we get to chat' kind of call either.  It was all business......child support....garnishments......already paid........case number......website.....phone numbers........MESS!  Huge MESS!
He said he thought he might get to call again tonight, but I have a feeling that he won't.  They were granted one phone call home and he had to use his taking care of business, I don't think he'll get to call again.  : (

So I hung up and got to work on trying to help fix the mess.  I called the military.  Once I got through a phone tree like I've never experienced before, I got a human who proceeded to tell me that unless I showed up in person, somewhere, with power of attorney, there is nothing they can do to assist me.

I called the state recovery services who is attempting to garnish his wages for child support that we paid with the sale of his car, and got put on hold for over 20 minutes.  I guess I'll try again tomorrow. 

On the bright side?  I heard his voice.  I exchanged I love you's.  I heard his voice. 
He is happy.  I can hear it, I can feel it.  He's happy and loving every what he is doing.  He is where he wants to be, and though the call wasn't what I had hoped for, knowing that he is happy is all a mother can ask for right?

And the funny thing?  In my last letter to him (that he hadn't received when he wrote this one), I asked him if he wanted us to fill his contact rx and bring them with us.  I had also already updated his FB status to mark the days left.  Truly, he's my kid - we are on the same wave length!

He wrote two other letters - one to Luka and one to Tuffy, but they'll stay private.  Brothers have that code you know.......

And for now, here's hoping that we can get some help with the garnishment mess, he gets another phone call home, and that the next 17 days go by fast!

Semper Fi

PS - Don't forget to vote tomorrow.  That's what my boy and thousands of other brave kids are doing.  Protecting your right to choose your leadership and have your voice heard.

PSS - I wonder if they allowed the recruits to vote....great question - I hope so!

PSSS - Last I heard, the Colonel was planning on attending graduation but it's a surprise for 'dawg.......ssssshhhhhhhhhhh  : )

17 comments:

Missy said...

Crying! I hope you get your phone call tonight!
I am so Stoked for Voting tomorrow!

Cheeseboy said...

I saw your excitement on facebook. Hope it went well!

Voting tomorrow. Some you may like, some you probably won't. Although I just got a personal call from Mitt Romney that might persuade me. At least I think it was personal. He wouldn't stop talking.

gigi said...

First thing in the morning, girlfriend!! We vote early!

Sorry for the troubles, seems like thing can't just go smooth there always has to be hiccups, hopefully you can get them straightned out tomorrow.

What a great count down and I pray he gets to call again :)

" Hit It......." said...

I am so excited that you finally got your call! YES!

You only have two 1/2 more weeks. He is a great kid who misses his mama!

xoxo

CountessLaurie said...

I am so glad he is happy. Thank you for sharing his letters. Way to go, Recruit C!!

I am totally voting tomorrow!!

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

So exciting to be able to hear his voice.
Hopefully he won't disown you for NOT get a pix of Sissy in her costume.......way to go grandma.

You should be so proud of him! Can't wait for the pictures of his graduation!

Jamie said...

Yay, a phone call. I am so glad he loves what he is doing. I knnow I for one am Very grateful!

LKP said...

hey, you're totally right. clearing up business/mess or shooting the breeze, doesn't matter as long as you got to hear his voice, and he heard yours. how comforting that tender mercy was...i'm thinking more than you know. he's a good guy. i soooo need to sit down and write him this week! i feel all out of sorts with my sick girl still home. i love her. and i want to take care of her, so she's healthy and happy and back at school. having her home definitely throws a wrench in my normal routine, and i feel all shades of discombobulated. oh well. i'll enjoy her while she's home. i keep thinking, before i know it, these sick days will be gone and she won't need me to be her nurse. oy!

Vanessa said...

Wahooo! A phone call! So awesome!

I hope you get the mess all straightened out.

tammy said...

Boo for all the legal issues.

Yay for phone calls and letters!

wendy said...

First off...regarding halloween post below. Did you know I was baptized on halloween night. YUP.

now, very cool letter from your marine. all those legal issues have to bite for sure. It must have been a little hard dealing with all that on this most wonderful phone call...when as a mom you probably had hundreds of questions for him and millions of I love you's.

Anonymous said...

Hi there,
I'm visiting from LindanJake. I too am happy Halloween is done and over. I have a 5 yr old and I'm doing some adjusting next year on how we do Halloween.

Take care,
Viola of;
alongawidowedroad.blogspot.com

Ann Marie said...

Well it's good it's in letter form.. because if he said all of this on the phone.. it's a LOT to remember! I felt like I needed to jot some stuff down just reading it! :)

I can tell he is happy from the letter.. and you seem so happy when you mention him.

I love it.

Your a good Momma..

I voted today!

Just M said...

Hooray! Graduation is almost here!!!!! I am so excited for all of you.

Carma Sez said...

voted early!! and what a positive attitude your son has. He is quite a guy!!! Glad he is in the home stretch....

alpinekleins said...

Phone calls and letters - can't be that - happy to vote :)

Kristin

Heather said...

I am so glad you got your letter you had been waiting for!! And you got your phone call! Well kind of, that stinks it was so loud and you couldn't hear him!

You have got to be so proud!! That is awesome he is loving it!