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  : )