I wrote my first diary here. I started it pretty pissed off, and it somehow turned into me venting about my brother leaving for boot camp. A couple people asked for an update, and I've been putting this off for certain reasons, but, I felt the need to let everyone (who might care) know-
that my brother graduated.
A lovely pic, an even more lovely story of my family's adventure to South Carolina, and my brother's adventure that is just starting- on the flip!
Can we start off with the fact that I had no idea people still had to take off their shoes at the security checkpoints in the airport? Everyone got a good laugh out of that one (and I probably made a couple "security" guards angry) but it was a good way to start our journey, especially since it was so early.
Anyways, on to the point of this- he did it! My brother became a Marine on Friday July 13th! My family and I arrived in the spectacular town (I'm assuming) of Beaufort, South Carolina on the Wednesday before graduation. I was pretty proud of myself for making it seeing as how I absolutely hates planes/airports/anywhere I'm entirely too close to people who always smell.
I'm not going to lie, most of it was a blur (because it's hard to see through tears) but I do remember some highlights:
*On our flight from Boston to Charleston there was a small group of guys around my age that were on their way to Parris Island to start boot camp. We had an awesome time talking to them, and an even more awesome time on our flight from Charleston to Savannah because their group had grown to about twenty.
Family Day (Thursday) is broken down into parts. First is the Motivational Run at (I believe) 7AM. Second is the pin ceremony, which is at 1PM, and it is the first time we got hug/kiss/tackle my brother. After that ceremony, he gets "on base liberty" until 7PM.
And so begins the longest/hottest/most emotional day of my life.
*The 5 Mile Motvational Run was the first time I got see my brother in more than three months. They lined up on the Parade Deck, and did a 5 mile run around the depot. Everyone got to line the streets to look for your "recruit" as he runs by. They sing cadence, and one recruit is chosen by their drill instructors to ring the bell outside each set of barracks. It was amazing to see him, but so hard at the same time. Once they lined back up on the Parade Deck, we/they had leave. But I did get a good look through the binoculars, and my brother winked at us- that was the first time I cried.
We would have to wait until 1PM that afternoon to even talk to him.
Waiting around for the afternoon was awful! We killed time playing with Hummer and wasting money in the gift shop.
The Pin Ceremony was the most emotional part of the day. The received their Eagle, Globe, and Anchor, and were called, "Marine" for the first time since arriving at the Island. Once they were read a long list of rules and dismissed, we got to run and find him. The poor kid was practically tackled by all of us. My Dad and I were a mess, but my Mom (strong Irish woman that she is) held it together pretty well. He looked great (he had lost 37lbs since the beginning) but sounded a little hoarse, and he even picked up a southern accent (which I made fun of him endlessly for).
We got to hang out with him until around 6:30, and I've never been so happy (and so hot!), and we even got this lovely picture taken of us!
It was great talking to him again. He said he had missed me bugging him (pulling on his sleeves, slapping him, throwing things at him, and making fun of him) which I enjoyed hearing way too much. He got to catch up on all the gossip too, since we share the same group of friends.
Well obviously, 6:30 came too soon, and we had to say goodbye to him again!
*Graduation Day was great! The ceremony was about an hour long. There was a lot of drill, so the new Marines could show off, and the band was pretty impressive. Once they received their final dismissal, we ran out onto the Parade Deck, and found him again. He said introduced us to some friends, got some contact info and said goodbye.
"You saw everything yesterday, get me off this island."
It was the fastest three days of my life. I've never been so proud of anyone in my short twenty-one years. Right now, my brother is down in North Carolina, trying to get through physical therapy for his knee, and waiting start his combat training. Everything is still up in the air about whether or not he'll actually be able to train, but that little part of me is still happy he's being held up-which is awful of me. The last thing I want is for to go somewhere that isn't safe. But, I'm allowed to be selfish because I only have one big brother!