and waiting rather impatiently for the next 23 days to pass so that I can board that plane for Georgia and finally, FINALLY see my sweet boy again, for his 48 hour pass!!!
I never knew what to expect nor did I know quite how to anticipate the emotions and feelings I would have about him being gone. He's been out of the home now for 56 days (52 more days until graduation) and the initial days were okay...getting used to one less for dinner, one less noise around the house, less laundry, basically less of everything. I knew that I wouldn't talk to him on the phone much, but I think that's been the hardest part of all. In the beginning I received a call from him the day he arrived at Fort Benning and then surprise...a call just 3 days later while he was in reception. SPOILED, to say the least as his phone call lasted almost an hour. Then he left for basic. I received a call on that day that lasted 1 1/2 minutes telling me what Company he was sent to and I was told I wouldn't hear from him for 3 weeks until Red Phase was over.
Lo and behold, 2 weeks went by and I got a phone call - out of the blue ~ only 4 1/2 minutes, but I'll take it.. Yippee for me. Then one week later (at the 3 week mark end of Red Phase) I got my next phone call and it was like 15 minutes. Found out in a letter the next week that they won a combatives challenge and got an additional 10 min on the phone - another Yippee for me!
Yesterday marked 3 full weeks since I've talked to him on the phone. I'll admit, it's been the hardest 3 weeks of my life. Oh yes, I get letters alot, but there is something about hearing his voice and puts my heart in place. We were told my his First Sergeant to expect a quick phone call home this past weekend. I carried my phone with me everywhere yesterday (yes, even to the bathroom. Heck I would have showered with it if I needed to). Minutes turned to hours...waiting and waiting and waiting all the while my gut growing intensely more unsettled. Noon passed, 3:00pm passed, soon it was 6:00pm and we all knew at that point...no phone call would take place as it's 3 hours ahead there too. Nonetheless, each week his First Sergeant posts updates and pictures - rarely is Dalton in them (at least that I can make out). I pull up my Facebook and there it is, their new cover photo and I see him in all his glory and somehow...even though I wanted that phone call so badly...my heart was right!
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| Winners of the Diablo Company 2/54th Infantry Combatives PT Event ~ 4th Platoon, 4th Squad ~ (Dalton is in back row, 2nd from the left) |
So...another week to wait and wonder! For now, I will take this photo and cherish what it meant to my heart...forever!
