THAT'S MY BABY BOY!!! Michael and I changed our plane ride back to Trinidad so that I could be there for Ian's graduation from Army Basic Training on October 20th.
Michael stayed in Florida to help his parents, and my older son, Ari, was able to fly down to join me, so Ari and I drove to Ft. Jackson for the ceremony. We were then able to drive Ian to Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland for Ian's next part of training. When he graduates next, it will be as a certified diesel generator operator for the Army.

This January Ari will be leaving for Air Force Basic Training. I'm sad that I won't be around for his graduation, but both boys know that I'm always with them.

I'm so proud of them both. It's getting harder to believe that they're both so grown up. "Turn around and they're gone" as the saying goes. It's so true, it hurts.

I've gotta say this about graduation. When they played the Star Spangled Banner, I was the only one singing. I got some strange looks from others, but sang (and cried) anyway. When it was done, the lady in the row in front of me turned around and thanked me. What's the matter with people. Is there no pride in America? Their sons/daughters/friends just graduated from Basic Training. I don't get it, but I'm going to keep on singing.

Stay tuned.