Natalie . . . . .IN THE MARINES? ? ? . . . ! ! ! !

Well, the surprise . . . SHOCK, is more like it, of the year, at our household, came November 14th at about 10:45 p.m. Natalie asked if she could talk to me for a minute. She said she didn't quite know how to tell me, but the next thing I knew, I thought she said, " I have joined the Marines!" "WHAT,?" of course, was the first thing that came out of my mouth. What really knocked me for a loop was when I asked her when she was leaving, and she said, "Sunday afternoon, the 16th." Of course my eyes filled with tears. There was so much for me to process. I just grabbed her and hugged her and couldn't let go. I have two daughters and four sons. The first daughter became a firefighter, and the other joins the military. I guess that is what happens when you have four brothers born between you. . . . . . Not much time to play dollies and have tea parties together!!! I wish she would have told us sooner because all I could think of was. . . that is not enough time to say goodbye. During the few hours we had left with her before her departure, we all went out to dinner and to a movie. Sunday at noon we had a family lunch at home. At 3 o'clock that afternoon we took her to Logan to say goodbye and leave her in the hands of her Recruiting Staff Sgt. Wheeler. That goodbye was very hard for me. Once the whirlwind of my emotions had calmed down some, we had a chance to look up some information about boot camp at Paris Island, where she will be stationed for the next 13 weeks. OH MY HEAVENS . . . I try not to think too much about what she is going through. Natalie is a strong individual and I have no doubt that she will be remarkable. Our thoughts are with her always and many prayers are said in her behalf each day. If there is one thing I wish Natalie could actually hear me say every day, is that I love her so much and that I am proud she is a Marine.