Last night we went into St. Louis to hang out and spend a few last hours together. We really enjoyed the hotel- it used to be a manufacturing company (so says their website) and is really old. I have no idea how much of the architecture is old or was just made to look old but it was definately a beautiful building. We tried to go visit the Arch but all the parking lots required cash for parking and we didn't have cash, being the modern, American, non downtown-city dwellers that we are. Trying to get there gave us several headaches because all the streets are narrow and several are one-way. The whole time I kept wishing we lived in Salt Lake City!
We went to the Spaghetti Factory for dinner- again, housed in an incredibly old building. The first building on that location was built in 1819, the second was built in 1887. I'm not sure if the current building is that one refurbished or what, but it too was gorgeous.
We spent the evening talking and watching TV. Matt was assigned a room with a roommate but he didn't ever even go into that room. He stayed with me- which was very welcome.
After going to bed around 930 Matt and I both woke up several times during the night and by 330 Matt couldn't stand it any more and got up for good. He ate breakfast and tried his best not to go crazy until 5 when he was required to meet for transport to MEPS.
As he left I had to choke back a sob or two. I even promised myself that I wouldn't cry until the way home but I couldn't manage to. I'm not sure what all Matt did in the intervening hours but I puttered away the time in the gym, taking a shower, cat napping, and watching cartoons. I drove over to MEPS around 9am for the supposed briefing at 930.
Again, I don't have cash for parking so as I pulled into the first lot and started asking for directions I was told of a few lots that may be able to help- one was a block away and I was sure I'd get lost if I ventured that far! I was trying to keep myself from crying as I said thank you for the drections but by the second lot I was hardly able to get my question out. The third lot thankfully accepted debit cards, had no teller that I had to bawl to and was only a short ways away from MEPS. I collected myself in the car but by the time I asked for directions once in MEPS I was bawling again. I couldn't stop! All I could think was that it was darn good I had bought waterproof mascara!
Some old lady came over and hugged me and helped me find the area I was supposed to go then I waited. A lot. Everyone was nice. After all this horror of thinking about what Matt would go through at basic I totally forgot that people in the military actually are nice...just not the ones in basic!
The supposed 930 briefing turned into 1100. Did you know that the news gets really boring and repetative after an hour and a half? Ugh. I finally saw Matt, cried a tad on his shoulder and then watched him swear in. He is now part of the Active Military and serving his country.
There was such a big group processing today (something like 25 for all of the branches) that all the paperwork was bogged down and there was very little room in the swearing in room for family members but I got a video. The woman swearing them in advised all the (? I'm trying to figure out what to call them? Men? Trainees? New Members?) to take advantage of the free education as soon and as much as possible. I highly agree. Then she had them swear in. (My camera fell asleep waiting for the swear-in part and by the time I woke it up I missed the first line but you can imagine it was something like "I (jumble of everyone saying their names at the first time) swear to..."
Matt then signed his name on the dotted line and rushed off for lunch. Thats where we parted ways. I watched him walk into the cafeteria. At first he kept turning around to wave over and over again but then he stopped and as he disappeared around the corner I wished I could have had one more smile. But I guess I'll make due with how much I got.
And the journey begins.
1 comment:
thats awesome that you were able to go and witness the swearing in. :)
I didn't. :( Ryder was too much of a pain for me to even want to deal with going to seattle to see Mikey swear in.
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