Last Wednesday I was ready to set out on my grand adventure. Introduction to the air came by way of a 10 seater that I bet had a wind up key to get it started. Once in the air it wasn't so bad, but very loud! Second plane out took me to Houston. Neither Cleveland nor Houston were bad to get in and out of. I was very worried about connecting flights. You couldn't have ask for better weather. I could look down and see the states as we flew over. I even got to see the Mississippi River!
The long day turned into night as we approached San Antonio. It was really exciting to see from the air. I happened to have a seat next to a pilot that was headed home after flying New Jersey flight that day and he pointed out the areas we were flying over.
Upon arrival, I had instructions in hand to get the rental car. Unbeknown to me, they would bus you to the rental car area that was 2 miles away. The first car they gave me had a dead battery. The second I went to drive out and discovered there weren't any brakes! Finally, they set me up with a Toyota Prius. I didn't have instructions to get to my hotel from there. What should have taken me 10 minutes ended up being a three hour drive (in big circles). Every thing is flat and dark with lots of three and four lane highways at night! I got in at 7:10 and didn't get to my room until 10:00! My question is this, If they build the roads correctly, then why, oh, why in the world do they have turn around lanes in EVERY exit????
After a short sleep, I was affraid I would get lost finding base. It was a 13 mile drive to base. It took me 1 1/2 hours! At least I was headed in the right direction!
Finally, I made it to base in time for the briefing in the reception hall. They had a short program of what the trainees did for the last 8 1/2 weeks. I had seen some of it on the Pentagon Channel back home. Then they explained where we could and couldn't go.
Then it was time to go outside to see the coin ceremony. (Don't look for Tom, he isn't in this picture. It was to hard to find him from so far away)
All were granted base liberty which intailed being able to explore the base they have lived on for the last few weeks. It was bigger than I thought! Stores, mini malls, fast foods, bowling....wow! 
He decided after the cookies that he was hungry, so we walked across base to get someting good to eat. 
He had us walking all over! I was almost dying, and he barely broke a sweat!
At the end of the day we found ourselves back at the parking lot. I was not allowed to go any where near his dorm, not even on the road, so we said our good-byes and I headed back to the hotel. Going back wasn't bad. It took me 1/2 hour to get off base, but a reasonable amount of time to get back to my room.The skies were beautiful. Nothing like what we see up here on the lake. Instead of a "sun"set, the whole sky illuminates with beautiful colors. Oh, the temperatures weren't bad either.
Waking up Friday morning, I turned on the local news only to find they were telling to use caution on the highway because FOG was so dense! Oh, great! Well, I knew where I was going this time and so it wasn't that bad. I had driven in much worse when going to the gym meets. All the friends and familly gathered behind the reception center and loaded onto the buses. They took us over to the Ceremonial field for the graduation. That was a place we were not allowed to go on our own!
You can see the fog in this picture. The buses had brought us over about 7:30, and this was taken about 9:30. It was neat because in the background was the display of planes. As the fog lifted, you could see them emerge from out of nowhere. I think there were six flights that day marching onto the field. Tom's flight was easy to see as he was just left of the band, just off center from the flags.
They paraded down the Parade Walk Bomb Run. walk and then the rest of the ceremony was pledges and acknowledgements. See my Airman under the X?
X
When the ceremony was done all were invited down on the field to find their Airman. I came up and gave Tom a big hug and we were ready to leave when I spotted a commanding officer coming through and congratulating everyone. I stepped back and got this great picture!
Among all the people, we finally ask someone to snap a picture of us.
I wanted to get one of just Tom. How handsome he is! I am very proud of him for coming out the other side.
Town liberty followed, but being late in the day he decided to make Friday night shopping night. He went out into town and we priced and shopped. He got to get a feel for the area beyond base. We found ourselves in a two story mall. He treated me to the best chicken teryoki ever! It was really good!
Saturday morning was all day town pass. First stop was Dunkin' Doughnuts!
Saturday, Tom said he wasn't up to par (must be all the junk food!) but he humored his mother by traveling into San Antonio's east side and visiting a few tourist attractions. We found ourselves at the Alamo
Taking a 30 minute boat ride on the riverwalk
And going up into the Tower of the Americas.
From up there you can see how flat Texas really is.
Tom thought it would be fun to read his fortune. He spotted ZOLTAR up on the second floor. It was just like the fortune teller that he had seen in the Tom Hanks movie, BIG.
Making our way up north, we took in a movie where he could just kick back and relax. Finishing the big loop around San Antonio, we headed back south to the base. We had just a little time left. We each got a sub and ate it in the plaza parking lot.
It was really nice how even so far from base (at least 1/2 hour or more) people were congratulating him on graduation. One woman even added a thank-you. I was a very proud mom!
We finished our subs talking and just hanging out then it was time to head back.
By the time we were back on base it was getting dark (but still nice and warm!). We walked back to the reception area where he waited on a fellow Airman so they could head back to the dorm.. They still had to use the buddy system to get around. I gave him a big hug being careful not to cry, told him how proud I was of him and gave him a little pep talk to hold him though tech school. One more big hug. He hugged me back and that was it. Mom is now crying. I gave him a kiss and turned away so he could head back. I knew how to get off base by now, but it took me a good 1/2 hour again as I ended up bawling in the car for 15 minutes.
Taking off Sunday wasn't bad until I got in the air. Poor lady next to me! At least I was crying silently when I was looking out the window and San Antonio was getting smaller and smaller. I took a quick look at my phone before turning it off and there it was....."Love you! Have fun on the plane!" boo hoo hoo
I've been home a week now but am ready to go back anytime!
As if any consultation, tickets were bought today for Tom. He is coming back to visit the week of Christmas weather permitting. I know I will have to share him, but I can hardly wait!
2 comments:
my husband is a former airman. he was unable to have a typical graduation as he was the class that graduated on September 14, 2001. he and his class were the only class in the history of the base to graduate in thier BDU's. no parents no friends were able to be there as all flights were grounded and the base was in lock down. please know that we are praying for your airman.
I am so glad you got to go. You are braver than I am. I don't think I could have done that alone. He is a very handsome airman and I loved the pictures of the 2 of you together.
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