Michael's Depressed!

We received another letter from Michael yesterday! I figured he was really homesick or something because we'd just gotten a letter on Saturday. My motherly intuition was right. As you read on you'll understand, as I did that the day he wrote was a tough one.

He had his first class in First Aid II. He learned how to dress different wounds he'll encounter on the battlefield. They watched a movie of an actual wound dressing being performed. He said it was kind of gross with all the blood and stuff. He goes on, "It was weird to think that I may have to perform this someday to my buddy standing next to me or even my buddy performing it on me. The reality is slowly starting to set in. " They also learned how to treat for an amputation, an open fracture, and object impalement.

They had another mail call...........still NOTHING.

Many Marines had told Michael that the thing he needs to worry about in boot camp are the mind games. Now he knows what they're talking about. He's more depressed each day. He's beginning to wonder why he's there. Why would he want to give up all the FREEDOM of civilian life? Back then he could eat, sleep, talk, run, walk, sing, drum whenever he wanted. Now he "wears camo-clothing everyday (and the same ones too), he eats when he's told, sleeps when he's told, pisses when he's told..........all that freedom is gone!"

He knows why he gave up that freedom....so that each of us could have the freedom we do. I am humbled by the fact that not only Michael, but thousands of other men and women have and will volunteered to give their lives for mine. We all know of someone else who did that same thing 2000 years ago. What an honor to have a son who is willing to give his all for ME, for YOU.

He has started to see the pride of the American flag. He realizes that all of his hard work there is what keeps that flag in the air everyday. His senior DI has talked to them about things to think about every time they see it, salute it, and when colors are played. It's brought a whole new meaning to it all for Michael. The senior DI was also quick to point out that they won't feel the full effect of what that flag stands for until they return from war.

The guys were told to make boot camp hard on themselves by removing the things they've had at home like magazines, electric shavers, etc. They area allowed to have these things but are urged to go without them. "Eliminate contact with civilian objects" his senior DI said. Michael said, "Oh well, so far I've had elimination from civilian mail. Oh well."

Ok, how can a mother not be sad for her son? I love him so much and don't understand why he's not getting our mail!! If/when you send a letter DON'T put anything on the outside of the envelope that might bring attention to the DI, such as stickers, drawing, etc. He will pay the price for that. Keep writing and pray that they'll deliver his mail soon.