It's so much fun to surprise your friends. My best friend Elsbeth Barnett just graduated from Army Boot Camp, and I was there to see her do it - only she didn't know I was coming until she saw me there! I decided mid-july that I didn't feel like waiting another 5 months to see her (because she goes to AIT training in Texas now), so I e-mailed her mom and said "can I come visit?" At the time, I thought she was coming home between boot camp and AIT, but turns out she didn't. However, her mom was VERY gracious, and wanted me to come with them, so I did.
We got to Fort Jackson at about 10:30am on Wednesday, only to find out that the soldiers weren't to be released until 1. So, we had to stand around in the sun and heat (though there was some shade) for a while. While we waited, Isaac played Elsbeth's violin (which we had brought so she could spend some time with it) and Noah played on his guitar, and I tried to find a spot of ground not infested with ants. I did manage to find one. That time.
At 1:15 (everything the military does is "hurry up - and wait", it's very annoying) all the companies marched up, in step and singing a cadence. It was very impressive. When they finally lined up, the Drill Sergeants kept them standing there for another 5 minutes while they did their company chants (B company's was by far the best (elsbeth's company) - they'd had to write it themselves, but had help from a DS). Then there was another minute of complete silence and stillness - from the soldiers that is. All the family members were edging forward, closer and closer to the line of soldiers, and getting louder in our comments ("alright, you've had 'em 9 week, it's our turn now!!!"). Somewhere in all that time I caught Elsbeth's eye and waved at her, and was very gratified to see her grin quadruple *contented look*. Then there was lots of hugging and exclaiming and introductions to fellow soldiers and DS's.
We didn't do much that day except talk. We had to stay on base, so lunch was a Blimpie's at a gas station, and supper was in the food court at the main PX (it's like a small mall, with a Wal-Mart-like store). Elsbeth played her violin some, bought some supplies at the PX, showed us what some of her exercises looked like (and a soldier walking by yelled "what are you doing THAT for?! we just got done with that!!!"), showed us her bunkroom and caffeteria, and we gave her presents. We also had numerous small battles with the ants that were EVERYWHERE THAT WE WANTED TO SIT!!! (sorry, pet peeve, the insects are much nicer up in Kentucky) We left her at 9 pm, when she had to go back to her barracks and line up.
The next day began way too early, and was only made bearable by the fact that somehow, amazingly, I'd gotten a decent amount of sleep the night before. And while breakfast at the hotel wasn't amazing, I began to get to know Elsbeth's brothers, and that was fun. Because of rain and overcast skies, the graduation ceremony had been moved to inside a gymn, and converted to 3 separate ceremonies (A+B at 9:00, C+D at 10:30, and E+F at 12:00). Mr. Barnett thanked Elsbeth later for being in B company, because it meant she graduated first and we got her for longer. The ceremony was long and not terribly interesting - the soldiers marched in, people were introduced, the national anthem was played by the army band, people got awarded, there was lots of walking around in rhymthmic and measured strides by important people, the colors were saluted, the soldiers recited their creed, they were pronounced graduated, and theymarchedoutandwefollowedinamillingmassofpeopletheend. yippee. I liked my graduation better. There was food and presents (well, the presents were all for me, but why do you think I liked it so much? *halo shines brightly)
After waiting a good 20 minutes while Mrs. Barnett bought a dvd of elsbeth's training (which might or might not have elsbeth in it), we walked over to her barracks and found her. The next stop was Wal-mart, for picnic supplies, but it turns out we got inside just in time to miss the tremendous thunderstorm that opened up right above us (complete with lightening that made the lights flicker, and very loud thunder (very cool, in other words)). So, we picnicked in the foot court at the back. I had no complaints: there was airconditioning and no ants.
Then it was off to the mall for Waldenbooks, where Elsbeth started drooling (okay, not really) and bought 4 books to read in her spare time at AIT (assuming they let her read them - if not she planned to save them for Christmas as a present for herself).
After some more driving around (which included Mr. Barnett (the driver)) being lost for a couple minutes, and us having to backtrack, we ended up at a Longhorns (= an obscenely expensive steak restaurant (okay, it wasn't all obscenely expensive, but I'm not used to my entre's costing 20$ (which is why I bought the 12$ steak))). Then we went back to the base and talked for another hour until she had to go.
All this doesn't sound like a whole lot of fun, but if you factor in all the bonding and talking (which I can't describe and don't remember half the content of) it turns out that I had a GREAT time. Except for the leaving-elsbeth part at the end, I think it was the best thing I've done this summer. I wish I could convey how much fun it was, but unfortunately it's one of those "you had to be there" things. Definitely worth the time and effort to get down there (6 hours of driving each way, bleaugh).
anyway, i have to go eat supper now.
Posted by switchfan at août 15, 2004 06:44 PM