Got Mail

The kids and I got notes from Sam today. Here are some excerpts:

Nov. 4
"You might laugh if you could see me now. Mommy has to stand in lines and eat in a cafeteria, off a tray, just like you. We don't get yelled at a whole lot, but we have been in a little trouble. Not everybody follows the rules and that really annoys me.... I have to carry a canteen and a 'smart book' at all times, plus I have a hat and gloves stuffed in my pockets. Right now, the only uniform I have is a PT uniform -- shorts, t-shirts, sweat pants, sweatshirts.... Here are some of our 'cheers:'
Drill sergeant comes in, and we yell, "At east." DS: 'Carry on". Us: 'Warriors from the start, Drill Sergeant!' DS: 'Warriors never quit.' US: 'I am an American Soldier! Hooah!' And when the DS orders us 'At ease,' We yell, 'Ah, too smooth.'
PS: Tell Lane that not all the Sergeants are afraid to cuss in front of females!"


Nov. 3
"During personal time tonight there was barely enough time to take a shower. I relaxed and started labeling my clothes while everybody else stood in line, not rushing because I knew how much time we had - I didn't think about hot water capacity, so I had an icy shower. I'm barely to the point where I need it too (i.e. cold shower). ...
One girl had the temerity to ask if we could get our cellphones for use when we were in formation. She's a Kerry girl -- I was surprised she didn't have to do push ups. ...
I set one girl's watch for her, then everybody wanted me to fix theirs. So I made them all stand together and read them the same damn instructions I used to set mine."

Nov. 5
"Oh, the stories. There are women here bragging over assault charges and appearances in front of the judge.... Hey! One rumor I heard from a 26 yo who grew up as a military brat is that it is easy to get your first posting overseas, as most people don't want to go ... She spent 6 years in Italy and calls it home and wants to go back...
I've so enjoyed all this time to write, but I don't expect it to last. Tomorrow we should get a lot done: shots, full uniforms, ID cards ... hmmm, maybe that doesn't sound like much, but there are about 240 of us to process. The is SO MUCH BITCHING about how 'our' time is being wasted, and they should be processing us over the weekend. They don't quite grasp that we don't have any more time -- the next how-ever-many weeks are the Army's time, and we are merely itt bitty inconsequential parts of a very big machine. I do have to admit that I'm surprised that we're not getting any kind of PT. I'm really going to pay for myt inactivity in BCT -- but there are women here who can't do 1 push-up, or run a complete mile. My recruiting station is SO much more on the ball than most, if even half of the stories are true."

Samantha