Back in River City

Here's a copy of the e-mail I received today from the ombudsman of Andrew's ship:

Due to the Ship’s current operational situation they had to go to “RIVER CITY”.  RIVER CITY is when out going emails from the Ship is not allowed, Sailors can still receive email.  The Officers and Crew are doing well and they will be back online as soon as possible.  CMDCS Hunt has access to his email, if you have any emergencies you can email him at cmc@ffg60.navy.mil and he will pass the message to your Sailor - emergencies only please.  Thanks for your support and your patience.

Please remember to not post information about the ship on any web sites.  We want all our sailors safe.
Respectfully,
Amy Webb

USS Rodney M. Davis OMBUDSMAN
OMBUDSMAN Phone Number:  425-210-5351
USS Davis Careline:  425-304-5026

Ring! Ring! Ring!

OMG . . . My cell phone rang,  I answered it, and it was Andrew!!!  Couldn't believe it!  He sounded tired and happy.   They were in port, originally for work duty, but later it turned into some leave time.  He purchased a phone, called home and we chatted for a while.  Yes!

If you want to call him, you can!  When I tried to dial the number from my cell phone, it wouldn't work.  I don't have international calling on the cell phone, but it should work fine from a land line.  E-mail me and I'll give you his phone number.

Call and chat with him.  He'll love it!

Navy Acronyms

Thanks, US Navy for pushing the envelope of my thinking.

Your acronyms cause me to slow down and process terms I'd otherwise quickly decipher and maybe even comprehend.  But oh no, Navy God . . . keep using those acronyms.  I love how you can shorten a word into one letter, combine that letter with another one-letter representation of a different word and build an acronym for one of your military terms.

The latest one I learned?  "RAS".  Nope, doesn't have anything to do with run, royal, red, or regal - the first "r" words that popped into my head.  It means Replenishment At Sea (RAS).  That's when the ship gets fuel from a different ship while both ships are floating across the ocean.  That, alone, interests me.  And when it's turned into an acronym (RAS), it becomes even more intriguing.

Thanks, US Navy, for stretching my learning today.

2 Navy ships conduct RAS procedure

Who Is This Man?

I've been thinking about this for a while now, but still haven't figured it out.  Hopefully, resolution is soon forthcoming because it's beginning to gnaw at my heart and brain.

When Andrew left for Basic Training last year (just a few days shy of the one-year mark!), we sent a giddy, all-knowing teenage boy to the Navy.   Away he went, still a child, despite his age.  I kissed him good-bye, wished him well on his adventure and felt my heart break.  At that moment I realized my boy was gone.  My long-time friend was leaving.  Cutting the apron strings - in one fell swoop.  Snipped.

Resolution came when we went to Chicago to see him graduate from Basic - an amazing, pride-filled ceremony filled with military pomp and regalia.  Truly a spectacle and the kids who graduated beamed with pride and accomplishment.  When I finally got to see our "Sailor" the hugs and kisses were like none other.  Reconnection at it's finest! 

Then came 2 trips home and I realized my sweet boy had not left . . . our "Andrew" was still there.   Still a little inattentive to details.  Still a little messy.  Still a little aloof.  Still Andrew!

Now he's been at sea for several months, with still more to come.  We communicate regularly via e-mail and that helps tremendously!  But e-mail isn't the same as seeing your child - actually talking face-to-face with him.  Looking him in the eye to understand the real meaning of what he's saying and thinking.  Like only a mother can do. 

I'm afraid that when he comes home after having been on the ship for so long he will have grown into a man - even more so than after Basic.  And the part that's hard for me is that I haven't seen the evolution along the way because we've been separated.  So much is learned, felt, communicated through unintentional habits and actions.  Andrew and I used to be so "in tune" with one another that it was pretty difficult for him to bullshit me.  Caught him mostly every time he tried!

So when he comes home again in December 2010 who will that person be?  I know he's become a man.  But who is that man?   How much of our Andrew will be there?  All of him, I hope.  Grown-up.  Mature. Responsible.  And still our Andrew . . .

Mojitos and More

In his latest e-mail, Andrew told me about getting his tattoo.  I still haven't seen a picture of it yet, but he tells me it's his favorite one.  Good thing he likes it.  Tattoos last a lifetime. 

He said he's had a great time in port and they're heading out soon with plans to return in a few weeks for a working party.  I'm not sure what they're going to work on, but they'll be doing some kind of work next time.

He discovered mojitos while he was at a casino, played cards there for 2 days and lost only $40.00.  He played a lot of Black Jack.  On his first game of Texas Hold 'Em he bet $20.00 and won.  Not bad for a first-time gambler!

Here's to good sailing, Andrew and crew!