Today was the day I had to put Josh on an airplane back to boot camp. Funny, I thought it would be easier this time.

The nice surprise was that my stepdaughter was also flying out of the DM airport today, nearly at the same time as Josh and going to the same destination. Unfortunately, her company booked her flight through United and the Army always books his through Delta. There they were, both flying to Charlotte, North Carolina, but they couldn’t even fly together.

Another nice surprise was that I was allowed to go all the way to the gate with them. Him, really. Come to find out the airport gives a lot of little perks to the military, and one of them is allowing me past the security check points. I especially enjoyed this sign coming back out.

The unfortunate part of being surprised with the ability to go past the security points was that I wasn’t prepared. That $16.00 doctor-recommended pH-balancing lotion for my hands… gone. I really had to think long and hard when he asked me whether I wanted to surrender it or take it back outside.  So…

Lotion to correct eczema – $16.00
Costly breakfast at airport lounge – $8.00
Price to keep SUV in short-term parking while I waited with the kids for their flights – $5.00
Seeing them both off – priceless.

No more complaints about that lotion, guys – I promise.

And there he goes…

After he boarded and I was sitting in the gate area watching his plane, he sent me a text message: “I love you Mama. Be sure to write!” Talk about crying.

This time I know he’s not coming back. Not for at least eight months, and realistically probably not for a year or more. Unless they let him come home after his job training, I imagine he’ll be sent right out on assignment.

All right. This calls for a good book, a hot bubble bath, and about five warm-from-the-oven chocolate chip cookies.