I told him before he left that I would not be able to make it. We discussed that, just recently having committed to a new part-time job, I wouldn’t be able to rearrange my schedule; that it was a lot of money for a very short ceremony. We both agreed I would not go.
OK. Who am I kidding? There’s no way I’m missing this event in my kid’s life. I may be a less-than-perfect mother in some ways (ok…a LOT of ways….) but I have ALWAYS tried to be there for my son, attending cross-country meets (that’s dedication, right? I mean- you watch them leave and you wait for them to come back- usually in the rain), school concerts (in which- no lie- he played ONE NOTE in ONE SONG- See http://lifeonhysterialane.wordpress.com/?s=Johnny+one+note ), listening to devastating breakup stories, etc. It’s been just the two of us for so long. How could I miss this? He’s TURNING BLUE. I have to be there.
He’s not “turning blue” as in holding his breath until I change my mind. Turning Blue is the ceremony during which my son will receive his Infantry Blue Cord, which represents his completion of Infantry Advanced Individual Training. During the ceremony, family and friends (in other words, HIS MOTHER) will be given the opportunity to pin the Infantry Blue Cord onto the shoulder of his dress uniform, distinguishing him as an Infantryman. A short, but meaningful ceremony which I am now DETERMINED to attend.
So…… I’ve already changed my schedule and started planning the Bake Sale/Car Wash I’ll be holding to raise the extra funds needed for the trip. It may cost me $1000.00 and 20 hours of travel time for this 10 minute ceremony, but I have to be there. For me as much as for him.
Oh, sure. I’ve pinned things on him before. (Like the flooding of the upstairs bathroom for one….I supposed it is possible that I was the one who left the faucet on…..but I digress……) I’ve pinned notes on him intended for his Kindergarten teacher, and I’ve pinned mittens to his winter coats so they wouldn’t get lost and his hands wouldn’t be cold. But the Infantry Cord?
“Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies. Infantry units have more physically demanding training than other branches of armies, and place a greater emphasis on discipline, fitness, physical strength and aggression.”
It’s funny, isn’t it? He’ll be the one “Turning Blue”, and I’ll be the one holding my breath……
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