For my mom, the best friend I always had but never realized. Happy Mother's Day!
I've been back to work for a little over two weeks now and it's going well. I have some adjusting to do, as it seems the civil service world also runs on the Air Force clock. Processes are already driving me up the wall. But I'm learning to let go..... right?
Today was a big day and will be one of my primary accomplishments this time next year - the Community College of the Air Force Commencement Ceremony. We had over 70 Airmen walk across the stage to receive their CCAF diploma, although we had over 200 receiving their degrees. It was a wonderful day to be a part of and more importantly to organize for the future.
The great thing about not being a graduate is you actually get to listen to what the keynote speaker has to say. And the speech given today struck a nerve for me. He went on telling about his background and how he worked really hard in school and received some scholarship money to go to college. Unfortunately, the money ran out and he had to find another path. He has now been in the AF for 27+ years, holds his CCAF degree, as well as a Bachelors and a Masters.
As I'm listening to this I couldn't help but tear up..... I come from a simple background. I won't say meager, because we always had what we needed. My parents were both in the Service, both in the Enlisted ranks and neither had a college education.
Life was really different in the 70s for kids graduating from high school. They could expect to get drafted for Vietnam, or, if they were lucky, they got a little money to go to college. There were some scholarships, but not too much money was out there, and credit cards were pretty non-existent, let alone 529 plans.
So, the story goes like this: My mom, who is a very bright woman, went to college for a semester or two. She had to be sure her tuition was paid for the next semester, but she was holding out hope that a scholarship would come through. Unfortunately the registration and payment date passed with no check in the mail. Making a decision that altered the course of her life, she enlisted in the Marines.
Yes, you read that right - My mom wore combat boots. And don't cross her, cause she might whip it out on you. Trust me... I've seen it - she's a baaaaad motha'!
Anyway, the reason why she enlisted was because the Montgomery GI Bill was wonderful, and she could get her education after serving her commitment. It wasn't a stretch for her to go int he service either; my grandfather was in the Army right after WWII ended, and my uncle (her brother) was also enlisting in the Marines. Of course, if she hadn't enlisted, I wouldn't be here because she met my father, who was in the Navy, at her first assignment. They were married and I came along a year or two later.
At the time - again, remember this is the 70s - they deemed pregnant Marines as unfit for duty and gave her a discharge. Not a bad thing, it was just business and how it was done back then. She also got to keep that GI Bill benefit and had 10 years to use it. Awesome right?
Well, my sister came along two years later, and before you knew it, life just got in the way. I remember her looking at me around my 10th birthday and telling me how important an education was. Actually, it was more like this: I was going to go to the top high school, then to college, get a job, get married and then have babies - in that order, and there is no deviation from the PLAN.
And then, when I was old enough to understand, my mom told me the rest of the story. Her GI Bill had lapsed because she was busy being the mom and taking two heavily sports and activity involved kids to everything their little hearts desired. Never in a million years did it ever cross my mind to not have my education. I owed it to her to cross that stage and be excellent in my life.
And I did just that on May 8th, 1999. Of course, it didn't hurt that Mother's Day was the next day. I don't think I ever told her this, but I felt it was her day as much as it was mine. The restaurant I chose for our celebration meal was as much for her as it was for me. I remember sitting there thinking that this was the best thing I could have ever done to repay her and near about the most perfect Mother's Day present.
Now that I'm the mom, I can look at and truly appreciate what she so selflessly did for my sister and I. I can only hope that I'm half the mother to my girls that she was and is.
I love you, Mom! And in case you were wondering, I mean every line in the cards I send you.
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