My lil MP's Graduation (Part 2)

My lil MP asked me a while back if I would go to her graduation.  How could I say no?  Circumstances were such that I didn't know whether I could go until about two weeks ago but miracles occurred and I was able to go, though I went by myself.  Now that was a frightening experience!  I was actually second-guessing myself the night before.  Did I really want to go do this?  Honestly?  No.  Not really.

I'm so glad I did.

I flew into St. Louis this past Tuesday, picked up my rental car, and started the 120 mile drive to Fort "Lost in the Woods."  I hadn't been to Missouri in over twenty years and found myself reminiscing a lot since I was by myself.  Shorty's dad and fiancee were driving down and I knew I'd see them the next morning but it was a little intimidating to be by myself--especially when I was under the impression that I'd have to jump through hoops to get on base--since I am a civvie these days.  I actually went to the main gate even before I checked into my motel to make sure I wouldn't have any problems the next morning.  No problem.  It's an open post--though not as open as Fort Polk was two decades ago.

The way it worked, Wednesday was "Family Day" with graduation being Thursday morning.  Family day started off with an awards ceremony before the soldiers were dismissed to spend the afternoon with their families.  As I drove onto post, memories all of a sudden came flooding back.  The entrance to Ft. Leonard Wood appeared to be very similar to Entrance Road at Ft. Polk and I was lost in memories.  That actually helped, though, because I was confident around Ft. Polk so the familiarity helped immensely.  I got to the Nutter Field House a half hour before the doors were to open and sat in my car for a while since I didn't want to get out in the pouring rain.  When others started walking towards the front doors, I decided to join them.  Kellie's dad and fiancée hadn't arrived yet but I figured I'd save them seats.

The doors opened a little after 10:30 am and there was a mad rush into the field house.  The entire company of soldiers were sitting in their platoons, not moving. It was easy to pick out my lil MP because she's one of the shortest.  I got seats about five rows back and sat next to a really nice lady.  Her dad and fiancée showed up.  It was nice to see a familiar face--even if it was my ex-husband.  *wry grin*

Thankfully the awards ceremony was short and she was released to us.  It had only been three weeks since she was home on holiday block leave but it was soooo nice to see her again.  We explored the MP museum (rats, no mention of Grandpa) and visited the PX before heading out to a movie.

My grandma wrote about making this trip when they were going to Berlin.

She had to be back at 8 pm for formation so we stopped at the bowling alley (ah, another favorite memory) and made plans to take a bunch her fellow graduates back to the drop off point to avoid the pouring rain.  I think three went with her dad and four piled into the back my rental car.  I felt so old!  To think they were the same age now that I was back when I was around MPs...  They reminded me a lot of the MPs that I knew so very long ago.

1990 MP Ball. Courtesy Heather Duke Casto 

Graduation  was at 9 am Thursday and I was again waiting at the doors at 8 am.  The doors opened around 8:30 and this time I knew where Shorty would be so I chose our seats more carefully.  I didn't need to bother.  Since he was in his uniform, her dad, the Major, was directed to the front row and I was very grateful he let me come along.  I learned a lesson there that it pays to always treat someone the way you would like to be treated...  I'm sure that if I'd been obnoxious to him in recent months, he wouldn't have felt like including me.

Graduation started on time and the unit came marching in.  I think I only went to one military school graduation when I was married to her dad (PLDC) and it was nothing like this.  I had no idea what to expect. It was fairly short and sweet but pretty cool to experience.  They showed a video and I got to see what kind of training my little girl has been doing for the past 20 weeks.  Yes, I'm a big baby and it brought tears to my eyes.  Even though I "knew" what kind of training she was doing, it wasn't until I saw it on the video that I knew what she's been doing for the past 20 weeks.  Dang.  I don't know if I could ever have completed training like that....

So very proud of her. 

So very glad I went. 

Our view.  Front and Center.

First platoon, E Co, 787 MP BN marching in to graduation ceremony.

First Platoon, Echo CO, 787 MP BN

Once graduation was over and her company dismissed for the final time, we headed back to St. Louis.  We took a fellow MP graduate to the airport because he didn't have a way to get there and since I was heading that way...  I was very impressed with this new MP from Florida who is on his way to Korea.  He seems like a very put together young man. 

Having Shorty and her fellow graduate with me on the drive back to St. Louis made the trip go much faster.  Because I was flying home on Friday and she wasn't allowed to drive until midnight, she spent the night with me.  Her dad and fiancée stayed in the same hotel with us so we could all be "together."

Shorty dropped them off at the airport (they had been driving her car) before heading home to Iowa for the first time since early August.  She is in the Army Reserve and reported to her new MP unit yesterday morning.


So many long forgotten memories really overtook me throughout the time I was there.  Shorty was barely six weeks old when I left Germany and returned home to civilan life.  I miss it.  I miss being a military spouse.  I miss the friendships, the experiences.

I've joined a different group, now.  That group of parents of soldiers.  You're a part of a family yet you're not because you're so far away...  Well, at least I am.  *wry grin*  Am I surprised my little girl grew up wanting to be in the Army?  No.  Not really.  Yes.  A little.  She has a life plan.  One that makes sense for her.  She starts college in the fall and is going to do ROTC and become a pharmacist.  

It's been a very long time since she lived with me and it was so wonderful to have that mother-daughter time together--and talk about the maternal instincts kicking in! I miss snuggling up in a chair together like we did while I was looking at her OSUT yearbook.   I miss my baby girl so much and I'm so very proud of her.  She may be an adult, but she'll always be my baby girl. My baby girl who is now a Military Police.... person.