John

[slw268]

I want to share with my friends here what is going on with my son, John.

He is now finishing Swim Week and going into Grass Week in the USMC.

He is an incredible young man (No longer the Little Lord Fauntleroy of yesterday).

 

And what is really something is that he is going through this training with

a bad back!

 

He never complains about how tough it is - well a little , and he always writes that

he will make it.

 

He also said that it is good to be a part of our family again AND he calls me Sir. B)

 

He is funny and sometimes his letters still express this humor, e.g. I told

him that he would get a really big, really mean, pitbull black DI. And he did!

He says I got my wish AND that he is the DI's target!

 

I am very proud (beyond words) and I have found new meaning in my life.

He is an inspiration to deal with it.

 

Semper Fi.

[chilton747]

Couldn't ask for anything better cuzin Steve!! Glad to hear the good news!

[Amaro]

aaahhh the nightmares from boot camp are coming back!!!! I think hes got about 8 more weeks left of training.

 

Here is the training schedule. http://www.mcrdpi.usmc.mil/training/schedule.asp

Edited July 7, 2010 by Amaro (see edit history)

[slw268]

Couldn't ask for anything better cuzin Steve!! Glad to hear the good news!

Thanks Charles. It is a good feeling.

[slw268]

Yes indeed. The boy is becoming a man.

Bit of a stretch, Don. But I appreciate the sentiment.

 

[Urkidding]

What's his mother have to say about it?

[slw268]

What's his mother have to say about it?

Ying was, as expected "afraid of", but she is very proud now.

She is jealous that he writes me three letters to her one.

 

It was pretty rough in the beginning, but as time goes on she has

accepted the "concept" if not the reality of John's independence. In fact,

that was a strong influence on John in the first place: join the Marines

and get the hell away from an over-protective mom. Among other things.

 

I think that she has grown used to the idea now.

 

My pride and defense of John and his actions and decisions are having

the desired results.

[Urkidding]

What's his mother have to say about it?

Ying was, as expected "afraid of", but she is very proud now.

She is jealous that he writes me three letters to her one.

 

It was pretty rough in the beginning, but as time goes on she has

accepted the "concept" if not the reality of John's independence. In fact,

that was a strong influence on John in the first place: join the Marines

and get the hell away from an over-protective mom. Among other things.

 

I think that she has grown used to the idea now.

 

My pride and defense of John and his actions and decisions are having

the desired results.

 

Kudos to you Steve...

[slw268]

What's his mother have to say about it?

Ying was, as expected "afraid of", but she is very proud now.

She is jealous that he writes me three letters to her one.

 

It was pretty rough in the beginning, but as time goes on she has

accepted the "concept" if not the reality of John's independence. In fact,

that was a strong influence on John in the first place: join the Marines

and get the hell away from an over-protective mom. Among other things.

 

I think that she has grown used to the idea now.

 

My pride and defense of John and his actions and decisions are having

the desired results.

Kudos to you Steve...

Thanks!

One of the points I want to make with this thread is that through

his Herculean effort and fortitude John is overcoming significant

barriers to achieve things that I can only live through vicariously.

(Thanks Son )

 

Things like physical - he's not the biggest guy.

Language - he's about intermediate.

Maturity - He's still a kid by U.S. standards.

 

But, he is doing it.

 

He makes me strong. And it just goes to show that no matter

how devastating or disastrous things appear, one can do it!

[Sam and Fen]

What's his mother have to say about it?

Ying was, as expected "afraid of", but she is very proud now.

She is jealous that he writes me three letters to her one.

 

It was pretty rough in the beginning, but as time goes on she has

accepted the "concept" if not the reality of John's independence. In fact,

that was a strong influence on John in the first place: join the Marines

and get the hell away from an over-protective mom. Among other things.

 

I think that she has grown used to the idea now.

 

My pride and defense of John and his actions and decisions are having

the desired results.

Kudos to you Steve...

Thanks!

One of the points I want to make with this thread is that through

his Herculean effort and fortitude John is overcoming significant

barriers to achieve things that I can only live through vicariously.

(Thanks Son )

 

Things like physical - he's not the biggest guy.

Language - he's about intermediate.

Maturity - He's still a kid by U.S. standards.

 

But, he is doing it.

 

He makes me strong. And it just goes to show that no matter

how devastating or disastrous things appear, one can do it!

 

Bingo! Congratulations on a job well done.

[slw268]

Bingo! Congratulations on a job well done.

Thanks Sam, it means a lot to me.

John is my third chance at raising a son. He will be my last.

It is essential that I accomplish this before I pass.

 

I stand by him with the same promise and vows that I made to Ying:

 

For better or worse,

Through sickness and through health,

Till death do us part.

 

I leave out the rich/poor stuff cause I'm still working on that.

 

So you see, this isn't just another thread to me, it's my ultimate

testimonial on living with and loving a Chinese family.

What it takes, what I have to give and how I fail as well.

 

Steve

[Randy W]

Good job - all around!

[Dennis143]

Bingo! Congratulations on a job well done.

Thanks Sam, it means a lot to me.

John is my third chance at raising a son. He will be my last.

It is essential that I accomplish this before I pass.

 

I stand by him with the same promise and vows that I made to Ying:

 

For better or worse,

Through sickness and through health,

Till death do us part.

 

I leave out the rich/poor stuff cause I'm still working on that.

 

So you see, this isn't just another thread to me, it's my ultimate

testimonial on living with and loving a Chinese family.

What it takes, what I have to give and how I fail as well.

 

Steve

Congratulations, Steve and family. I can feel your pride oozing off my screen.

 

Hope he gets into supply or communications or the wars are over so that he'll never have to see combat.

[slw268]

Good job - all around!

Thanks Randy.

You should know how people can inspire you.

You make me think that China ain't all that bad

(And Fuzhou was voted the Best city in China to live )

 

John inspires me to be one of the few, the proud, the Father.

[slw268]

 

Congratulations, Steve and family. I can feel your pride oozing off my screen.

 

Hope he gets into supply or communications or the wars are over so that he'll never have to see combat.

 

Ah Dennis!

The man who makes me wish I was a lesbian.

 

John will be in supply. Don't know where he will be stationed yet.

He could actually stay in the states. Don't know if he will be satisfied

with that. He is really into it.

 

He wrote me that he can not believe how strong he is getting, how

much he can endure. He passed the first two stages of swim week

with flying colors but not sure about week three, he said nobody passed.

He said that they looked around the base for everything and anything

that they could weigh him down with!

 

Hope all is well with you guys and that maybe John gets stationed

out there and I can come mooch off of him and see y'all again.

 

Wasn't really myself when I met you, but I'm much better now

 

Sorry about the poor job of quoting you.

Edited July 8, 2010 by slw268 (see edit history)