Rite of Passage

   Well, it’s official.  My son has decided to become a Marine.  The papers are signed, no turning back now.  I’m not the happiest parent in the world right now.  His grades would’ve gotten him into college, but peer pressure is unbelievable.  The number of kids listening to the bugle amazes me.

   There is a certain amount of pride.  You can’t raise children to be independent , and then not be proud of them when they are.   He listened while I explained the negatives.  Then he expressed his positives to me.  They aren’t bad.  He seems to have thought it through.  Having been one I know that being a marine is going to profoundly impact the rest of his life.  The decisions he makes are going to determine whether in a good way or bad.

   I would have to say this is the first truly adult decision I’ve ever seen him make.  He took a couple of months with it, and we talked about it more than any other topic, with the exception maybe of his decision to become Catholic.  I felt that one was pretty important as well.  It was inspired by a girl though, so I kind of felt the motivation was wrong.He doesn’t always agree with my viewpoint, and I’m thankful for that.

   I only have to do this “this one is a grown up now” two more times, then I can take my old rickety ass to Hawaii and live on Mahi Mahi and Mai Tai’s.