Changes are known to occur, when and where you may least expect them. This is my story of my most unexpected and to date, my most unparalleled.

My son was always a good student, polite and considerate, with so much more potential than he gave himself credit for. He was not an honor student or even a star athlete, which afforded little opportunity for college scholarships. That left him with little faith early in his high school years that he could further himself in this world. I suppose his frustrations are what led him down a bad path. He attached himself to a crowd that I can only describe as PUNKS, doing PUNK things. I didn't want to know just HOW bad the things he began to do were, but I had no doubt it was bad enough. He went from a clean-cut preppy to a grungy PUNK. He dressed like a hoodlum. His personal hygiene was almost nonexistent and, sported a seriously NASTY attitude!

Coming from a close family filled with love and respect for one another, I know he had great difficulty facing those that he loved, knowing the course he had chosen to take with his life. We almost lost him to nothingness. He couldn't find, much less hold down a decent job. I truly believe that the lack of opportunity for higher education can do that for a young person in this day and age and we couldn't afford to pay for college ourselves. I doubt he would have committed himself to it at that point even if we could afford it. I always felt that my son and I had a special bond. We would sit and talk for hours, about anything and everything. I hoped I could help him find something to focus on, something to strive for. I would ask him so often such goal oriented questions such as, "Son, where are you headed?" Most of the time his response would be "I don't know", or he would give me some long line of bull that I knew was just to please me at the time.

One day, for some strange reason, he decided to DROP into the local Navy Recruiters office in our small town. I figured he was just blowing more smoke, after all, he always had "BIG DREAMS" but little incentive to make any of them happen. The Recruiters gave him their whole presentation, he listened and he left with a few pamphlets.

Several weeks later, he dropped by the house. He moved out, or stormed out rather in a fit of rage over the "house rules" issue months prior. He wanted to talk to us about the Navy. We "OF COURSE" encouraged him to check into it further. Believe me when I say, that encouraging him to make such a choice was one of the hardest thing for me to do! I was always against military life for my kids because of so many awful stories I had heard throughout my life. I didn't trust the military one bit. I had serious reservations about that choice for MY children. Despite my personal feelings, I believed in my heart that this would, at least, give him a chance for a better life. Within a few days, my son actually DID check back with the Recruiters. He took their test and tested high. He discussed the opportunities and made the decision to join!

A few weeks later, we said our good-byes. I struggled to push back my fears and my tears and pasted on a smile and I watched as he drove away to meet the Recruiters and leave for boot camp so far from everything he knew and everyone he loved. I wanted him to leave us, knowing how proud I was in him for making a decision to take a more positive path in his life. Though my heart was breaking at seeing him go. Knowing I couldn't touch him or just drop in on him to see for myself that he was all right! I thought at the time that this was the hardest part for MOM. I soon discovered the hard part had only just begun.

As the weeks crawled by, I wondered constantly, what he was doing, if he was all right, was he lonely, was he homesick, are they feeding him RIGHT, was he sad or happy? I experienced, for the first time in my life, all of the Mommy worries when your child is out of your direct site. It's hard for "Mommy" to see them as grownups, no matter how old they are.

At long last, the BIG DAY arrived. We flew to Great Lakes for his graduation from boot camp. I was so eager to see him, and yet a bit apprehensive. I had no idea what to expect. The "boy" that left us had so little pride in himself and had allowed himself so little opportunity to be the least bit self-confident. He had a minute comprehension of setting personal goals let alone how to accomplish them. The recruits began to file past the crowd of eager family and friends packed in the stands above them with such grace and elegance, the site itself was overwhelming. I searched through the sea of white hats and black uniforms to find some trace of our own sailor! The new sailors marched into their orderly position and pivoted to face the crowd. I scanned the mass of faces, one face after another, searching for that one familiar. Suddenly, in one swift moment, my eyes met the crystal blue of my sons' eyes. "Could that be my boy?" I thought to myself. That "MAN" standing before us, so tall, so confident, so PROUD? Surely my eyes were deceiving me! I couldn't take my eyes off of this sailor. When I realized it was indeed my own child, I shook from head to toe and began to weep uncontrollably. The boy I watched drive away only a few weeks before was gone. But in his place stood a MAN, standing tall, self-confident and proud.

After the ceremony, I finally stole a moment alone with him, away from everyone. I sat down with him, looked deep into his eyes and with a little fear of the answer, asked the question I had always asked of him, "Son, where are you headed?" His answer was overwhelming to me, he said simply and with a sly little smile, "Forward!" It was such a simple, little word that spoke volumes from his heart. Behind that sly little smile, I hadn't seen in such a long time, I saw true happiness and pride. What amazing gifts he gave to himself by the choices HE made and the GOALS he achieved. I miss my son now, every minute of every day though I am comforted by the knowledge that he has chosen a good road, one that will provide him with a sound and happy life.

As I close my eyes each night, I Thank GOD for the Navy, and the opportunity they provided for him to find himself, accomplish goals and forge his OWN destiny. I am thankful for the wisdom of my son to make such a choice, to strive for excellence and to take each step "forward." I also pray that the Navy will continue to offer that "good path" for him to follow.