Michael is Gone

June 13th I woke up at 6 to get over to Michael's house and make him brown sugar banana french toast. Of course he was still sleeping but when he woke up I was all finished and he had six french toast pieces to eat with orange juice. The morning had to be as special as I could make it, because Michael would be leaving at 10 a.m. for M.E.P.S.. It's his recruitment center for the Air Force, where he would be leaving for today. After he finished his breakfast we had time to hang out, talk and spend time together before he had to go.

At 9 we drove to M.E.P.S. and his Mom and I went inside with Michael to talk to his recruiter. He gave us the basics of how writing letters would work, when he's likely to be done with his basic training and what he will being going through. After that we were supposed to say our good byes. He took us back out front of the building for privacy and his Mom went first, seeing a mother being torn from her son is something I never thought I would see. I wanted to go last, he told me everything would be okay but we both knew eight weeks would be very long. I hugged him, told him I loved him and would miss him dearly. He kissed me and said he loved me back. As he's cradling me in his arms, I feel tears roll off my face and onto him. He said don't cry, I'll come back just for you and it'll be over before you know it. I kiss him one more time and hug onto him for a moment longer. He tells me he has to go and we say our final good byes. I watch him board onto his shuttle that left for Indianapolis. On his way to Indianapolis we could text each other and we made a promise to think of each other every night at the same time, eight for him and nine for me since times are different in Texas.

Eventually he arrives in Texas and we can no longer text each other, meaning no more communication except for letters. I've wrote to him everyday since we've last talked but I know my first letter will arrive some time June 17-18 and then after that he'll get them daily if I continue to write him daily like I will. I've kept a few of his hoodies and his softest blanket to remember what he smells like. The days feel much longer without him and I'm just dying to hear back from him. In my spare time (besides writing to him) I've been watching as many basic boot camp videos as I can find for the Air Force. After hours of watching I have a good idea of what he's going to be going through now. As I'm watching these videos I come across a couple where the guy is in the Air Force and they are married and they do daily vlogs. I'm not sure why but watching their vlogs make me feel better and shows me couples do get through the eight weeks of basic boot camp.

When I write my letters to Michael I send between 4-6 pages of how my day went and how much I missed him, a printed off page (front and back) of my pictures I took that day or news articles and old pictures that I know would make him happy and a picture printed off at CVS of either us together or me. He got to take a small photo album to look back to or put new ones in, so I customized it for him and will send a new picture everyday for him. I really want him to feel as wanted as much as I miss him and to feel so loved by sending him so much everyday. I've been keeping up on remembering to think of him every night at nine (eight for him) and it really brings a connection that we aren't separated. We also did one last photo-shoot before he had to go, I will be uploading it onto my photography gallery so be sure to take a look at that! My friends and family have really been there for me and I've been working a lot more to keep my mind off of it. I'll let you guys know when I get my first letter from him and count down the days when he's likely to graduate, 55 days till Michael should graduate!