I Digress for a Maxx Update...

I'll continue Maxx's story in my next post (which will be entitled "5 Degrees of Separation"), as I want to give a quick synopsis of the 8 letters we've received since Maxx left for bootcamp on July 28:

August 1
We receive a form letter in which Maxx has filled in the blanks to give us his new address at Parris Island. Trouble is, the return address he wrote on the envelope is different from the one on the form letter. I take a guess and use the pre-printed address on the form letter and send 2 letters off to this address.

August 4
We receive another form letter in which Maxx is allowed to fill in one blank: Dear MOM,... The letter tells us his Senior Drill Instructor is Staff Sergeant Baio, and then lists the rules and regulations regarding mail. At the bottom is another address, which turns out to be the correct address. Next to that, in real little print, Maxx has written "143," which is our family code for "I Love You." I know he's fine by this message from my little guy!

This address causes me to go back and look at the 1st form letter we received. Upon close inspection, I realized the 2 letters I sent were actually sent to the P.O. box of the Commanding Officer of Parris Island!!! Garry and I laughed, as we figured the scene must have gone something like this:

The Commanding Officer of Parris Island calls Maxx to his quarters.
"Recruit Useless! Can you explain to me why your family is sending mail to you to MY POST OFFICE BOX?!! Do you think you're the Commanding Officer of Parris Island, Useless?!!"

Rct. Juusola: "SIR, NO, SIR! PLEASE FORGIVE THIS RECRUIT, SIR! THIS RECRUIT HAS SEVERE DYSLEXIA, SIR!"

The C.O.: "Go outside and practice falling down, Useless, until I meet you on the quarter deck!"

Rct. Juusola: "SIR, YES, SIR!

August 8
He loves his new life, he loves the PT (physical training); it's hard but "it's all good." The chow is good and so are the lessons and classes. He learned about uniforms and basic 1st aid. "It's hard and physically demanding, but my Senior Drill Instructor Sgt. Baio and the other Drill Instructors are really cool. I'm the Lay Leader in charge of the 20 minutes or so that we have for prayers and devotions for the Protestants, which is anyone not Catholic!"

August 14
"This Recruit wakes up at 0400 to go to chow, then marches home. We clean our house (funny, he never did that at home!), so if someone comes to inspect it, it's clean and we don't get PT'd (oh, that's how they do it!). He told us he fought with pugle sticks and began MCMAP (Marine Corps Martial Arts Program) and got 2 "kills" (how nice, sweetheart, mommy's soooo proud!). He loves receiving letters; it's a great morale booster.

August 15
"Today was amazing...I have an upper respiratory infection and a sinus infection, so every time I swallow, even spit, it feels like hot, rusty nails." (Just what every mother wants to hear when she's 1,400 miles away and can do nothing!) They went for a 2-mile run and the corpsmen had to leave for an emergency, so the platoon was told to walk. Maxx began power walking as a joke, but then the platoon passes the Gunnery Sgt., who screams, "EVERYONE POWER WALK LIKE HIM; FASTER; He wants it, He's MOTIVATED, He wants that promotion!!!" Maxx passes everyone and ends up 3rd when they get back to the track. He sees his SDI Sgt. Baio standing in the field and he passes the finish at a full sprint. They get back to their "house" and Sgt. Baio says, "Useless, come here and drink this for me!" He gives Maxx a Gatorade and says to Maxx, "People that take care of me, I take care of." The next letter I sent included cough drops...

August 24
"This Recruit is doing great!" Maxx is now in charge of the Big Gear Locker (from what I understand, it's where all the guns are stored...correct me if I'm wrong, Sgt. Larsen!). "Today we went on a hike and it was 5 miles. Our platoon was the only one to have no one fall out 'cause I was pushing a guy literally by his pack the last 1/4 mile, but it's all good!" Sgt Baio told them to go "home," so Maxx sprints home with a full pack and rifle and got to hold the door. "When everyone was in, Sgt. Baio said, 'Good job today, Big Guy!' and gave me a pat on the shoulder...that was the highlight of my day!" The entire platoon failed the SDI inspection because their rifles got all mixed up. When the DIs asked for their serial numbers, no one knew! Bet they all know them now. He loves church there; it's really cool.

August 25
"Happy Birthday, Mom!" "Well, things here at Parris Island are all the same; wake up at 0400, but lately it has not stopped raining, but, it's all good! As they say, 'If it's not raining, we're not training!' And, believe me, we're training!"

August 26 was the beginning of Maxx's water survival training, which lasted until Friday of that week. On that Friday, he also had his MCMAP test. On Monday, Sept 1; Maxx had his initial written test, went rappelling, and went into the gas chamber for his gas mask training. We prayed constantly for Maxx throughout each day of this week and decided we'd hear something if anything went wrong. We were happy when the phone never rang.

September 3
"How are y'all doing? Me? I'm great! Today I got my tan belt in MCMAP. It was great fun! I also got my combat water survival certification. I swam 50m with a rifle, kevlar, and flack jacket. That was hard, but I just do like I do with everything else: I say, 'God, I'm so tired, my body's broken down and I don't know how I'm going to do this, so whatever you want, just give me the strength' and He does." "Just keep praying for me, it helps!"
We send stamps and pens. Only 6 more weeks until The Crucible...