Nick called the other day to say he is settling into his new home and has two roommates. The first thing he did was buy a TV. A 46-inch, HD, flat-screen TV. So my initial reaction was something along the lines of “are you crazy?!” He knew I’d react like that so he prepared himself. And he reassured me that he would be able to store it if and when he gets deployed. He said he was told he is staying at his base for at least a year. I know he hasn’t spent much of his earnings, but still.  Did he have to get such a huge  TV? It makes me nervous. I don’t want him throwing his money around. On the other hand I feel he deserves to spend some of his earnings. I supposed I should have been more excited, but my initial reaction in big purchases is always concern. Besides I only have a 32-inch TV.

We took Nick to the airport Sunday and sent him back to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. He landed safetly and called us from base to say all is well. But something happened at the airport that really caught my interest. Nick was wearing his uniform and as we walked through the terminal I kept hearing “thank-you.” It’s so busy and loud I didn’t make a connection until about the third one when I spotted Nick nodding his head to the person. Then it dawned on me that they were thanking him.  He said it happens all the time. I was pleased and surprised and proud all at once. They were actually thanking my son. I wondered if he realizes how important that is. As we continued to walk I made it a point to notice people’s reaction as we passed them. One man clearly said thank you for your service. And all the while Nick just acknowledged them with a smile or a nod. I thought it was really cool. We continued to walk toward his gate and were passing one of those moving walkways. It was moving in the opposite direction of us. Nick was on my left so I was watching people in that direction to see how many more would say something to him. But out of the corner of my eye, I could see something that I won’t forget soon. It happened fast but it was unmistakable. As we strolled past the moving walkway there was a little girl. She was no more than 6 or 7 years old and she could barely see about the handrail.  But she was facing us as she rode by. And as she passed she was saluting. She didn’t say a word. She just glided past with her little hand on her forehead.

Many people have told me that they were shocked at how much their son or daughter changed after their first few months in the service. I was worried about this because Nick’s personality, I thought, was decidedly not military-like. Since he’s been home, however, it’s like he never left. He is completely the same. I barely notice any changes. He still teases the dog, still laughs at the same dumb jokes and still loves to quote “Simpsons” and “Family Guy.” But that doesn’t mean he’s not dedicated to the Army. I feel he is totally committed. He just has been able to keep the two separate. Of course that can change if he’s deployed, which is a distinct possibility. But for now, we’re taking things one step at a time.