from boys to men

So from my flight from Portland to San Francisco I was 'blessed' to ride with 13 US Marine recruits (not recruiters, mind you). So that's 13 male bodies between the age of 18-20. Some looked about to shat their pants out of anticipation what the next 13+ weeks would bring, and some just looked so young I could hardly believe that they were headed off to be trained to serve our country. In 13 weeks time most of these boys would become men all clad in Marine smarts.

Of the two that sat next to me, there was the nervously sweating stinky nerdy boy who talked way too much and narrated everything the plane did with ooo's and awh's... telling me way too much of his family history, interrupting the conversation at any given juncture and when asked proudly spoke of himself being the eldest recruit on the plane at age 20. With too-long finger nails, and body oder to match not even his freshly crew cut hair could mask that he was one stinky, very stinky know-it-all boy.

Then there was the youngin' from Albany, OR on his left who was shorter by a few but quite the cutie. Cute-Recruit was an honorable hard working boy of 19 (just recently had a birthday) who had dreamed of becoming a Marine since he was all of 7 years of age. There was a solid respect built into him for those in authority, even those he may not like... he wasn't quick to retort but seemed to ponder things before saying them. He leaned over and said things like, "Miss, we've been up since 4:30 this morning, that's why we all conked out here on this flight. When we arrive they're not going to let us sleep for three days." "This is my first time flying." "I've never even seen a palm tree before." He was simple, but not in a stupid sort of way. And in speaking about boot camp, he wasn't lying to himself about how 'easy' the next 13 weeks were going to be like StinkyKnowItAll-Recruit next to him was, he knew it was going to be Hell, with a capital 'H'. "Sometimes I think, what did I get myself into."

When StinkyKnowItAll-Recruit had jumped over him to go find the WC he leaned in and said, "I don't think he's going to make it." and I was like, "oh yah? He's got a mouth on him that's going to get him into a bunch of trouble." and Cute-Recruit continued on saying, "He's just not made of the same stuff most of these guys are,...". "For sure," was all I could say... and "good luck to you all. You guys are very brave and noble."

When I had asked them their age, they guessed voluntarily that I was all of 21, to which I thanked them and gave them an honest 26. To which Cute-Recruit replied, "So why are you not married?" (Seems to be the question of the year.) Then StinkyKnowItAll-Recruit pipes in, "I don't plan to marry until I'm like 30 something...", but Cute-Recruit had other plans... He said he could see himself married right now. That he's always felt older than he is and that people had always said that he was 'older' than he was. 'Just wait till they're done with you,... you'll feel much older than that,...' was all I could think. OK, that and 'Well, that's small town living taking it's toll as well.' Cute-Recruit asked if I ever saw myself going into the military. To which I replied, "I can't really see myself in the military." Then he asked me if I would support my husband's decision to join... to which I said, "Of course, I would. I would be scared for him, but I would support him."

Well, good luck boys. Go make us proud.
You're in my prayers.