Today's post is going to be a little different, it's simply going to be about memories. I usually comment on stuff that happened on a date in the 80s, but today I feel nostalgic. I recently posted up some pictures in the Blog and in doing so opened up the doors to lots of memories, and one in particular, leaving home for the Army.
I'll be honest with you here, I didn't have the greatest relationship with my Father growing up. My parents divorced when I was 11, but had been sperated for years before that. My brother and I first lived with my Mother and later were sent to live with my Father. Making a long story short, my Father told me to be out of the house as soon as I turned 18...so I joined the Army when I was 17 and a Senior in High School. I was scheduled to leave 28 days after my 18th birthday.
I spent that summer of '82 running and getting into shape for basic training. I lived in a fairly rural area so getting together with friends was difficult at best, but I did manage to hang out with a few people. The girl that I had dated through High School had moved on, we had issues that I will touch on another time. So I pretty much hung out on my own and the closer it got to leaving the more nervous I became.
When I was looking at a branch of the Service I was heavily recruited by all of them, and seriously considered the Marines, however, because of the career path I was choosing (Military Police) the best chance I had at actually doing some law enforcement was in the Army. The Marines MPs are assigned to Embassy's all over the world and guard them. So the Army was my choice and when I enlisted I choose Europe as my initial assignment. I wanted desperately to travel.
I boxed all my stuff up and put it in the attic of my dad's house. It is still there today, unless my father threw it out. I'd love to get my hands on that stuff now, almost like my own little time capsule. I know I have some 8Track tapes in there and some personal writings. I was big into poetry back then, depressing love gone awry teenage poetry that I will share here in future posts, but I will share a little one with you now. This poem was written on September 22, 1982 seven days before I left for the Army and left home for good.
Leaving Home by EP
Leaving behind my childhood days
Leaving behind my child like ways
Stepping forth into the world
About to face a new life being unfurled
Walking on with my head held high
Looking back with a tear in my eye
Memories of friends I leave behind
Hopes of new ones I may find
I have the love of the family I'm leavin'
I feel strong because I know it's me they believe in
Time to start my new life on my own
Today's the day I'm leaving home
(ok I was young but I tried)
I packed my few belongings the night before I left, basically my life was in a Totes Carry All bag. I had to be up at 330 am to get to the recruiter's office where he in turn was going to drive me and several other people to the MEPS (I forget now what that stands for but it is the processing center). THe very last song I heard on the radio before shutting it off and leaving was Babe by Styx...Fitting...I remember being so damn nervous I couldn't eat. Very little conversation took place between my father and me and as he backed out of the driveway I could hear him crying. My thoughts were why the hell are you crying? You kicked me out, never the less, it showed me that he did care at some level, and I was happy to have known that.
A handshake and quick hug exchanged between a father and a son, symbolic to me of a child becoming a man, or at least at the beginning of a journey that would lead him to manhood. Mumbled Good Lucks, Good Bye, Write as often as possible, you'll do good son and off I went. I turned once to see my father but he was already back in the car and on his way home. I was on my way home too, only my journey was much longer....To Be Continued.
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