the nerve

I'm getting a little tired of having to put my money where my mouth is with this one.

For several years,

I've maintained

that when you find the one with whom you want to spend your life,

you ought to just get on with it.

No long courtship and engagement nonsense.

Then

the kid got engaged

and just a few weeks later came to us and said they wouldn't proceed without our blessing,

but they'd prayed about it

and didn't see any reason why they ought not just go on ahead and get married.

In just a few more weeks!

Seeing that I'm nothing if not vocal - he knew what I'd say.

What I'd have to say....

~

I knew something was up when Tony called after 9:00 Tuesday night and said, 

"Can we stop by?"

I mean, Van Buren is not exactly on their way home from work...

Of course, I said, "Sure!"

It's probably worth noting

(at least for me)

that Tuesday was a bad day.

Election aside.

Cycle-wise, it was a very bad, no good day.

So.

 Ton' starts telling us about joining the Marines.

And we started telling him why he ought not do that,

and definitely not now.

He's newly married for goodness sake!

And what about the scholarships  I  we worked so hard to get?!

The kid is getting paid to go to school.

You don't just throw that away.

And why not the Army, at least? Or the Air Force - they get maid service...

And what about deployment?

And death?

And who/what does our military even fight for nowadays anyways?

Then he pulls out the golden ticket.

"I just really feel like its what we're supposed to do. Like I'd be being disobedient [to God] if I didn't join the Marine Corps."

Well. Crap.

Nothing I can say to that one.

It's what we try to train all of our kids for;

to be obedient to the Lord.

I am proud of him.

And I will be happy for him,

but for now, I'm looking at it selfishly 

and I'm just going to miss him.

Dad-gum obedient little cuss.