Big summer day
On a hot morning the first day of summer... Yali opens his door to celebrate Number 12 with a hallway of metallic purple balloons bouncing across the floorboards... all the balloons that the cat hadn't popped in the night...
He and Patience then scoot happily to Vacation Bible School for one last day of “Australian Adventure”...
...while I scoot home to laundry... until...
...Puck texts me a few minutes later... he's ready for the swearing in ceremony about three hours earlier than we expected...
Some quick texts and phone calls and a drive over to church to rearrange pick-up plans... and “Nana” steps in to help with Yali and Patience for the afternoon while Oxbear and I hit the road to the federal building downtown...
“Oh this looks familiar...” yup... we've been here before and more than once... back when we had to be fingerprinted all those times for both adoptions and we got some funny looks from all the immigrants sitting in the waiting room with us... probably wondering what we were doing there...
Puck is on the 10th floor waiting for us... but schedules have been confused and we have to wait another hour... “Hurry up and wait” his recruiter texts us...
Then escorted back with ID to the “Ceremony Room” where Puck is standing solemnly with two other recruits... hands behind his back... called forward for the Missouri National Guard... right hand raised... vow to defend... and that's all there is...
Puck leaves with a box of Potbelly's (courtesy, Army) in one hand and two hours of sleep in his head because somehow it's difficult sleeping in a hotel bed when you're used to a self-imposed Army cot back home... and some discussion on issues with the contract and a drop-by from his recruiter with some swag and more discussion... a nap for Puck wrapped up in his blanket and the cat...
…and the kids are returned by Gloria from swimming for hours at the pool... gifts for Yali... pick up his request of Little Caesar's for dinner...
...and... it's been a full day...