I got to boot camp on July 19, as planned. I look forward to reading all the letters home to remember how it was [as I wrote in my bunk each night]. It’s been 3 more months in Chicago, and I’ve graduated a tech course, started and quit smoking, been on restriction for underage drinking, made out with a boy, and made hella friends, and I’m still on hold [waiting to go to my next duty station] till at least February.

Mom has a new Toyota Tacoma truck and a diamond ring, Barry and Tif have matching guitars, Eric has gone and come back from Houston [where his friends are going to college], and Jay has been driving and has a hot, ditzy, ex-girlfriend. Dad lost a cat, and Mom lost a friend, and Grandma [Baker] is in the hospital again because her cancer treatment is not working.

I turned 18 in boot camp and am soon to make E-2 [out of E-1 through E-9]. Tonight is my first night home in 5 months. My beds are bunked, and there’s a couch and Christmas lights [in my room]. I saw the dogs and see that Jay is anxious to do something. I was supposed to wake up at 4, but at 4:16, I reset my alarm for 5. At 535, the petty officer [one of the many in charge] was telling me that he couldn’t find my chit [permission slip to go home]. At 615, it was found again.

I got back to the barracks and said a few goodbyes. A kid named Corey offered to carry my seabag for me and said he had stayed up just to learn my name. I gave him my number. I got on the train at 758, called Mom, and then was talking to Corey when this lady turns around and asks, “Can you hang up already?” I felt like I was in a scary movie and about to be stabbed a bunch of times. I told her how rude she was, and she didn’t say anything else. I lowered my voice.

I was trying to find the Orange Line train, and everyone was telling me somewhere else to go. One guy stopped me and asked me where I got my seabag. We talked about me [being] in and his son wanting to join. I finally got to the train and couldn’t figure out how to get into the steps to board… the tickets were on the other side. I got on at 10 and was checked in at the airport at 1056. I bought a cinnamon Danish, enjoyed a coffee, a conversation with a couple girls, admiration of my jacket, looking through my planner, listening to No Doubt, a phone call or two, and taking a small nap.

Then I drifted very slowly through 3 shops to take up the 5-hour wait, then my flight gets delayed. I’m an A [seat] ticket, and I sit on the back side of the right-wing window. A late 40s businessman sits a seat between [us], leaving room for the bald guy with dirty ears to sit right next to me. Luckily, it was only a 2-hour flight. I listened to my CDs and took a nap. I was happy to be in Houston. I got to talk to Neil [who joined the military and grew up 15 minutes from my house] and buy a $5 ice cream.

I’d gotten there at 7, by 910 we were on our way to Austin [via plane]. I’d met a Marine officer, in [service] 18 years, and a Navy captain, in 28 years, decides to sit next to me. I try to listen to my headphones, but he talks away. Can’t be disrespectful, and then Tiffany calls to remind me I haven’t turned my phone off, he’s still talking. In the middle of all this, my nose bleeds. Someone needs change for a drink, so when he pushes the call button, they say they already have change. Well, we have a bloody nose. I put a wet napkin on, and it didn’t bleed long.

The flight seemed only 30 minutes. I got home by 1130, and the parents hit the hay at 142. It’s been a long day, and is going to be a longer week. The parents love my stuff. I found some civi [civilian] clothes and some odd pictures.