We didn’t get done [with graduation practice] till 2 pm. When I called the parents, Mom told me they would be at the hotel by 4, the family didn’t get in till 6. Angie gave me a ride to the hotel. We pulled up and she rolled down the passenger window with Metts’ smiling face. She kindly told Mom that she had found something of hers. Mom looked around confused and then Angie rolled down the back window. She was so happy to see me. I thanked Angie, hugged Mom, and Barry headed down the stairs.

I was escorted up to their room. The first thing on Barry’s mind was food, so we went to Monterrey’s Mexican Grill because that’s what he liked last time. We went back to the hotel to look at pictures of Jason’s girlfriend Lacy. Mom gave me a ride to base. I invited the boys to the club, but Jason is only 16, so they could’ve come back with me to hang out, but they were all tired and went to sleep. 30 minutes later I was on my way to Seville Quarter with Andre.

We got to the blinking lights and loud music. I saw [others] there. He paid my way in ($10). This guy noticed the X’s on my hands and asked if I had been drinking. My response, it’s because you’re drunk that I appear that way. He was a 2nd class in the Navy [an E-5, I was soon to be an E-2]. He wanted to dance [but] I wasn’t going there. We [Andre and me] got to the truck and I hopped into the passenger seat. He told me with too much of a demanding voice to get into the backseat. Finally, he fell asleep and I got out to wander for a while.

We got onto base at 3 am. David came running down from his room. He told me that Andre was bitching about his night. He should have known it [whatever he imagined in the backseat] wasn’t going to happen. I changed into my utilities and went to breakfast. I got to the chapel and everyone else was already there. Family got there at 830. The parents had to check out of the hotel before 11, so I sent them on their way and went to PSD. I got my [plane] tickets and my record and turned in my key.

I hopped in the truck. I remember going by all the messed up buildings on the beach due to the hurricane in Perdido Key. After that, I was spent. They told me I was face down in the sand, asleep in the truck, and passed out in the tent as soon as they set up camp. I woke up at 3 am freezing and Mom gives me a cover sheet. There was a sleeping bag next to my bed if I wouldn’t have been too tired to notice it. They had shared three 6-packs. I woke up to bugs. They were everywhere on me and kept biting. I wanted to leave ASAP. I helped clean up, then I took a shower.

I discovered more bites as the drive went on. I had a book and CD player to keep me company, but a nap was inevitable. We got to New Orleans and had to visit Bourbon St. I was sporting my Navy sweater. I witnessed a guy doing a bad fortune telling and Barry watched a guy play the blues for 10 minutes. I commented that he was better than Bob [Barry’s mom’s boyfriend]. Some guy was taking donations for Meals-on-Wheels and you got a hat in return. I went into a “fun” store, but the guys didn’t enjoy that too much (dildos and handcuffs).

I remember looking Pancho [Mom’s Boston terrier] in the eyes at 4:20. I went exploring in the bunkhouse for a little bit and I was able to find a bunch of clothes. I donated some PJs and a few extra bags. There’s so much I need to get rid of, but it’s in my blood to be a packrat. Sis called and told me her friend Melissa could give me a ride [to Leander from Florence]. I agreed and gave her $10 in gas. I gave Mouse $20 and he came back with a 24-pack.

Monday, Barry took me to DPS [Dept. of Public Safety]. All I had to do was read line 5. I got my license and registered to vote. Then we went to the mall 10 minutes before anything opened. It was about $484 for a phone, A/C adapter, earpiece, car charger, and a carrier for the phone. The manager said I had to pay a $400 down payment that I will get back in a year because I have no credit. Barry had taken me to see Eric’s recruiter (PO Harris). He called my ship and got me a sponsor [someone to answer questions and help me upon arrival].

I called and talked to [Jessica Canady], an SN [E-3], but I’ve also been talking to ET1 who works in my space. I got to see Mrs. Burrows [my 3rd grade teacher]. She’s now a coach. She told me she begged for it. Everyone is pregnant and married now. Some girls are still in college. BJ picked me up from the house and we stopped by Deanna’s house on the way to Tiffany’s. BJ left at midnight and got back at 9 am. We went to Copperas Cove and I talked to PO Lawhorn for 1.5 hours [not sure why]. He’s giving me a day’s credit [which perhaps does not count today as vacation].

We develop my pictures at Walmart and drive back to Tiffany’s. I got home at 9:10 and Mom came with me to the church in town. I was able to get ahold of a bunch of people. I got a cell phone I can’t even use at the house [due to a lack of signal]. Eric was trying to watch David Letterman and at midnight Barry warned us that 5 would come early [for what?]

I woke up to an emergency. I was out of tampons. I called Mom and she brought by the perfect ones as soon as she could. That’s why I love her [one of the many reasons], but the negative was she made me meet her at the mailbox [at the bottom of the hill] because she didn’t know Barry [who acted allergic to feminine products] knew. Mom got home [after work] and we went to Staples where the people didn’t know [anything], so we went to Best Buy and I let a cute man named Andre sell me a $300 digital camera.

Plus the $300 plane ticket I had to buy myself didn’t leave me with enough to buy a $700 laptop. They didn’t have layaway and I got turned away for credit because nobody will give me any because I don’t have any. I have to get savings and go back. I had Mom drop me off at Tiffany’s with the camera. BJ brought by Jack Daniels. He left us the bottle. It went untouched and we passed out. We made pancakes for breakfast but most of the batter went on the stove top when we tried to flip them. We met my sister and Trent [her boyfriend] at the mailbox [up the long driveway].

Sis seems happy now half the time. She had on short white shorts and a tiny pink tank. She slid off her matching shoes and put her white legs on the dash and her pink glasses on her head. We took a bunch of pictures on my disposable camera and watched Dave Chappelle. Pat [Trent’s mom] said she wanted an early night, so I called Mom. She said she was on her way to the Exxon. She didn’t even bother with directions because she didn’t want to get lost. It was a 40-minute walk with 6 turns. When I told Mom it took me just as long to walk as it did her to drive, she thought that was good.

I can make it from driveway to driveway in 30 minutes, but not like I had anything else to do. I felt weird on the way back because Sis told me that Mom had read some journals about guys in Killeen. Oops! I’m glad she reads them so I don’t have to tell her…

We got enough technology to last me a while. That’s the most I’ve spent in 2.5 years. It cost me around 3 months’ pay, but that’s because I have half of it going into taxes and savings. I’m finally canceling my AT&T program, lowering my plan on Verizon, and in another month I will be receiving the $100 a month that has been going into my GI Bill [college fund]. I also opened a CD with Armed Forces [Bank] for $500. [The lady at the bank] said my interest at the end of 5 years will be $106. The APY is 3.8%, but things change.

I’m looking forward to going to Virginia. I’ve got friends there and might get a chance to do my job. We [Barry and me] went to Union State [Bank] and I transferred Armed Forces [Bank] savings to checking. That gave me $1,200. We went to Circuit City and the lady was nice and knew what she was talking about. She found me [a laptop] that burns CDs and holds excellent memory [for] $1,100. I knew there were going to be additional fees so we went back to the bank and I withdrew $700. We got to Best Buy and I chose an HP. The computer comes with A/C adapter, headphones, and phone cord for internet.

Then I got a $100 briefcase made by Swiss Army. It came with a bunch of pockets and the ability to adjust from 4 to 5 inches. It has 10 CDs with it too. Some are in case of an accident you are able to reload those onto your computer. There’s AOL, Internet Explorer, MSN, and Yahoo [icons]. Barry brought a Netflix package home thinking he could use it without my computer. I was on the computer for hours until people were coming home and I didn’t want to clog the phone line with me being on the internet.

Aunt Lois called and I told her why she didn’t get through the first 3 times. She was happy for me but she had to talk to Mom. She started talking to [Cousin] Alex and handed the phone to me. We talked about his stealing the mascot and leaving a treasure map. I got to talk to [Uncle] Jerry about maybe going skiing with them this 4th of July. I talked to Lois and she was peeling chicken for dinner. I can’t wait to make it to Kansas and see everyone. I haven’t seen [Cousin] Chris in 4 years. Mom gave me a ride to meet BJ at Chevron.

I had time to take pictures of the tree in black and white (just looks cool) and sepia. It’s this brown tint that makes them look old-timey as if they were taken in the 30s. BJ headed to the park. We sat in the same place as we did last time. BJ chugged his purple wine cooler and found his CDs in the trunk. We listened to the new Metallica after hearing one of their songs on the radio. I got home sober as hell and trudged up the hill grudgingly.

I told Lawhorn I would be there at 9. I ironed my uniform and ate honey butter popcorn from Gill [my Pensacola roommate]. I was in the office from 9:17, when he got there, until 2:30 when BJ picked me up. I shredded some papers, timed a kid on his PFA [Physical Fitness Assessment] requirements, and printed up divider labels on an old typewriter. Me and Peanut went in the yard to take a picture of the moon. I got to the edge of the hill and had a good view, but the moon was so far away and seemed like a pen point on my camera. It’s a picture of 3 monns smeared together.

I washed my feet and hair and put on flip-flops and Jason’s shorts. I was busy cleaning, organizing, and packing all [morning]. We got to Nana’s [in Fort Worth] after kolaches (sausage and pecan). I took a picture of me in dress whites and Nana in PJs, got Bob’s new CD, and left for the airport. I took a seat on my seabag [in Norfolk]. Someone from the Army came over wondering if my duty driver was on the way because she’d been waiting 2 hours. Longworth pulled up in his blue Mazda, 2 seats with a wide trunk.

We went to The Pizzeria [on Virginian Dr.] and after I figured I could start looking for my ship. We stopped and asked everyone for directions. We find the entry gate to the pier. My 1st impression was the greatest (I mean of the ship on me!) It looked so big and pretty standing there in the dark with only a few lights on. The CDO (an ensign) said that on my orders I don’t have to be back till the 7th [of June], but he told me to be back on Tuesday [May 31] at 7 am. I could stow my things now. I dumped my seabag under my rack and stuffed my garment bag into my locker.