Bravo!

Nooo…I’m not talking about this crock of shit:

Or even this load of fecal matter:

Although I could definitely have some fun with this:

But I’m actually talking about this:

That’s my baby standing in formation last Saturday, after walking away from me.

FOREVER!!!!
(Insert snot-sobbing here)

He’s now officially a VMI Rat in Bravo Company.

That’s him in the gray t-shirt and red shorts. 🙂

So I’ve been in a momma funk for the last few days. His college is hard core and proudly touts their Spartan ways, which is no joke. Their barracks have no air conditioning. No heat. For the next four years he’ll be sleeping on a four inch thick foam “mattress” that’s laid out on top of a four inch high wooden pallet on a concrete floor. And as a first year ‘Rat” he’s allowed no privileges. No cell phones. No music. No TV. They stand at attention at all times and square their corners when they walk anywhere. He’s allowed to make phone calls only when they tell him he can and he’s watched over by an upperclassman while he’s talking.

It’s like Attica. With calculus.

But it was his choice to go there and it’s one that I’m admittedly proud of. If you want to see a little of what he got to experience firsthand after marching out of that auditorium, you can see what they don’t let the parents see firsthand below.

Those signs dangling from their chests say: I am Rat (insert name). If I am lost please return me to SGT: Whoever or CPL: Whatever. Thank you for your support.
Quite a difference in wording from the one pinned to his chest on his first day of kindergarten.

So yeah, I’ve been in a weird headspace with him gone. Which meant my muse – when present- was all over the place, which is why you have two chapters to read.

Two for the price of one!

So I’m going to leave these with you all, while I go and surround myself with a pile of Carpet Fresh Apples and Cinnamon carpet foam and weep quietly.

The Venefica & The Vampire – Chapter 14 – A Fox in the Henhouse

About Last Night – The One with the Yoyo