Thursday, April 21, 2011
Happy Birthday Son
Wishing more than anything that Dominic could have been home for his birthday so we could have all went out for his birthday dinner and to be able to give him a birthday hug! But more than anything I wish Dom could have been home for his birthday because I know being home with his family and friends for his 22nd would have been his birthday wish!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Hard To Believe
Wow! So wild to think it has been exactly one year since i have added an entry! Time flies! After re-reading my past entries i find it hard to believe the changes that have taken place with our son, the sailorman!!! Hahahhah. Dominic finished up his "A" school in Meridian, Mississippi and came home for twenty days! It was awesome - he got to visit the whole family, had lots of parties and spent plenty of time at the seashore!!!! We were all so happy to be together spending time with family and friends! Great is the only word that keeps turning over in my mind!!!!
He then was ordered to head over to Sicily (Sigonella) for a three year land tour. Even though Dom was heading overseas, we ironically felt blessed with his orders! When he arrived he worked out of dispatch in the Fire tower on base. Dom did that for a few months and then was asked if he was interested in a 'pilot type' program to become a certified firefighter and work in the firehouse! Of course he was psyched and gladly signed on, not only because he had oftn wondered about becoming a firefighter, like his father, but also he was getting very bored in the firetower doing dispatch. Up until this point only officers E4 and up (navy) were sent to the Fire Academy - but they were giving Dominic the opportunity to see if a non-officer would be able to complete the extensive training and classes. He was nervous of course, not wanting to let anyone down, but very positive and on-track!
He was sent to SanAntonio Texas (Goodfellow Air Force Base) for a three month class in the Military Fire Academy. He worked very hard, met alot of new people, went out on the town, worked even harder and eventually completed the course on time! We were all so happy and proud!! We could not believe we were getting to fly out to Texas and see him graduate! The ceremony was beautiful and very special because, they had asked Fred to wear his Philadelphia Fire Department uniform so he could come on stage to pin Dominics military Firefighter Pin onto his uniform! It was a very proud moment for all of us - Dominic following in his Fathers footsteps - first joining the navy and now becoming a firefighter!! Fred and I are such proud parents we have two wonderful sons - Dom taking after his dad becoming a Firefighter and young Freddy, at this time, a teacher, like myself!!!!We will forevr be proud of them no-matter where their lives will take them - as long as they keep us close at heart!!!
We were so elated that Dominic was able to fly home with us (on our flight)and spend four days of the Christmas Holiday safe and sound at home!!!!! This was VERY unexpected because he actually had no time for leave built up! But because he graduated the Fire Academy they allowed him to come home for a (very short)visit!!!! Luckilly Fred and I got to spend three days in Texas with Dominic prior to coming home, because young Freddy basically stole him from us the minute we reached the states!!! It was the best Christmas present any parents could have ever asked for - to have their two wonderful sons together on Christmas Morn!! No money or presents in the world could have been better than sharing our holiday together! Its funny, now that I think back, everyone, deep down, knew our time was so short and limited before we had to hand our son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, friend - back to the Navy! But we tried hard not to think about it and it worked right up until the evening he packed up (again) to leave. My heart felt wrenched and I can remember Dominic standing in his room with his arms wrapped around me in a big bear hug as I cried quietly, and he whispered - "I love you so much." I honestly think of that each night I say my prayers and ask God to bless both of my sons!
And that brings us up to the present day - with Firefighter Dom in Sicily - and our family - still missing him!!! Although on a much brighter note - we are all in such a better place in our hearts and minds with Dominic being away (finally)!!!! It goes without saying how proud we are of Dominic - but now that he is so happy and confident and doing so well - we in turn are feeling the same! Not to mention that we get to Skype (greatest invention ever) and talk with him a few times a week! I often joke, saying that if we could have skyped and facebooked during his teenage years - we would have gotten along great!!!!! If anyone would have tried to tell me, a year ago, that I would be this happy and content with Dom in the navy - I would have thought them a crazy person!!! But, again, I would have been wrong!
Although Dominic says often he gets homesick - he also is very happy and self-assurred and content with his choice to serve his country! He visits different towns and cities, meets new and interesting people and is loving his time in Italy! Even though my heart longs to see my sons beautiful blue eyes and my arms long to hold him close and hear his jolly laughter - I now know this is what he was meant to do and there is no other place that Dominic should be right now! And I thank God, a few times a day, for putting our hearts (a little more) at peace! I am blessed!
He then was ordered to head over to Sicily (Sigonella) for a three year land tour. Even though Dom was heading overseas, we ironically felt blessed with his orders! When he arrived he worked out of dispatch in the Fire tower on base. Dom did that for a few months and then was asked if he was interested in a 'pilot type' program to become a certified firefighter and work in the firehouse! Of course he was psyched and gladly signed on, not only because he had oftn wondered about becoming a firefighter, like his father, but also he was getting very bored in the firetower doing dispatch. Up until this point only officers E4 and up (navy) were sent to the Fire Academy - but they were giving Dominic the opportunity to see if a non-officer would be able to complete the extensive training and classes. He was nervous of course, not wanting to let anyone down, but very positive and on-track!
He was sent to SanAntonio Texas (Goodfellow Air Force Base) for a three month class in the Military Fire Academy. He worked very hard, met alot of new people, went out on the town, worked even harder and eventually completed the course on time! We were all so happy and proud!! We could not believe we were getting to fly out to Texas and see him graduate! The ceremony was beautiful and very special because, they had asked Fred to wear his Philadelphia Fire Department uniform so he could come on stage to pin Dominics military Firefighter Pin onto his uniform! It was a very proud moment for all of us - Dominic following in his Fathers footsteps - first joining the navy and now becoming a firefighter!! Fred and I are such proud parents we have two wonderful sons - Dom taking after his dad becoming a Firefighter and young Freddy, at this time, a teacher, like myself!!!!We will forevr be proud of them no-matter where their lives will take them - as long as they keep us close at heart!!!
We were so elated that Dominic was able to fly home with us (on our flight)and spend four days of the Christmas Holiday safe and sound at home!!!!! This was VERY unexpected because he actually had no time for leave built up! But because he graduated the Fire Academy they allowed him to come home for a (very short)visit!!!! Luckilly Fred and I got to spend three days in Texas with Dominic prior to coming home, because young Freddy basically stole him from us the minute we reached the states!!! It was the best Christmas present any parents could have ever asked for - to have their two wonderful sons together on Christmas Morn!! No money or presents in the world could have been better than sharing our holiday together! Its funny, now that I think back, everyone, deep down, knew our time was so short and limited before we had to hand our son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, friend - back to the Navy! But we tried hard not to think about it and it worked right up until the evening he packed up (again) to leave. My heart felt wrenched and I can remember Dominic standing in his room with his arms wrapped around me in a big bear hug as I cried quietly, and he whispered - "I love you so much." I honestly think of that each night I say my prayers and ask God to bless both of my sons!
And that brings us up to the present day - with Firefighter Dom in Sicily - and our family - still missing him!!! Although on a much brighter note - we are all in such a better place in our hearts and minds with Dominic being away (finally)!!!! It goes without saying how proud we are of Dominic - but now that he is so happy and confident and doing so well - we in turn are feeling the same! Not to mention that we get to Skype (greatest invention ever) and talk with him a few times a week! I often joke, saying that if we could have skyped and facebooked during his teenage years - we would have gotten along great!!!!! If anyone would have tried to tell me, a year ago, that I would be this happy and content with Dom in the navy - I would have thought them a crazy person!!! But, again, I would have been wrong!
Although Dominic says often he gets homesick - he also is very happy and self-assurred and content with his choice to serve his country! He visits different towns and cities, meets new and interesting people and is loving his time in Italy! Even though my heart longs to see my sons beautiful blue eyes and my arms long to hold him close and hear his jolly laughter - I now know this is what he was meant to do and there is no other place that Dominic should be right now! And I thank God, a few times a day, for putting our hearts (a little more) at peace! I am blessed!
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