While he explained to us that it was time to leave, I looked to my parents. Tears were running down my Mother and Sister's faces due to them not wanting me to leave. As I stood there seeing my family start to cry, I started to cry as well. But my Father knew. He knew this is what I wanted. Although, it wasn't particularly a sad moment for him, besides seeing his son start to cry. He thought it was a little humorous because he went through it before. Yes, my Father is a Marine as well. He will always be. There are traits that I saw in him growing up that I wanted to model. As the only son in a family of 6, my Father means the world to me.
As we said our "See-You-Laters", I was hugging my Mother and Sisters. Then when it was my Father's turn, he reached wide with his arms and hugged me in a reassuring way. Then he told me, quietly so only I can hear, "I'll see you on the other side son." I started to cry even more then I said, "I know see you later Dad I love you." This made me feel so happy to have a loving father like him because I knew that he believed in me. Then we left.
The day that I left on was exactly the same as my Graduation day of Highschool, Rainy. As we got into the vehicle I could see my Mother in the doorway waving at me, wiping her tears away, and my Sisters huddled up beside her so they wouldn't get too wet. It just seemed like a sad day all around but while we were on our way to the recruiting station to hop on the ride to Parris Island, Ssgt Hemple told me, "You have a wonderful family; very supporting as well. You'll be fine." I looked at him and said, "Thank you." Then looked out the window as the rain streamed across the glass.
