Unexpected Road Trip

Ahren's bus would have taken two days to get from Parris Island to Pottstown. I decided to meet the bus half way so that Ahren wouldn't have to be on a bus that long. I didn't want to drive alone, so Ahren's friend, John came along. We were not quite sure what the bus stops were but we decided to leave Pottstown at 9am. Ahren called when we were in Delaware.

He would arrive in Raliegh, NC at 11:30. I thought he meant 11:30am! NO! 11:30pm! I'm so glad John came along!!! Since we had some time, we stopped for lunch in a small town: Occoquan, Va. It an old Mill town established in 1745. A beautiful waterfront town with a lot of history, especially around the civil war time period.

Ahren called again. We decided to drive 1 hour further to Fayetteville, NC because the bus was schedule to arrive at 9:15pm. We ended up in Fayetteville, NC at 8pm wating for his bus to arrive. The bus got in at 9:45pm.

Ahren was so happy to see us. He talked non-stop for a few hours with the stories behind boot-camp! We stopped at "Waffle House" for breakfast (even though it was around 10:30pm).

We took turns driving all the way home and arrived back at 6:40am. Just in time to see Zach and Brandon off to school.

Ahren's 2nd letter

Ahren wrote:
Dear Mom, Dad, Zach, Moose and ... John,
Doing good here, same old, same old. ........I proposed to Ashley the day before I left. .... She said yes! .............Love you guys. Gotta go to bed. We go to bed here at 8pm and wake up at 3:30ish. Not really sure because there aren't any clocks here...at all. Love Ahren. ps. That wasn't a recording. (See phone call home posting) It was me.

Ahren wrote home!

We got our first letter from Ahren. He wrote:

"Dear Mom, Dad, Zach & Moose, I'm doing fine here (really!). and I'm really enjoying it! You guys got me ready for this! Alot of people can't take being screamed at.... I laugh inside cause while they may yell loud, they're empty threats... For the first time I actually have a muscle! And I completed and passed my first PT test at 7 pullups, 55 crunches and 11 minute mile and 1/2. So Zach I'm gonna catch you now when I get home! Moose shoot conner in the foot for me." (Brandon has an air soft gun) "lol. ...... Miss you all, Ahren. ps. and Dad, our senior drill instructor said Dallas sucks!"

Ahren: Marines

Ahren signed up for the Marines. This is something he has dreamed of doing since he was in 7th grade. He is scheduled to leave for boot camp on September 23rd at Paris Island. When I have a mailing address I will let you know so you can write to him! Join me in wishing him Good Luck!