12 April 2008
Back In GR
Posted by Deborah Pieri under: Deborah Pieri .
Wow. . . what a difference 24 hours can make. Yesterday afternoon I was running a 5 mile loop along Mission Bay Park in San Diego. . . beautiful views, bright blue skies, and 75 degrees or warmer! I arrived back in GR this afternoon wearing shorts and a tank top. Good thing I had my jean jacket stashed in my backpack! Wow. . .what is going on here? I heard it was warmer this week. . . but definitely not today! We left San Diego at 7:30 their time last night and flew through the night. . . three different flights, finally arriving in Chicago at about 10:40 this morning and then driving back to GR. Basically we have had no sleep other than light dozing at airports between flights. I’m not quite sure why I am still awake at 10:45 tonight. It feels good to be home, but I sure did love the west coast. We had some great adventures and have wonderful memories.
I know that many of you have young children, so it may be difficult for you to relate to what I have experienced in the past few days. When I first glimpsed my 19 year old son Sam dressed in his uniform at family day at USMD San Diego, my breath caught in my throat. I could not believe that that tall, tan, handsome man was my son, now a Marine. Emotions flooded me. I was immensely proud of him for making it through boot camp. He choose a direction for his life that he felt was right for him. It was a direction that Tim and I totally opposed, and yet Sam pursued it. It’s amazing how love can change the human heart. When Sam entered boot camp, I started reading everything I could find to try to understand and to support him. Over the weeks and months I found myself changing. Things were no longer so black and white. My mind and heart began to open and I found myself fully supporting Sam and his decision. I am filled with pride for the man he has become!
But I remember the little boy as well. . . .soft tight brown curls bouncing as he ran, huge brown eyes so full of life. Sam was my biggest baby, 9lb.12oz. . . . tough birth, but natural, no drugs. He choked on a quarter twice, once when he was 2 and a half and once at 10. The doctors in the emergency room asked him if he was aspiring to be a piggy bank. Sam used to wear plaid boxers that hung out of his pants that were constantly falling off him because he has no butt. In kindergarten he insisted on dressing himself, often wearing a turtle neck with a clip-on necktie attached. He always had his own sense of style. His pants are no longer sagging. . . he lectured his 15 year old brother about pulling up his pants! Thank you Marines! Sam is home with us for 10 short days before he heads back to camp Pendleton for the School of Infintry. I’m not sure what the future holds for Sam. I pray for him each day as I do for all of my children. I am proud of his courage, his committment, and the determination he has displayed. Yesterday I told him that we are both warriors. He smiled and nodded. I know he respects me. He encouraged me as I battled cancer and I know he respects the running his dad and I do. It is truly a marvelous thing to watch your children grow up and become their own person and to then relate to them on an adult level. I am bursting with pride right now for my number 5 child!
I will be doing my long run tomorrow, and will try to combine it with the road warriors run. Can’t wait to see everyone and catch up! I read some of the blogs and everyone sounds great! Hang in there Shelly with the foot issues! Nick . . .I’m sorry I wasn’t here to run with you last week. . . I know that course by heart! Hope you are better today Steve. . we all have our crummy days. Mike and Terry I have always respected you guys but have a whole new understanding of you after this week! Thank you for being a part of my life!
After running in a sports bra and shorts all week, I will be busting out some warmer clothes for tomorrow! Happy running all!
Deb
7 Comments so far...
UpComingCamera.Info » Blog Archive » Back In GR Says:
12 April 2008 at 11:19 pm.
[…] 75 degrees or warmer! I arrived back in GR this afternoon wearing shorts and a tank top. … MORE >>Creadit By weight […]
Steve Kelly Says:
13 April 2008 at 8:03 am.
Welcome home to beautiful Grand Rapids! Gotta love this morning’s flurries…Thank you also for letting us into your very personal story about Sam. It has been inspirational to see your change of heart and constant support. I pray to be as informed if one of my little ones decides to do something for a living contrary to their upbringing. See you this afternoon!
Shelly Says:
13 April 2008 at 7:36 pm.
Deb–welcome home–at least you got to run today in sunshine and not the crappy rain we had yesterday! You are indeed a warrior–as I think I said before–I’m not surprised your son would select something valiant like he has by becoming a Marine. You (and Tim, of course!) have given him the gift of strength through your love! I loved your post today–my son is only 7, and barely at that, but I’ve seen some of those moments you described about Sam (only instead of a quarter in his belly, it was Kix cereal up his nose–two of GR’s finest pediatricians worked together to get it out!). Hope to see you this week for some running!
Bob Estes Says:
13 April 2008 at 8:59 pm.
Great to have you back! I wish you could’ve brought some of that warm weather back with you.
Nick Says:
13 April 2008 at 9:03 pm.
Deb
I’m glad you had the opportunity to be with your son during this milestone. We’re all thankful for his willingness to defend our freedom. Re running: You never know what kind of weather you’ll get in Michigan, I’m happy you had the chance to run in SD without layers. Feels good, doesn’t it?
Julie Hurley Says:
15 April 2008 at 11:18 am.
Welcome home! I really enjoyed this blog. I’ve oftentimes thought about what my kids are going to be like when they get older. You’ve reminded me to start journaling again about my daily life, recording precious moments that will long be forgotten unless they are written down. Looking forward to seeing you Saturday!
Amy Says:
6 May 2008 at 12:51 pm.
Deb what an incredible feeling of pride to watch your child move forward in life! I am so glad you got to be a part of that special moment:) Hey maybe we can have Sam write Tommy a letter about how important it is to keep his pants up:) LOL