Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Good Looking Polite Men, Great Dinner - It Was the Best of Times

Nice Marine Surprise

We had a nice surprise the other night.  A taxi cab pulled up – hardly ever see one in this neighborhood – and out stepped two of my son’s friends, Marine buddies, from Camp Pendleton, stopped in to visit.  They were in Vegas for the three day holiday weekend, plus an extra day’s leave.  We insisted they stay with us.  It’s a small house, but we have two twin beds in the baby’s room.  We doubled the baby up with us, and they stayed in his room.  I told them it was silly to pay for hotel rooms at over $100 a night and expensive taxis when they could stay here for free and borrow my car to run around.  The carpet’s a bit sticky in the baby’s room, but other than that fresh sheets made it good as could be.  I told them groceries were plentiful in cheap eats and to make themselves at home, and gave them a spare set of house and car keys.  We hardly heard from them the first days.  They would come in late, a bit rowdy, shower and crash, sleep till noon, and then be gone again all day long.

On the last night they were here, I found out that my son, the Marine stationed at Virginia Beach, VA, had sent them to check up on me.  For that last night, they had a nice thank you dinner planned for us along with a girlfriend to babysit.  They took us to Texas Station and bought us shrimp cocktails and drinks at the bar, followed by dinner at Austin’s Steakhouse.  The four of them, the two Marine boys and two friends of theirs, stayed out in the casino and played slots and table poker, while we dined in romantic privacy.  One of the friends had a $30 casino comp and the others split the bill between them.  I found out my son’s good friend had already ordered for me when we went in the restaurant.  My son told them I would be too polite to order the lobster, but that’s what I would really want.  So, they pre-ordered the twin lobster tails for me.  I tried to squirm out of it when I ordered, just like my son predicted, but the waiter would not let me.  The boys had really pressed him to make sure I had the lobster.  It was so good.  Nice thick chunks of lobster, smooth as silk, soaked in hot butter and swallowed with glee.  I could only eat one and a small bite of the second.  That filled me so much I almost puked, but I hated to waste any of it.  It was lovely, and I chatted on the phone with my son and gushed about the surprise dinner while we were being served.

This was really an exceptionally nice thing for all of them to do.  New Marines only make about $1000 a month and they have quite a few uniform expenses that get paid out of that, plus some of them send money home.  They split the bill so it only cost them about $30 each, and my son chipped in some on it, too.  I think they spent way too much.  Dinner at Red Lobster would be half that price and just as good - but it was a gift, so no complaints.

I’m so proud of my son.  He completed Marine Boot Camp in September of last year, and is in school at Virginia Beach, VA.  He finishes school in April.  I can’t wait to see him.  It’s been too long away from each other.  He just made PFC (Private First Class).  He’s a good boy.  He helped me pay two payments ahead on my Cobra insurance so I don’t have to worry about them cancelling it because of the cancer – and he paid my pay-as-you-go monthly cell service so he can text me constantly.  The naval base ombudsman has been working with him on accepting and understanding my diagnosis and short future.  At first he wanted to come right home, but I said, “No.”  I wanted to be sure his schooling/training was complete so I would not have to worry about him being taken care of after I’m gone.  It looks like he may be able to spend an entire month with me in April.  I can’t wait.  He plans to spend hi entire paycheck on diapers, dinners out and movies for us.  Of course, I make him be more frugal than that and help with co-pays instead.  His April visit should come around the time for my four week check up at UCLA (if they agree to the surgery next week).  It’ll be nice to have him along for company and to help watch the baby that month – that is – if I get to have the surgery and if I survive the surgery.  Keep your finger crossed for me, and your prayers heaven sent and heavy laden.  I’m not asking for a miracle, just a little more time than I’ve been offered.  He's working on being permanently stationed at 29 Palms or Miramar San Diego, so he can be nearby and visit lots.

Another great thing the ombudsman is doing for us is organizing an adoption.  My husband, stepfather to my son, is doing an adult adoption so they can be legal family.  Someone the ombudsman knows is handling the paperwork and rushing it through for us.  I am hoping they might be able to also help us with making my husband the full legal guardian of my grandson.  Since there is no blood relation between my husband and grandson, and the guardianship has only been in my name, and we worry that there could be problems with custody after I’m gone.  I’m hoping that can all be settled prior to my “possible” surgery.  My surgery consult is only a week away (March 3).  The surgery will be very serious and very intent, and I could die during or right after due to complications.  I’ll know more about my immediate future after that.

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