time is too short

When did my baby go from this (7 weeks old):


and this (4 years old):
to this (17 years old):


And now, 3 years after that picture was taken and 2 years after he moved out to go to college, why is time so short??

We only have

*1 more holiday
*9 more days with just our family
*14 more days in the Pacific Northwest
*18 more days until he boards the plane

I've been okay with his enlistment. I love the child I'm sending in and know that I will get an outstanding young man back for a visit after boot camp. Now that it's REALLY here though, I have my moments...times when the memories flood and the tears fall. I will miss this child! No matter how old he is, he's still my firstborn.... Even though he's not lived here for over 2 years, we've been able to talk to him pretty much any time we wanted. Starting December 1? Not so much. No phone calls, no emails, no text messages. Only regular US mail, and that only when he has time. We can write to him any time--and will--but it will not be the same. I will miss the fun give and take of conversation with him. I will miss his smile and his laugh. I will even miss his 'glass is half empty' view of the world. Sometimes.

One of the things the Marines give the recruit parents is a Parents Survival Guide for boot camp. The things in it are helpful and most make a great deal of sense. Much of it is reassuring and I am excited for him and this new adventure. I look forward to being a 'Marine Mom' (I think). I know he can do this.

And on the tough days, when I'm missing him too much, I will take the words of the Marine Parent Survival Guide to heart:

"Besides the Corps itself and their country,
there's only one other thing Marines revere--their mamas."

I have a feeling I'm going to need to post it on the wall.