A Sea of White Caps

No, not whitecaps. But white caps. We made the trip to Charleston SC to see Dustin graduate. And what a graduation it was.  Over 400 graduating from Navy Nuclear Power Training School.  Such an achievement for these men and women.  Six months of severe study and many hours of stress for each and every one.  The weather was crappy.  Windy and not a nice southerly breeze you would expect in Charleston, but rather cold and cloudy with periods of rain throughout the day. 

 

So I am including a number of pictures of our day.  The ceremony this time was so much more relaxed than when he graduated from boot camp.  The graduates would stop when going back to their seats (yep this time they were able to sit down)to pose for family photos.  They said come up to the front of the podium and take pics of your graduate and feel free to cheer or scream when his name is called. You must know that Sarah took full advantage of the opportunity for a good scream. Each and every single graduate was smiling and was obviously relieved of the stress that is now gone.  It really has.  Now they wait for their next duty station to practice what they've learned. 

 

 

It's not easy to find your sailor in this mad whiteness.  But Sarah and I were determined and when we found him-we had to react. click click  Determination pays off!  And determination is Sarah's middle name.  Ok, maybe mine, too. 

 

Here's the moment!

 

The Rear Admiral presented the certificates and made a very nice speech.  He's on his way back to speak with the Secretary of Defense about budget cuts.  I wonder why we couldn't have had the Front Admiral, tho.....Dustin didn't get my intended humor. Meg and I did a fist bump, tho.  My girl!

So after the graduation we came to the campground and Scott grilled steaks and lobster on the Big Green Egg (small version).  Took a picture of the lobster on the Egg and got the Carten in the picture, too.  So, I'll be posting that picture on the Green Egg forum. They were both melt in the mouth yummy.  So here's the visuals from yesterday and the night before-

 

Dustin's friend, Nelson, came out to join the campfire.  Imagine a campfire in Charleston in May.....

 

 

 

Dustin surprised me by saying that he had space for the quilt in his room.  I told him to use it-carry it in his car and use it as a beach blanket, but use it~don't be afraid of it.   I think he liked it.  And I really hope that he will use it. 

 

We will leave in the morning heading back to Ohio where it is warm, sunny and 70.  Scott and Vickie will be headed back to Texas and put their house up for sale and prepare for yet another move.  Dustin will be home for about 10 days in July for his "leave".  In the meantime he will continue to get buff and spend hours on the beach and relax to the max. We all agree that Charleston is not such a bad place for the sailors to spend a few summer months while waiting for their next tour.