Today I met the boy I adopted! Well, the man, actually...well, the Marine.
About 13 months ago, we ran a story at the station about how to adopt a Marine stationed over in Iraq. My information came, and his name is Matt and he had been there for a while before my first letter arrived, (plus, two months waiting for the mail).
After a few dozen letters and a few thoughtful, yet completely unpractical care packages later, we were meeting.
He came in and immediately his presence filled the room, and I felt very small in comparison. I went around and excitedly gave him a big hug. His words from his letters flooded over me and I didn't want to let him go. So often wishing for his safety and safe return, and here was! Lost in the moment, I almost forgot I still had a job to do.
The conversation floated back and forth and I kept saying over and over.."I can't believe you're actually here.." I'm sure that had to be annoying on his part. I hadn't planned on ever meeting him, being he's from Texas, but he was here visiting family in a town about an hour away and he drove over to surprise me. Yes, it did..I had only wished I knew he was coming so I could bake him cookies or something.
He seemed as mesmerized with my job as I was with his. His stories were incredible, the things he saw and experienced hit inside somewhere, and it was such a privilege to talk to him. Fascinated, I probably asked a million questions, poor guy. He told me he let his buddies read my letters too. I guess they had become a source of entertainment. Anything to help
Some of them hardly ever got mail... 
He brought me daisies (do I tell EVERYONE how much I love them?) and this beautiful necklace. Completely unnecessary, but I will cherish it forever.
We talked and laughed the afternoon away. He was a captive audience for my story of this past weekend (see yesterday's journal).
He'll be on a short break, and then he's pretty sure he'll be deployed once again.
I hugged him goodbye and my brain began to process the "what if's" about his future. Letting him go proved to be more difficult than I thought it would be. After he was out of sight, I sat shaking and cried.
About 13 months ago, we ran a story at the station about how to adopt a Marine stationed over in Iraq. My information came, and his name is Matt and he had been there for a while before my first letter arrived, (plus, two months waiting for the mail).
After a few dozen letters and a few thoughtful, yet completely unpractical care packages later, we were meeting.
He came in and immediately his presence filled the room, and I felt very small in comparison. I went around and excitedly gave him a big hug. His words from his letters flooded over me and I didn't want to let him go. So often wishing for his safety and safe return, and here was! Lost in the moment, I almost forgot I still had a job to do.
The conversation floated back and forth and I kept saying over and over.."I can't believe you're actually here.." I'm sure that had to be annoying on his part. I hadn't planned on ever meeting him, being he's from Texas, but he was here visiting family in a town about an hour away and he drove over to surprise me. Yes, it did..I had only wished I knew he was coming so I could bake him cookies or something.
He seemed as mesmerized with my job as I was with his. His stories were incredible, the things he saw and experienced hit inside somewhere, and it was such a privilege to talk to him. Fascinated, I probably asked a million questions, poor guy. He told me he let his buddies read my letters too. I guess they had become a source of entertainment. Anything to help
Some of them hardly ever got mail...
He brought me daisies (do I tell EVERYONE how much I love them?) and this beautiful necklace. Completely unnecessary, but I will cherish it forever.
We talked and laughed the afternoon away. He was a captive audience for my story of this past weekend (see yesterday's journal).
He'll be on a short break, and then he's pretty sure he'll be deployed once again.
I hugged him goodbye and my brain began to process the "what if's" about his future. Letting him go proved to be more difficult than I thought it would be. After he was out of sight, I sat shaking and cried.
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