I haven't mentioned Nate a whole lot lately, mostly because there hasn't been much news to report. Or, you know, soap opera newsy stuff. If anything, there has been a fair amount of frustration in learning that he has NOT earned his Associates Degree after all — he's one science credit shy. His job as a waiter at a higher scale restaurant in town has been a clear indicator of how our economy is at the moment: sucky. (Well, and the fact that it's Homecoming season and those high school fancy dressers do NOT leave tips...)
But. For ten bucks at Value Village, he has a Halloween costume for a party tomorrow night.
Oh dear.
(Brrrrrr...)
And then, tonight he dropped the "bombshell", although I really wasn't totally surprised, because he'd mentioned this possibility to me last spring or so. But...it sounds like he's seriously considering signing up to join the Navy. He's been talking (a lot) to a recruiter, and even took a "practice test" to determine his aptitude and he scored very very high. He goes in for a pee test next week. The plan is to take that science class during winter quarter and secure that Associates Degree, take the "real" 10-hour Navy aptitude test, and then head to Basic Training in March. I understand. He needs to get away, see the world, figure out what his "destiny" is, because it isn't coming to him on its own. School is not a passion (because he doesn't know what he wants to be when he grows up, and I think he's scared to death of "settling" into something that will make him miserable). With at least his practice test score so high (and he's a smart kid so I sense he'll do well on the "real" test), it sounds like he'll have a sizeable array of options for career opportunities in the Navy that would translate into the real world afterward. I think that's the secret, to focus on something that can be marketable once you're out of the service. (That was JDub — he was able to pick his path in the Air Force, which was electronics, and that's what eventually made him qualified to work for Da Airplane Company, which he has now for going on 28 years). And as a mom, I do feel much better about my kid joining the Navy than the Army or Marines. (Air Force would be fine, too, but that doesn't yank his chain like the Navy does). I suppose when the time comes, I'll be a basket case then. But right now I have to say that I'm pleased that he's thinking about his future and his need to work on who he wants to be. The Navy will not be easy — it will make him deeply appreciate the "softness" that has been his life thus far, something I'm quite sure he's not currently aware of. But I also think he needs that, and it'll make him a better person (in a way that I don't believe I'll have to constantly worry about his safety like I would with other branches of the military). He's a man now, going on 23 years old, and it's time for him to make these daunting decisions.
Funny side note: As Nate was posing for the picture above, JDub arrived home from work, and his first view entering the house...was of Nate standing in the dining room dressed like that. I thought JDub's eyes would pop out of his head. I'm sure he thought he'd entered "The Twilight Zone."
