Yes, this is a picture (a few weeks old) of my new truck, which as I shared before is old, a 2006.  I got it when we traded in my little itty bitty 2009 Toyota Matrix the day before we left for San Diego to pick up Scotty.  And since Scotty has been home on leave and now working for the recruiter for 10 more days before heading back, I hardly see my truck……and I hardly see Scotty either.

And this is of course not what I envisioned on either count.  When we drove the truck home I just loved the feel.  I hated driving a car and it all just felt so right.  But without a car for Scott (we sold his car when he left for boot camp) he needed to drive something……my truck. I had and have driven it only a few times, and now I am back to driving (for 10 more days)………a CAR.

Now sure, you can say that my wife’s car is more than a car, after all it is an SUV.  BUT, as a gift to her before Christmas, I bought her a license plate for the front that I promptly put on……it says “Marine Mom.”  Yes I may no longer be driving a little itty bitty car, but apparently either I am showing my feminine side or being pretty dang cocky and edgy…..I will go with the latter.

But a few days back I had to “visit” my truck at the recruiting office in Noblesville.  As I pulled up, three Marines (one was Scotty) started to giggle and made sure they mentioned the plate.  Now I am not their boss, but I am an old dog, and with that comes experience.  So I asked them, but only if they would like, to trade vehicles with me so they could visit high schools and such in their Dress Blues in the Marine Mom Express.  It was almost as if I were their Drill Instructor.  Needless to say, I left with my wife’s car and her girly (but ISMC tough) plate.

So I am getting up at 6:00 am tomorrow to see my truck.  Yes, I will do all I can to see her.  I know it is just 10 more days, but I do miss her.   And with any luck, I may get to see my son Scotty as well.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+