Fort Drum Homecoming Road Trip

1:30am Monday October 22

the itsy bitsy spider

climbed up the water spout!

no more car seat!

Fort Drum here we are!

mural on the wall at the hanger

ready to greet our hero

three cheers for the red, white and blue!

thrid from the right, there he is!

happy to see his wife!

"umm, Cookie? who is this guy?!"

The family!

I am pretty happy right now!

Jake and a buddy

a friend of Jakes who did not deploy, just came to greet her fellow soldiers

the scene on the tarmac

The baby crys, more useful than an alarm clock, and I hop out of bed. After dressing, brushing teeth, I grab getting a travel mug full of coffee(you knew that already!). I finish loading the car with the food treats I am bringing to Jake, chili, spice cookies, pumpkin bread and banana bread and then get Cassandra settled. The car is warm and classical music is playing as we roll out into the darkness.  As I fly down 23S I suddenly see a glow at the side of the road…Deer. A whole herd is wandering across  the slow lane, and as I slow way down and grip the wheel I catch a movement to my right. I look out my window and there is a deer, right there, I can see her eyes! She actually bumps the car and bounces off the mirror, closing it like they do at the car wash. Oh my   gosh, I am so scared. The car luckily is not damaged and I keep rolling through the darkness. About a mile down the road about 15 more deer are grazing in the grassy median. Good gracious! I say a thank you prayer and hope that that is the worst bit of my drive.  The miles roll by. 4:40am Cassie wakes up and I happily pull into a rest area (remember that coffee?!) She is happy to be out of the car and I get her changed and freshened. I grab a coffee and Cassie entertains fellow travelers by dancing to the muzac. I give her snacks in the car and we sing and talk for about an hour and then she dozes off again. Yay!  We are getting closer! I stop for gas and Dunkin donuts about 30 minutes from Watertown, and what fun. The folks at DD are thrilled with the baby and give her a munchkin right away! There is a huge blowup spider in the shop and we sing many rounds of the Itsy Bitsy Spider to it. Cassandra walks, dances, smiles, waves, blows kisses, eats oatmeal and fruit and generally has a ball. I do too, it is nice to be out of the car and talking to people.  We check in to the hotel early and stash our things then head onto Fort Drum, just a ¼ mile down the road.  The cabins that Cammy et al are staying at are really neat. I would definitely stay there in the summer if Jake is still at Drum.  Annabelle is happy to see her little sister and we play outside on the porch swing for a bit.  I offer to take both girls to find a playground and enjoy the warm weather while Cammy finishes redying her hair pink for the homecoming celebration.  Cassie loves the playground and I also go to the exchange for some Fort Drum souvenirs (you know me!).  Back at the cabin the kids are fed and I change Cassie into her camo onsie and jean jeggings, she looks so cute. Cammy  joins the baby and I and we head over to the hanger on the airfield where the soldiers will be coming in. I am so excited! Patriotic music is playing and everyone is dressed up. Many kids have on red, white and blue and folks are holding signs, balloons and flowers. The USO is handing out flags, which Cassie has a ball with.  Anticipation fills the air. Suddenly the music changes to a patriotic march, a back door opens and soldiers begin marching in in formation. I am trying to take a video and my hand is shaking like crazy. I don’t spot Jake but keep filming.  When all the soldiers are in and lined up, we sing the Star Spangled Banner and do a short prayer. At this point I change spots and move right and down front with Cassie to see if I can spot Jake. And there he is! He is right in front of me in the front row. I start crying of course.  He looks wonderful and real sight for sore eyes. It has been14 months since I have seen him. The command give speeches and then they whole group sings the Fort Drum song, The Engineer battalion song and the Army song. The audience is standing at this point and soldiers throughout the room are singing. As I sing “and the Caissons Go Rolling along” I can hear Dads voice singing in my ear. I am crying again! I know Dad is here, and Jerry’s Dad too, and they are both so proud. When the group is dismissed everyone starts to scream and run to their soldiers-WOW, very moving. Jake gives Cammy big hugs and I try to get some photos. Then it’s Cassandra turn, though she is less thrilled! Of course she doesn’t remember Jake and the photos are funny shots of her crying.  Then, finally, it’s the old Moms turn. It feels so good to hug my Jake. I am crying again (you probably guessed this!) and I tell him how proud we all are and give him the love that was sent from all the family and friends.  We gather is ruck sacks and go back to the cabin where Jake showers and changes into jeans and a Tigers shirt from us. I take he and Cammy out to dinner, their idea, at the Olive Garden, their choice, and by the time I get to my hotel I have been up for 21 hours! It was worth it though, my heart had told me to come and it was right!