Summer is now over and gone with it are my hopes for yet another Yankee appearance in the world series. It’s a good thing I’ve been too busy this summer to be disappointed by my team. Next year though – they better be better. Other than the collapse of the baseball dynasty – what an amazing summer this has been. To watch my son transition from the slacker/stoner teenage he professed to be to the confident and strong U.S. Marine has been amazing! Words cannot even come close to explaining my pride and admiration for the steps that he has taken. And it’s been fun to watch my daughter change from the shy quite little girl to the bit more vocal soon to be a teenager. Such drama already! She too is looking at her brother in a whole new light. This year instead of decorating her locker with flowers and bugs or gymnasts she has decorated it in honor of her brother. It makes me tear up every time I see it. It’s covered in red and blue and pictures from Casey’s graduation from boot camp. She’s asked me to order her a bumper sticker to add to her collection….it says “Don’t make me call my Marine!” I’m loving it. Casey is now in San Angelo Texas training to be a Crash/Rescue Firefighter. I’ve discovered that it’s a pretty tough school to make it through, both academically and physically. It makes me even prouder that he was “picked” for this school. He went into boot camp on an open contract, which means the Marines could have placed him anywhere – but they placed him in this very challenging course of study. It’s so nice to see someone else recognize the potential in him. I of course have seen it all along. It’s just that he’d kept it pretty well hidden. So it is with great pride and emotion that I say to all that have ever doubted him – I told you so!!