The joy of moving.

We recently drove to Boone to help our young officer and gentleman move his things home for storage whilst he is at Ft Benning in training.
Five years worth of stuff, four as a student and one as a ROTC recruiter is a lot.
Somehow I got all of it into our garage, and was actually able to get both cars in as well.
My finest moment as a packer and organizer!
Leaving Boone was bittersweet for us all.
From his freshman dorm, with as much room as the average airplane lavatory, to three years at Highlands with three roomies, to the bachelor apartment in the clouds on top of the knob he shared with Ben and his dog Cujo it was quite a journey.
Cujo missed Ariel so much, she climbed up on the kitchen counter and ate the key he left for Ben to turn in. A woman scorned indeed!
We had one more lunch together at MacAdoo's, his Monday night out place with his roomies.
And Mom and I had breakfast at our favorite place on King Street at Melanie's, a fabulous morning on the outdoor patio.

All of the App football games at "The Rock" were part of the mosaic.
Being in Ann Arbor for "The Upset Of The Ages" watching App beat Michigan.
Three national championships, (two of which he attended in Chattanooga)
Watching Armante Edwards work his magic at quarterback for four years (he's now with the Carolina Panthers, and should have a great career as a pro. He not only graduated, he finished a semester early)
The buffet at the Broyhill, with that great view of the mountains.
The second floor dining area at the Wendy's, finally finding a great Chinese and TexMex place,
Backyard Burgers.
He'll never forget the O'Dark Hundred PT's.
Running the steps at "The Rock", running up Howards Knob in the dark, which is basically straight up. Endless sit ups and push ups, pumping iron at the SRC.
Monthly trips to Marion for his Reserve service.
Airborne School, LDAC at Fort Lewis.
The fantastic Cadre that trained him, and the overall comradeship with his fellow cadets.

The pride we felt when we pinned his Crossed Musket Infantry badge on him at Dining Out.
Family coming in for his commissioning, watching him take the oath, and pinning his 2LT bars on his dress uniform. The celebratory dinner at the wonderful place in Blowing Rock.
Proud moments for us all!

Thanks to Jonathan, his roomie since his freshman year, and Ted and Jai.
They will be friends for the rest of their lives, which is the best of what college should be.
Dr Browning, his favorite history prof, who made the effort to come to his commissioning.
The guy at Meineke car care, who on his last day there refused to take any money for fixing his brakes.
"Be safe, and have a great training. Thanks for serving for us all."

One chapter finished, the next opens at Ft Benning.