From MJ 6/21

Becky, Holly, MaryJanes

Dear Mom,
I have found that it is easier to go to the bathroom to write where the lights are always on then try to juggle my flashlight and hold my covers up.

Victory Tower was lots of fun. I'm good at repelling. Johnson is afraid of heights and started to cry, but I managed to talk her through it.

I got another card from you today. Please try and write every day, I look forward to mail call. I haven't really written anyone but you since I got to real basic. The only time I have is my sleep time so I wait until Sundays to write others.

Tomorrow we do map reading and will be marching all day with ruck sacks on our backs and things strapped to our waists, fun.

I'm not sure if I told you yesterday or not, but graduation will be the 17th. They aren't changing it . If we get done early they will just give us more personal time.

It's weird to think that everyone else is going on with their lives while I'm here. I don't even think ahead while I'm here. I'm like a robot. Half the time my brains are not even functioning, which sound weird, but it's hard to explain.

I think AIT will be fun next summer because I get every night off and there are clubs by Fort Meed and I hear you get single rooms and only have to share the kitchen and bathroom. But I don't think I get a kitchen, I won't need one. I guess it's a really nice base.

Thanks again for the pics, I had never seen the baby one of me and you. I cried and smiled. ♥ you so much

Miss you

MaryJanes

Dear MaryJanes June 20th

Inside of card reads. "Just wondering what kind of condition urine."

From MJ 6/20

Mom,
Hey! We are in a personal hygiene class right now. yeah, like we get any time to maintain good personal hygiene. The boys get an hour and we get 15-20 minutes with 64 girls and 8 showers.

Graduation is back on schedule again.

Becky, ?, Johnson, MaryJanes, Hening

When you come on parents day I need you to bring me some things, but I just drew a blank as to what they were. But I will need you to bring me make up when you come to get me on graduation day (not parent's day).

I haven't gotten your letters yet, but I'm sure I will soon.

Today I got yelled at by the mean drill sergeant about not being with my buddy for chow, which was because we separate the line by active national guard and reserves and she's active so we aren't together. Anyway the mean one got mad and yelled at me. But when we left the nice one stopped us and was like telling Johnson how they aren't trying to pick on us but she looked like shit when she got here with the uniform all wrong and all this stuff and since me, she has improved a lot. Then when she went away he said how he chose me not only because of our last names, but because I seemed like I had myself pretty well put together and that I would be a good role model. When he originally asked me if I knew why he was doing this to me and I said to build team work, but I was happy to hear it was because I looked to be a good future soldier. Even if I didn't spell it right, which I'm not sure of :)

Later that day......

I'm under my covers with my flash light writing to you. I did end up getting your mail today, and a letter from grandma Greene. She didn't give me her address to write her back, but please tell her I really appreciate hearing from her. I think of her and love her lots.

Thanks for my pictures. Ryan is such a cutie, I miss him. But I like Tommy more and I think you'll like him a lot too. Plus he looks just like Ryan, but cuter.

I'm glad my grades pulled up. I don't know what was wrong with me. I was having emotional problems, to be honest, for a while I think I was emotionally unstable. But I will get it together. The way you wrote your letters, like going through your basic day, was a good way to do it.

I remembered one thing I need on parent's day, hair dye, mascara too. I don't know if I will be able to get away with mascara, but I wasn't to try. I know I can dye my hair though. Lightest Natural Blond. I want a snickers bar so bad. They serve desert here, but I don't take it because the drill sergeants rag on those who do. But I guess when I have to drop every time Johnson does I will just burn off as much as she does even though she has desert.

MaryJanes with Tim, who was also from Wisconsin

We are MRE's (meals ready to eat) this morning after hand to hand combat training. NASTY! I got ham in natural juices, rice, crackers, cheese, and a pound cake, it all tasted like cardboard. Some people got good stuff like ravioli and skittles, but I think we are eating them again tomorrow so maybe then I will get a good one.

My period got all messed up being here. It rained a few days which is nice. I drink so much water I pee clear.

We have a lot of classes during the day which keeps us out of the sun. It's hard to stay awake in them though.

But I will write tomorrow about victory tower. I'm tired, tell everyone I ♥ them.

I love you so much and think of you constantly. Your the BEST mom ever.

♥MaryJanes

Dear MaryJanes June 20th

Inside of card,
:you're taking up the part of my brain that's usually reserved for chocolate.

MaryJanes,
What everyone is up to:

Grandma G. -
Might go work at the South Pick n Save as a cake decorator. {Nicer boss}
She is able to let Lily [her dog] run loose because Roy and David fixed her dog fence.

Jenn -
Driving into work M - F till 6pm, YUK! Going to childcare givers MATC classes for 7 Saturdays in a row to get certified. Waiting for a ring!!!!!

Kim & Roy-
Getting their back yard ready for David {cousin} and Kari's wedding.

Brad-
Working on truck brakes to haul more wood to Indian Trails.

David & Kari-
Wedding Stuff.

Sam & I - Planning a wedding shower with games.

Mike-
Wood working , bow fishing,.
Sheep-
Eating!

Kids in the mall-
Wasting time, being lazy.

Dogs-
Eat, sleep, play repeat.

I hope you got your pictures. I miss you very much! I am so sad!
Love, your mom.

Dear MaryJanes June 19th

Inside of card, {the picture shows a plant and when moved from side to side, you see a yellow flower growing.
:You're growing better and better and better:
signed:
Im sending my love, Galoshes

Letter,

MaryJanes,
Hi, Im spending the day inside in hopes that you'll be able to call. It's Sunday morning. I got up & took care of the sheep and chickens {phone in hand} Mike went over to Bills to help Brad w/ a project & walked back with Cricket {Jenn's dog} Bear {our dog} and Cricket played. Then Marvin & Cricket ran all over knocking everything over. Rusty {another of our dogs} wasn't happy about the whole situation. She tried to be good, but she just ran & laid behind the porch rocker. She dislikes Cricket. I just looked through the paper and Mike is mowing the lawn. If you call then afterward we are going fishing. Im hoping you're doing better. LuAnn {MJs friend} called, she asked Mike for your address. I will call her back once I know for sure it is correct. I priced items yesterday & took things to Columbus. Mike went spear fishing & shot a big carp to bury in the garden for fertilizer.- "yum"
I found Roy an Indian motorcycle picture & Kim a fence thing for her yard and we took them over to them last night. Kim got me some pear spray bath gel & lotion from Victoria Secrets for helping w/ Gunner. I'll send you a goody [not food] package when I know I have the correct address. I've gotten 3 letters. Nothing on Friday / Saturday *sigh*

Image by: BonnieJones

I need to find about about your MATC classes. I will call tomorrow. Rusty just came over for some loves. Maybe she is sending you some via this letter. See anything of Holly yet? Mike & I went and saw Gone in 60 last night. It was actually pretty good. The reviews for "Ugly Coyote" were showing - it made me think about you all the more. I will take you to that movie when you get back. Do you remember the previews? The girl that goes off into a big city and gets a job at the bar. Remember we both said, "that looks really good" at the same time. Yesterday & today the weather has been nice. No rain for a change and not too hot. I hope you're doing ok in the heat. Gas prices are getting near $2.00 / gal $1.86 - $1.95 / gallon now. Im getting bills caught up since Im not dishing out $10 / $20 / $100 to you weekly. That's a good part of this whole madness. I can focus on getting the pageant bill under control. I started taking St. Johns wort vitamins to help w/ the feeling of sadness. Mike has been a huge help with this. If I go outside, he reminds me to take the phone in case you call. He reassures me that you will be fine. w/out his help with you gone right now, I'd be a total mess. SERIOUSLY! We went to the post office & they had missing kids on the bullet ion board. I thanked God that you weren't missing. I'd rather have you where you are than on a bulletin board saying "missing" A man got arrested in the parking lot of Westgate mall. He was going to get together with a 14 year old girl he had been talking w/ since she was eleven. Another person the girl was talking to tipped police off. He had a ax, a rope, sex toys, drugs, pain killers etc in his trunk. [53 year old} They ought to just de-penis him, the moron!
So, though you are not in a warm and cozy place, I know you are not missing or in threat of being abducted. I thank God for that. Keep strong, think positive thoughts! "I can, I will"
Don;t let those negative thoughts fog your mind! We will get more fit & it will become easier. Hang in there.
You are loved, Galoshes

Dear MaryJanes June 19th

Image by: BonnieJones

Dear MaryJanes,

I keep hoping the phone will ring and it will be you on a free time. But maybe they won;t let you for awhile now. I hope at least they give you free time today. Mike put up the shelf he made for the laundry room. He is over at his brothers house right now.I mixed up 2 batches of wedding cookie dough for Kari's bridal shower next Sunday. I will be at Sam's house next Sunday. The shower starts at 2pm, so I will probably be there about noon or so. Then back about 6ish. ??
I will look up Sam's # in case you can call & Im over there. I will leave it with Mike too, in case you wouldn't have it when you call. A buggy just went by with an Amish family, kids hanging out every where. The one little boy about 4 years old pointed up to the sky at the fairly low flying helicopter. It must amaze those little kids to see that when everything in their lives is so basic.
I 'm hoping if you are able to call that you are more adjusted & things are going abit better. Like when you called before in the shuffle, you were feeling better the 2nd call because you guys were not just sitting around. The phone had rung & I dropped this note. It wasn't you. I don't know what I had started to write, it was a lady from Rio that wants to see an antique photo before I take it to the booth.
Well, that's all I know for now. Iam sending my love. I will see you soon!
Love, Galoshes

Dear MaryJanes June 18th

Inside card:
MaryJanes,
Without you, I'm a pail version of my usual self.
Love, Galoshes



{Included in this mailing was a cousin's wedding invitation, a report card from school, a bank statement.}