SUNDAY, JUNE 13, 2004.

I arrived at bootcamp Tuesday night, after all kinds of processing and lots of hurry-up-and-waiting. Honestly, my first 3 days here were ABSOLUTELY miserable, to the point that I was literally praying to pass out or get a broken bone or something like that so that I could just go home on a medical discharge. The petty officers (like an army's sergeant) were calling this place Great Mistakes, and I was convinced they weren't kidding at all. But it's gotten incredibly better since then, and I'm actually really excited about my military life, probably moreso than before I left.

I was given the position (so far) of Division Yoeman, which means as long as I stay in this position, I've got some extra responsibilities and also that I get a lot more crap from the folks in charge if our division isn't all together and all right. It's been interesting, so far, trying to figure out what I'm supposed to be doing in the midst of significant communication gaps and mis-communications. But I'm getting the hang of things, I think, and I march really well now.

I started marching not swinging my arms at all, but when one petty officer saw me swinging them wrong and yet staying in step (because I was forcing them to swing) and laughed his arse off, I relaxed and do a good job now.

I'll be able to write every Sunday and will have more time during future Sundays (ours is short today because we're still processing) to write more, but it's almost time to go now.

So, the chow is actually really good here (the hashbrowns are some of the best I've ever had -- and hashbrowns are one of my favorite foods, as unhealthy as they are), and the girls are learning (slowly) how not to get snippy and petty with each other, and I'm not feeling faint every time I put the sweater on anymore.

I love and miss you all terribly, and would so much love to get some letters and pictures from y'all.

My address here, must be EXACTLY as I've written (and Beth's typed) is:

SR TRACEY, PATRICIA, J.
DIV 269 SHIP 14
RECRUIT TRAINING COMMAND
3301 INDIANA STREET
GREAT LAKES, IL 60088-3127

(The SR stands for Seaman Recruit, btw.)

Write more next week, I promise!