Nine One One

The timeframe escapes me now, but it was post-high school graduation — year is 2000.

I am sitting outside my friend Melissa’s house, on the curb. At 18 I was a pothead, had dropped out of Eastern and didn’t really know what to do because–as previously mentioned, I was kicked out after my parents’ divorce so my dad could get what he needed out of the 25 year old girl he was gunna be with (lol). I just remember hopping on and off the curb, when a truck slowed and stopped. My friend Nick T. was in the car, someone that I had spent a lot of time with – but we had a lost contact. I asked him what he had been up to, and he told me that he had joined the Army Reserves…all about the benefits and how he was getting his education. Do not think I am crazy, because this is how it really went down…but I remember thinking, “Well if he can do it, so can I.” And so I did.

Initially, I walked into a recruiters office to join the Army. I had ZERO idea what I was doing, I just knew I was gonna be able to support myself without my parents and that I could support myself entire was like a magnet I could not escape. The idea of getting out and away from them felt like someone had popped a balloon in my chest. Freedom. I was sold.

I can’t really remember the exact steps in order…too many years have passed, but I took the ASVAB (enlistment test) and after that, I was approached about joining the Air Force instead. My scores ended up being high enough to consider this (and I didn’t know what the differences were, and I didn’t really care.) I asked about the shortest schooling possible, and that’s how I picked up my AFSC (job), a 3C3 “PIMP” they called us (LOL). Essentially, I ended up doing project management/procurement for IT equipment. Government $$, purchasing stuff like desktops en masse at the best price possible.

My mom was devastated that I left, and eventually turned angry about it. I was the only emotional support that she had left. My dad told people I would fail, and so did the child he married while I was in basic training, serving my country. Can you imagine wishing or wanting your child to fail or even thinking that it would feel good? But his child bride would put like subliminal (read: DIRECTLY TO ME) in her AOL profile so that I would see them. I couldn’t imagine doing this at 25, let alone at my father’s age. But I didn’t understand what I was dealing with — how could I? I am certain to some degree, neither have they to this day. I had to help mediate their separation and pay for his divorce with my husband, and my brother and his wife pitched in the other half. I cringe thinking about doing this for this worthless piece of shit of a father, but at the time, I was more mature than him understanding that the child he had with his second wife needed stability that he again could not provide the his 3rd born child, finding himself in a position to use another woman (me) to support his continued relationship, money and emotional failures as a grown adult.

Unfortunately for all these adults wishing the worst for me, I succeeded. I did well (excelled, actually) in both basic training and schooling. I couldn’t shoot for shit. but I did it. I was gonna be able to do things my way, and be able to support myself without the help of anyone. (Foreshadowing music should be playing here.)

So it went like this…I graduate basic from Lackland AFB (San Antonio, Texas) –> technical school at Keesler AFB (Biloxi, MS) –> Detroit, MI (home for recruiter duty support) –> Kelly AFB (San Antonio, Texas), where I was ultimately stationed. My squad was in an intelligence SCIF and I would require a Top Secret Clearance. I didn’t know that yet, but I would learn fast because… I left for basic training May 22, 2001 and got to Kelly September 10, 2001. I will tell you what the next day was like, but one thing I distinctly remember is calling my dad finally from a payphone to talk to him. He said “Stupid time to join the service,” and that’s one of the only things I remember him saying to me.

TBC.