THE PAINS OF RELOCATION

Until now, relocating was not difficult, but soon it was to become an astronomical task..affecting those
no longer children, but "Teens" whose choices were definitely affected.
Those HIGH SCHOOL DAYS seemed to fly by but they weren't over by a long shot. Garry graduated in 1971 from Howland High School and he decided, on his own, he was not college material just yet, so to our surprise, he enlisted in the MARINE CORPS!! Now, the heartaches began. One of the most difficult days of our lives was bringing this young man to the bus one early cold OHIO morning, handing him over to a Marine while we were in the midst of still another WAR! In a few months we went to the ceremony in PARIS ISLAND and witnessed the training that our son had accomplished and although we knew that he was fully prepared for any assignment, still, though proud, future prospects are NOT a pleasant thought. Again, GOD  and prayer are the sustaining factors.
While this was utmost in our minds and hearts, still we had two sons at home whose full lives had to be contended with daily. Then, one beautiful evening, the day that Marc received his Senior Class Ring, dinner was interrupted by the announcement that we were being transferred to MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE for still another promotion. I think that for me, this was another moment mixed with JOY and SADNESS. First because I was so very proud of RUSS and his accomplishments and SAD when I witnessed the tears in Marc's eyes of having to leave to go to an unknown school as a SENIOR!
Until now, the boys were never reluctant to "follow OUR dreams". They were always first scouring the new neighborhoods for friends but we found that in those "teen years" the inhibitions began to show and I was always the one in charge of the neighborhood search. Looking back, though painful, the moving remains, in my mind, one of the most educational and enlightening things that we all shared together!
In everyone's life there are so many JOYS we share..which makes the SAD times much easier to bear!