So I got up bright and early Thursday morning, hubby did help by briefly barking at me
Uneventful flight, got there on time, and DS met us at the hotel around 3:30. He had a misson to complete for final evaluation with his partner for the last few months that morning from 6am to noon, (they got highly qualified rating, best you can get, with one mistake. DS has been complaning about this guy for months, but hey, it's the best you can get.) then ran around disconnecting TV, phone, internet, etc. We hung around the rooms (2 connecting for a bit, then went for dinner at Red Lobster, where I was excited to see Rock Lobster Tail on the menu, which I used to LOVE, but haven't had in many years. But I think this dinner cured me of it, I did not care for it at all, both tough and undercooked tasting. Oh well! Live and learn, stick with cheesy bisquits and potato soup.
Next morning was Chris' final evaluation with the new girl. Day before it counted for his partner, today (the day of graduation, what's up with that?) it counted for him. So DD drove him to the base at 5 am, then came back. We waited to get the call to see if he passed his final evaluation and how. A fatal mistake could be critical!
So finally around 11:45 we get the call to pick him up at the base 20 mins away, he did not say how he did. But we still had to check out of the hotel. That done, we were on our way, only to be held up at the gate to base to get a visitor permit. DD went in, came back a few mins later, we all had to go in and had to have our licenses run through. Luckily none of us were arrested....
So finally about an hour after DS called, we picked him up. He walked up to the car NOT looking a happy camper!! I thought, oh no, what if the final mission failed???????
But it turned out, he was just upset we were so late, since he had to go back to his appt., shave, shower and get into his dress blues and be back 1 1/2 hours later for rehearsal.
He passed his final evaluation with NO MISTAKES, HIGHLY QUALIFIED
So we got him back all dressed up in time, and went looking for lunch, with the guidance of Heidi the GPS whose other nickname is not fit for the DIS.
That lunch trip was a comedy, the kind I don't like cause it just sounds too silly to be true. First choice was Boston Market. After not trusting Heidi, DD made a turn, no BM! Heidi recalculated. Went back to the same place as Heidi said, no BM! Turns out it was a bank now at that address
On to the next place; we went to a Quizno's whose oven was down, a pizza place with no place to sit and no slices, a Fresh deli with meat only, no sandwhiches, and finally a subway, where we actually got food. There may have been another place in there as well. Too stupid sounding to be true, but it is!! Heidi gave us some good laughs (and frustrations all along this trip)
So finally we got back to base at 3 for 3:30 graduation. DS was nervous, he just wanted to sit down in the auditorium and sit down. He was hoping for an academic achievement award, 98% or better on written tests.
The usual speeches, blah blah. Then they called up the graduates. Shake hand with someone at the beginning of the stage, name called, march forward, shake, shake, picture taken with dignitatary, salute! leave stage. DS got got lots of applause when he was announced from his fellow grads, more than the others, but no "ACHADEMIC ACHIEVER" after his name.... There only 2 of them. I felt so bad for him..............
Then they called the others, 28 in all, 2 had been dismissed from the program (hence his dual missions with the girl) The poor kid was so exhausted.
Anywho, they got done, and some official started talking about every class having someone who outshines the others with his leadership ability , mentoring skills and outstanding academic achievement, blah blah.... I felt so bad for Chris.
Then they said: This years'
DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE IS:
Second Lieutenant Christopher M!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cry
So he got two certificate, the first, run of the mill one just said "this certifies that xyz and completed xzy training. His second one said, Christopher M, in recognition of outstanding achievement.
Thanks for allowing me a proud mama moment, sniff!!! (as if you had a choice, heh)
So at the end they sang the Airforce song, "Off we go into the wild blue yonder....", which is really ironic, since they are all going way deep down in a fortified bunker, LOL. Fine with me, safest place to be, behind 8' metal doors deep down!
I was so happy for him and proud of him!!!
After that there was cake and punch with the staff, but DS and us just chatted witht the base commander and some other staff. Base commander already asked for DS to come back as an instructor in a couple of years. California base is considered to be the "Club Med" of assignments, LOL. Some poor guys (and girls) are going to Minot, ND, where there is all sorts of expansion of sorts and no housing to be found. Oh, btw, Ds's house offer was accepted, so now its waiting out for inspections and paperwork.
Then they gave tours of the highly secret training facilities(all phones and cameras confiscated) the kids, I mean
officers, ahem, had been training on, the SIMULATORS. Just like the real thing, minus bed and toilet. They gave a broad overview, then asked for 2 volunteers to launch missiles. This happened to be DD and the father of a girl that might be a renter is Chris' house. DH and the dad had already gotten along famously, as they both had missile backgrounds in the 70's. So DD and the dad proceeded to punch in codes and push buttons (including the "shut up" botton that was highly annoying when there was an alert going on) and had a great old time blowing up the world
Nicole gloated about it for days...
Next chapter: We are off to see Mickey (or are we????????)
I buy the regardless of what they look like that is a moment in time and it will be captured. 
especially deer ! 
....a dollar & a year late. 
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