Day 25...We Won!

Hi Family and Friends,

It's amazing how happy something little can make you. Today we met in one of the gyms on base to have a review of our gear. It all had to be laid out perfectly and cleaned according to military standards. (Lots of late night scrubbing...) The drill instructors announced there would be a competition between platoons. (Remember, during our last competition our platoon failed to place, so I didn't have high expectations...)

As the judge went from platoon to platoon one squad would be picked from each to be judged on behalf of the whole group. When the judge came to our platoon I was hoping she would skip over the second squad (my squad) so I could be off the hook. She called everyone to parade rest except my squad. We were to stand at attention and be judged. Oh no!!!

When the winner was announced we were given first place! I was like a little kid giving high fives to all my fellow teammates! :)

Running wasn't as bad this morning because I begged a road guard in back to take my place up front before we got started. You may think that I cheated myself but I felt pretty good about the decision. :) At the end of the run our drill sergeant marched us in front of the other groups and had us taunt the Alpha group with a singing cadence that went like this:

"DOWN BY THE RIVER....TOOK A LITTLE WALK....RAN INTO ALPHA COMPANY...HAD A LITTLE TALK...WE PUSHED THEM...(HEY)...WE SHOVED THEM...(HEY)...WE THREW THEM IN THE RIVER...NO MORE ALPHA COMPANY....HANGING AROUND!....HEY...DON'T BE A FOOL...SOMEBODY SAID WE WERE NUMBER 2... (WE'RE NOT!)...WE'RE NUMBER ONE!!!!"

As you can imagine that didn't go over well. :)

More class time today...I passed two more tests...one more tomorrow and then we graduate...I need to work on my beret tonight before the ceremony.

Thanks Jim and Dora for the fun package! Love you...

Lots of love to you all!