# My Son Is Home!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 8, 2009, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-is-home/520387 "2009-12-08T00:21:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-is-home/520387/1 "2009-12-08T00:21:45Z")
Sixty four freaking hours it took him to fly here, but here he is at last. He didn’t even protest when his dear old dad hugged him for about twenty minutes at the airport. But after nine months of worry, he is back home at last. Now we have sixteen days to fit in all the good stuff we can manage. I’m cooking all his favorites for dinner, he took his sister to a rock concert - the [Jingle Ball](http://mjsbigblog.com/adam-lambert-kdwb-2009-jingle-ball-minnesota-video.htm) - and they had a wonderful time. Now he is off to visit my folks for a day or so, as well as visit some friends of his (some of which friends are of the girl persuasion) in Madison. My gosh, is he tanned - he is darker than our President! And different - more mature. He knows it, too. My wife was gone, so we had lunch together, and he was talking about whether he would be able to fit in when he goes back to college and finds none of the other people his age have experienced what he has. But he is home now. One more time, all my family is back under my roof. My boy is home! Yippee! Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-is-home/520387/2 "2009-12-08T00:23:26Z")
Where has he been? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-is-home/520387/3 "2009-12-08T00:26:56Z")
Iraq, outside Basrah. He is a medic in the Army National Guard. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-is-home/520387/4 "2009-12-08T00:31:20Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Iraq, outside Basrah. He is a medic in the Army National Guard. > > Regards, > Shodan Oh, Good Lord. Does he have to go back? I’m glad you have your family together. It sounds like it really means a lot to you. Oops. Now I see it. Sixteen days huh? I’m sure you’ll make the most of it. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-is-home/520387/5 "2009-12-08T00:42:03Z")
Very glad for ya, **Shodan**. I get the feeling you’re really going to help him get the most out of his return, and I wish him safety and happiness for the remainder of his time of duty. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-is-home/520387/6 "2009-12-08T00:45:40Z")
Great news. While I have NO experience with this sorta thing, it might be nice to let the guy have a few days to do EXACTLY what HE wants, even if its just sit in his underwear eating cheetos and watching PBS all day. Some times its just nice to decompress and REALLY relax IMO. Again, just a random opinion. God Bless and take care. ---
**Author:** ![MoodIndigo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@MoodIndigo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoodIndigo1)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-is-home/520387/7 "2009-12-08T01:02:29Z")
Glad he’s home safely, Shodan. Enjoy your family holidays! ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-is-home/520387/8 "2009-12-08T01:03:36Z")
Such good news!!! So glad that Lil’ Shodan is home and SAFE and with his FAMILY!!! ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-is-home/520387/9 "2009-12-08T01:11:46Z")
Congrats to you and send him my thanks for his service. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-is-home/520387/10 "2009-12-08T01:12:02Z")
I have to say, there’s nothing better than watching servicemen and women coming home. I got to watch three Air National Guard folks get picked up by their families this summer, and it almost moved me to tears. Congrats, Shodan! ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-is-home/520387/11 "2009-12-08T01:12:56Z")
So glad to hear he’s home safe, even if it’s just for a couple of weeks. Yay! ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-is-home/520387/12 "2009-12-08T01:29:54Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Such good news!!! So glad that Lil’ Shodan is home and SAFE and with his FAMILY!!! Not so little! But thanks to all for the warm wishes. One of the things he mentioned is that random strangers tended to stop him (he has to wear his BDUs while traveling) and do the “Thanks for your service” to him. When he stepped off the plane, he had some chocolate cake someone presented him with because he was in the service. > [@billfish678](#): > > While I have NO experience with this sorta thing, it might be nice to let the guy have a few days to do EXACTLY what HE wants, even if its just sit in his underwear eating cheetos and watching PBS all day. Some times its just nice to decompress and REALLY relax IMO. As I type, he is upstairs with a buddy of his, playing some computer game over the Internet. Your advice is cogent and shall be followed. Yesterday his phone alarm went off, because he had not reset it from waking him for his normal duty day. It is set to go off at 4:30am Iraq time. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-is-home/520387/13 "2009-12-08T01:32:05Z")
Give him my… Regards, Shodan! ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-is-home/520387/14 "2009-12-08T01:33:08Z")
Welcome home and thanks, **KidShodan**! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-is-home/520387/15 "2009-12-08T01:34:34Z")
Tell him there a few crazy liberals around here that want to thank him as well. If a civilian could render him a formal salute, I would. Buy him a beer or three and send me the tab. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-is-home/520387/16 "2009-12-08T01:34:46Z")
Glad to hear it, Shodan. Ours was over there for twelve long months. It’s tough on a parent. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-is-home/520387/17 "2009-12-08T01:35:36Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > My gosh, is he tanned - he is darker than our President! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-is-home/520387/18 "2009-12-08T01:38:10Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Sixty four freaking hours it took him to fly here, but here he is at last. Sixty-four? Did he come home by way of Mars? ---
**Author:** ![luv2draw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@luv2draw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luv2draw)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-is-home/520387/19 "2009-12-08T04:28:42Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Sixty-four? > > Did he come home by way of Mars? Well, look at where he had to go: the Milky Way Galaxy;) ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-is-home/520387/20 "2009-12-08T05:23:36Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > :rolleyes: Oh stop it. It’s a perfectly decent descriptor. [Here](http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/40324)are other “welcome home” celebrations…from canines! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-is-home/520387.md?page=2)