Letters & Memoirs From Basic Training
Written by
Kasey B. Sailer
Why does it cost so much money to go to college? That was the question that kept running through my head as I looked at the tuition prices. Not only would I have to come up with money for rent but tuition too. Las Vegas was just too expensive to go to college when you are right out of high school.
I was living with my parents still and working at Sunset Station busing tables in the Cafe. I cleared maybe five to six hundred dollars every two weeks. I had a car payment and insurance every month and that was it. I remember going through apartment adds with my dad. I know he didn’t mean to, but it felt like he was trying to push me out of the house. He wanted me to get a place to live and start going to school. The cheapest place I could find was between $600 and $700 a month. There was no way I could afford that and tuition at the same time. I tried to think of someway to make it work and I only came up with one solution. I could join the military.
One hour later I was walking into the Air Force Recruiting Offices. I met with the recruiter and said I wanted to join the Air Force. I told them I wanted to join for 4 years so I could get money for school. She explained how the G.I. Bill worked and how my tech school training would be able to transfer to most Universities. She gave me a huge application that basically asked me to tell them about my entire life. That same day I took the ASVAP test and scored an 84 overall. They wanted me to finish all my paperwork and come back when it was completed.
That night I told my parents what I was planning to do and they were very excited. They helped me fill out the paperwork that night and I went back to the recruiter’s office the next day. After they went through my paperwork I was off to the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) in Salt Lake City, Utah. I couldn’t believe they didn’t have one in Las Vegas. I had to go to Salt Lake City for two days and then fly back to Vegas.
When I got to the Salt Lake City MEPS they gave me a physical that took the whole day. I only had one problem throughout the entire physical. When the doctors were looking through my medical records they found something that concerned them. They found something from when I was a kid that led them to believe I had asthma. They said when I came back to Salt Lake next time they would give me an asthma test before I could pick the job I would have in the Air Force.
A month later I returned to Salt Lake and took the test to see if I had asthma. It was a strange test. They would make you inhale all sorts of different things and then see how it affected your breathing. I ended up passing with flying colors, no asthma here. Back at MEPS I looked through a huge book of jobs and had to pick out ones I was interested in. I wanted a job that was interesting and had to do with electronics. I ended up picking F-16 Avionics and was scheduled for a date to go to basic training. The only bad thing about this was the date was a few months away.
Two days before I was scheduled to be in San Antonio, Texas for Basic Military Training, I found myself in Salt Lake City again. I had to read the Oath of Enlistment and sign what seemed to be a never-ending stack of paperwork. They offered me a $7000 dollar bonus if I agreed to do six years instead of four. I had never had or even seen $7000 and signed on the dotted line. Finally, after signing a few more pieces of paperwork I was dropped off at the Airport.
Since it was only a few months after the World Trade Center fell, there were military guards still in the airports. They all knew that I was on my way to basic training and got a good laugh out of it. I had a couple minutes to call my dad before I got on the plane. I told him how they told us we would be given a drug test after we got to basic. I was scared because a week earlier I had been in a car with a few buddies and they had been smoking weed around me. I was afraid I was going to fail. Once I sat down on the plane I reached into my bag to pull out a magazine but instead pulled out something else. It was this letter that my dad had put into my bag as a surprise.
4/8/2002
Kasey,
You are taking a step toward you future. Sometimes our future is made by being in the right place at the right time. You are going to be in the right place at the right time. God made it possible for you to go into the Air Force, there were a number of barriers that had to be worked out before you got in. God worked them out, if he didn’t want you there, he would have closed the door.
That should make you feel good. God has placed you under their authority and your heart can be calm. You also know to listen and learn and never quit because you are in the right place. God says in the bible that he puts a light at our feet. He lets us see ahead of us but not far in the future. He wants us to have faith in him and to pray to him. He wants to be a part of our lives. If we draw close to him he will draw close to us. There will be some easy times and some hard times. The hard times are when we think we are most in need. Pray and have faith in him that he will give you strength, endurance, and patience.
Moses said to the people (they had the river in front of them and the Egyptians that wanted to kill them at their back). Stand still and watch the deliverance of the Lord that will be accomplished for you today, for the Egyptians you see today you will see never again forever. For the Lord your God will fight for you while you remain silent.
Remember this promise everyday, pray to god and claim this promise, an unclaimed promise is an unused promise. Not only in good times but also when they get tough. With promises like this you can relax and do your best and not be afraid. It doesn’t mean that we do not have hard times, it means that we can claim this and relax when we go through them. Remember that perseverance is king. How great to be a Christian where you can remain silent and let God fight for you.
We are very proud of you, for you are entering a noble work field. So remember all the things we talked about and do your best and persevere. Remember to never say I can’t do it but to say I can do it, don’t quit and before you know it you will be through it.
You will be surprised with what you can do and will be doing so many exciting things in the future. You will be leaving some people behind that will never do anything exciting. So you should be excited about your future. God has put a light in front of you and it is the time for you to move forward.
You have our prayers and love.
Love,
Dad
My flight landed in San Antonio where I was ushered into a room. When I entered the room I saw about 50 other people with their bags sitting in single file lines and not speaking at all. There was a Drill Instructor in the front of the room, and right as I saw him he yelled at me and told me to sit in line and not say a word. This was how my experience at Basic Military Training started. From there we were bused to Lackland Air Force Base where the yelling continued for the next six and a half weeks. What follows this are the letters that my family and I wrote back and forth during basic training. This is how I survived basic training and how my loving family helped me through it.
When we finally left the airport it took about 45 minutes to reach Lackland Air Force Base. The bus came to a stop and a MTI entered and yelled at us, saying that everybody better be off of the bus in one minute. Getting off of the bus turned into a stampede.
Upon leaving the bus we had to stand at attention in the parking lot while the MTIs continued to yell at us. They were yelling at us for anything and everything. To include even the clothes we were wearing.
The yelling continued for a while until they finally separated us into individual flights. We were then taken over to the dorms where we had to pick out our bunk and wall locker.
Once we had our bunks picked out we were instructed to dump all of our belongings onto the bed. We then took out our toiletries and put them in our lockers. Then the MTIs went through our stuff to make sure we didn’t have any unauthorized items, after that it was packed again and locked away in storage.
After that they yelled at us to get into the home room, which was a separate room in the front of the dorm. Once inside the day room they started handing us our camouflaged field jackets and making sure they fit. I had my hands in my pockets while I was waiting for the MTI to check if the jacket I had on fit me properly. Before he even got to me he yelled at me for having my hands in my pocket and joked with the other MTIs that I was playing pocket pool.
Finally it was time to take a shower before lights out. I stepped into the shower and started putting shampoo in my hair. I didn’t even have time to rinse it out because they were yelling at me to get out. The shower ended up being less than thirty seconds. After that it was into bed at around 2 A.M.
The MTIs were back less than six hours later yelling at us to get out of bed. First thing we did was attempt to make our beds, even though we had no idea how they wanted us to make them. A couple minutes when we were finished they walked around tearing the linens of the beds and made us do it again. This process repeated itself a few times until they finally taught us how to make them. To include the hospital corners which had to be 45-degree angles and six inches from the bottom edge of the mattress.
Next we were able to call home so we could let someone know we had made it in one piece and give them our mailing address. I got a hold of my dad and told him that everything was okay. I tried my hardest but it was impossible to keep the tears from coming out. My mom wasn’t home. She had gone to the grocery store. I said goodbye to my dad, wiped the tears from my eyes, and joined the ranks again. Next it was off to get our heads shaved and take a drug test (which would cause me much unwanted stress in the coming weeks). At around the same time as all of this my parents were writing me my first letters.
4/13/2002
Kasey,
It was great to hear from you, I hope I got everything right in the address. This will be a short letter because I want to try to get it into the mail today.
The first few days of military are hard because they put pressure on you to do what they want you to do without any hesitation. Remember that millions of other people have gone through the same thing. It’s like a game, so relax as much as you can, do what they want you to do. I know you are able to do anything that they ask you to do. I’ve been there, so I know you can. Later after you graduate, you will laugh about it. Its mainly about not giving up and persevere. After a couple of weeks, you will get use to it and then it will become easier, the stress level will be a lot lower.
Make some friends there. You are all in the same boat, so whatever is harder for you ask someone to help and where it is easy for you help someone. We all have different talents. They want you to work together and take care of one another. Act as a unit. Remember what I said about going through the military. You will have something that only other vets have and able to communicate.
You are a brave young man so relax and play the game. You are a lot smarter than I am. You also have all the right things inside of you. Rely on that.
I did your tax extension and called about your W-2 form from KFC. As soon as I get them, I will do the forms and forward them for your signature.
We will give your address to Heidi and Wade, so you will get some mail. You have us all behind you with prayers and love.
You will see some funny stuff so take time to laugh. Tomorrow is Sunday so you should have some extra time to work on things you need to practice at and also be able to go to church.
Take a day at a time and before you know it a week and then two will be gone and after three you are on the bottom slope. I found a CD on basic in your trunk. The week you spend in the tents sounds kind of fun. You will get to shoot the M16 and crawl in the mud.
Your mom also will write, so I will let her have the computer, then get both in the mail.
Love,
Dad
***
Saturday, April 13, 2002
Dear Kasey,
I am sorry I wasn’t here when you called, I made a quick trip to Albertsons and missed you. I guess you couldn’t talk too long anyways. I hope to talk to you soon.
Sounds like you are doing good on your new adventure, taking it one day at a time. I am so proud of you. At least now I can write to you. I will pass your address along today to others in our family. So you will be able to get more mail. When you have a chance to write, you can tell me more too. Dad talked to your recruiter today and she said we would hear from you today, but I didn’t think it would be until evening.
Colton will be here tonight so Fred will have some quiet outdoor time. He likes his new toys. I bought Colton a new toy at the new 99-cent store.
They are keeping me busy at school getting ready for the big dedication nights next Thursday and Friday. I’ll be glad when that’s over. And if one more parent tells me I am not challenging their child I am going to grab them around the neck!
I hope you are getting enough to eat and lots of water. I hope you are getting enough sleep too. I think of you all the time. You have shown so much maturity with all your decisions. I can tell you are preparing for an exciting future. You are so smart and so brave. Keep up the good work. I have faith in you. Dad still worries about old Fred sleeping on his pillow. Fred still does it every chance that he gets.
I will write again soon. I want to get this in the mail right away. Be strong. I love you lots.
With Love,
Mom
The next few days were some of the longest days of my life thus far. On Sunday I was allowed to go to church and it was a relief to escape from BMT if even only for a little bit. First we went through a church service and then there was a bible study afterwards. It was the least stressful day I had the entire week.
That night I fell asleep right away because I was overtired. I woke up early and knew I had that I was going to puke. I started running towards the bathroom and the dorm guards started yelling at me to get back into bed. I tried to tell them I was going to be sick but they continued yelling. Right before I made it into the bathroom I threw up all over the floor. The dorm guards had stopped yelling but I knew I wasn’t done throwing up so I made it the rest of the way to the bathroom before I threw up more.
The dorm guards came in the bathroom while I was puking and asked if I was all right. I told them I was fine in between bouts of getting sick. After I finished throwing up I opened the bathroom door and saw they were cleaning up where I had gotten sick. They didn’t look very happy so I said I was sorry and went back to my bed. I lay there for the next two hours or so have hot flashes like crazy.
Then the MTIs came in and yelled at us to wake up and get into formation outside. I got dressed as fast as I could and went up to the MTI. I told him that I was extremely sick and had been puking the last few hours. I was hoping he would send me to sick call or something. Instead he told me that I would be fine and to get outside and into formation.
I went outside and took my place in the formation. The MTIs came out and started yelling at us. I knew I was going to throw up again. I got out of formation and ran to the end of the concrete. The MTIs started yelling specifically at me. Once I started throwing up they stopped yelling at me though. I threw up a few times and noticed that there was a frog jumping around that I had accidentally gotten sick on.
I ran back to my spot in the formation and the MTIs didn’t say anything to me. It seemed that throwing up would keep them from yelling. The rest of the morning was pretty uneventful until lunchtime. I really hadn’t eaten anything the whole day and I only nibbled on my lunch.
Before you were allowed to be finished with any meal you had to finish your three glasses of water or electroade, which was a generic Gatorade. My three glasses hadn’t been touched and one of the MTIs in the chow hall started yelling at me to drink them. I told him I couldn’t and he said I better chug them all right now and fast. I told him if I did that I would throw up. He said he didn’t give a shit if I did throw up and I had better drink them.
I then drank them as fast as I could and stood up. I leaned over to grab my tray and that was when I got sick. I threw up all over my tray, the table, and the floor. I stood there at attention and he didn’t say anything for awhile, just looked down at the puke. Then quietly he said that I had better get the fuck out of here.
I pretty much threw up off and on for the next couple of days but I ended up feeling a little better on Thursday. I had almost been at basic for one week. It was good I was feeling better too because it was time for us to do our physical training test. This one wasn’t going to count but we had to do it just to see where we were at physically. You had to be able to run two miles in under eighteen minutes, 32 Pushups in two minutes, and 45 crunches in two minutes. I ended up finishing my run in 18:50, and was only able to do 24 pushups. I had no problem whatsoever with the situps.
We also finally got our BDUs. They don’t have our name on them yet but they will sometime after the fourth week. I was constantly standing and everytime we had nothing else to do we had to be studying our BMTM. That is the Basic Military Training Manual. It has a bunch of Air Force history and also teaches us how the military works, such as codes and customs and the rank structure.
***
Dear Mom and Dad,
We have about 5 minutes of free time a day so I barely have anytime to write. We must prove ourselves before we can get more time. Plus I can’t even send it yet!
You guys can’t believe how much I miss you. That’s why I had such trouble on the phone. I love church and if anything, basic is bringing me closer to god. I have one verse I have memorized, “I can do all through Christ which strengthens me.” Now this does help me but I’m having a hard time. I’m going to call you tomorrow with my problems. I’m worried about that drug test. Some guys have said they got hit for that but maybe I’ll get lucky. Otherwise my life is screwed up. You see if I fail I will feel so bad. I would rather die than disappoint you.
Everyone here at BMT hates me, I hear them call me names behind my back. They even talk about me and stuff. I suck at shining my boots and no one will help me. No one helps me with anything.
I’ve been sick 3 times since I got here. I’ve thrown up maybe 20 times. I haven’t went to sick call once. The stress is really getting to me. I feel like I just want to come home. I keep trying my hardest but it’s hard when you have no friends.
I was 8 push-ups short of the minimum and I finished my 2-mile run in 18:50. We have to finish it in 18 to pass. I have to put it up for tonight I’ll add to it later. I cry every night cuz I miss you. I’ll talk to you in the morning.
They don’t give us enough food. Maybe that is why I get sick and I barely get any sleep. I’ll talk to you about most of this in the morning.
I Love You,
Kasey Sailer
***
4/14/2002
Hey, how’s it going? I know it is a big change and it seems hard right now but it will get better. Just remember every person in the service had to go through it to. Just tell your R.I. to call you Raiden from Metal Gear Solid 2.
Tyson Hurt his back leg yesterday. We took him to the vet. The vet says he might have a torn ligament. If it doesn’t heal he will have to have surgery to walk on it again. We want to the movie Frailty yesterday. It was pretty good. Today we are going to go to Changing Lanes with Ben Affleck. I took off work this week this coming Tuesday and Wednesday for our anniversary. We are staying in the Jacuzzi suite at the Luxor. On Wednesday I might go skydiving. I bought a new lazy boy rocker recliner the other day. It has the Massage remote like Heidi’s only not the leather. We rented Domestic disturbance and spy games. They were both okay. Next month oceans 11 and the others come out. We will try to go to your graduation but it depends on money and how many vacation days we have cause we are taking a vacation in June. How is the food? I always thought it was good. We haven’t had the truck so our house hunting is on hold for a while. I probably won’t play the Playstation 2 so that when you come back it will be even. We will have to beat GTA3 and Metal Gear again. Well Christy is home so we have to get going to make the movie. Write back.
Your Little Bro,
Wade
***
Dear Mom and Dad,
Sunday,
Well I got to talk to you on the phone today and that makes me feel so much better. Mom, I hope you don’t have a problem between school and my graduation(May 24th). I can’t wait to see you guys. That Friday I have base liberty(We will eat so much! ) That Saturday we usually get a town pass. If I get one we are going to go see star wars. I can’t believe I’m gonna miss it the day it comes out. Dad I got something to tell you that will make you laugh. Some of the stuff our MTI has said. He made one kid say “Pop” and said do you know what that is……The sound of your head coming out of your ass. It was so funny but we couldn’t laugh. Then if we are marching and someone doesn’t have their hand closed all the way they say drop the fishing rod opie. Some stuff is so funny. But I miss all the little things with you guys. Mom I miss going to wal-mart with you and I dad I miss our walks and playing the war games on the computer and anything and everything. I am so HUNGRY!!!!!
I’ve ran one time since I got here, 2 miles. I need to shave 1 minute off my time but I know I can do it. I was also 8 push-ups short and I am trying to make that up. The end of year test is supposed to be easy. Every morning for breakfast I have 3 french toast, bacon and anything else I can get. Lunch and dinner is always something different. Dorm Guard Sucks I haven’t had to do it at night(if I did I would lose 2 hours of sleep) but eventually I’ll have to. The food is real good though. Some of it better than other. But I’ll write more tomorrow and I’ll mail it Sunday. Tomorrow I get a letter. Hurray.
Bye, I love you
Kasey
***
4/14/2002
Son,
When You get this you should have a week completed. Only 5 short weeks left. You would think the last couple of weeks would be better than the first 4. They are teaching you a new way of life in a short time span. Basic is something that you have to go through to go on with your future. You are a smart young man and we are proud of you. Just hold your head up high and take it one day at a time. Remember God is there when you are happy, sad, under pressure, or relaxed. That always helps me to relax, that God controls history and can give us strength. It’s not that he makes it easy for us he just gives the strength to make it through a day at a time.
I know I repeat myself, I just want you to know he is always there.
Freddy has been barking up a storm at our neighbors. I’ve been bringing him in when he gets really bad. Colton spent Saturday night with us. So Freddy was really jealous.
I know you are reaching into yourself for the ability to play this basic training game. You have it in you to do anything that they ask of you. You don’t have to be the best, you just have to pass.
It’s hard to believe that you are moving on with your life. Time goes by so fast! You are a young man with many adventures ahead of you. A lot of them will be easier than basic training. Basic is the hardest part of the military. You will find that you can do things that you never though you could do. That will make you more confident in yourself. They like it when you stick in there and make it through a hard spot.
I have a full week this week and I will be thinking of you.
With prayers and love,
Dad
P.S. My letter might be short but there will be more of them. I remember when I was in and how nice it was to get letters.
***
Sunday, April 14, 2002
Dear Kasey,
Hi! We took Colton to church this morning and I was up in one of those family rooms. He liked looking at all the people down below us. Then we took him to Wal-Mart after church and got him some new socks. I didn’t get much sleep last night. Hope you did better than me. I’m going to try to get more tonight. I’ve been doing schoolwork today. 52 more days of school. I suppose I’ll have to tell the principle soon. Aunt Dorothy is going to see an Alan Jackson concert tonight. Grandma Miller is giving Aunt Janie a hard time. She forgets a lot. They’re going to put her trailer up for sale.
How is the weather there? It has been heating up here, above normal. But it’s supposed to be a little cooler tomorrow and Tuesday. This summer, 90 will sound cool. Yuck! We’ll have a time keeping the camper cool again.
Dad filled the color cartridges for our old computer that I have in school and got that colorful ink all over his fingers. He will have to go to work with blue hands! I warned him when he bought that refill kit how much of a hassle it would be, but….
I’ll probably have to work late some this week to get ready for that dedication. Tiger Woods won the nationals again. But I’m sure you or dad could take him. Maybe I could too. Wade took Tyson to the vet today. He might have torn a ligament in his leg. He won’t walk on that foot at all. So now they have to keep him in his cage for a while. I’m sure he hates that.
Well, I will write again soon. With Love,
Mom
***
Dear Mom and Dad,
This is part 2 to the first letter I am working on. I have been so depressed lately. I feel like I have screwed up my chances for success in the future. The only thing I ca think of doing is praying. My only good way out of this is slim and none.
Ever since I got here they keep giving me psychology tests and stuff. I guess they think I’m crazy. Part of me wishes I had never came here in the first place. I wish I had just gone to college. I know I’m probably a big disappointment to you and I am sorry for that. I’m trying my hardest. The only thing I look forward to is church and seeing you. I have way too much stress and I keep getting sick. I wish I could come home. You know if I fail the drug test whenever I apply for a job they’ll see that. I know you say not to worry but I have talked to people who have turned up positive for that. I thought of one way to get out of it though. Say I’m having trouble breathing in pc and maybe I’m having recurring asthma. I don’t know what to do. I’ll be leaving to call you about these problems in a second and I need your guidance. I want to come home so bad. Basic isn’t even close to what I thought it would be and it’s not for me. I have probably about a 25% chance of passing the drug test. Well hopefully I will pass so I am not as stressed and I’ll be able to sleep. I got in trouble because I refused to sit on the toilet to go pee. That is unsanitary. I clean the latrine and I won’t do that so too bad.
***
4/15/2002
Dear Son,
Got your w2 in the mail today. I will do your taxes this weekend, then send it for your signature. I went to Katherine today. I was thinking on the way that you are getting a pretty good deal. You will be making E-3 pay after 9 weeks of your tech school. It would probably take two years to get the same training in any school by the time they add all that other junk they make you take. All that and a nice bonus too. Heidi had to take a lot of odd classes before getting to the meat of her training. After tech school you will be making over ten dollars an hour and all your medical, food and lodging so that is pretty good pay. So you think about all that while you are putting up with basic.
I would guess the hardest part is dealing with hollering and folding your shirts and bed. They will get you up to the 100-question test and the pushups and run. After you get the hang of marching you will start to enjoy it more.
Stick in there and relax while they are doing all of their hollering, you will relax more and more as basic goes on. Just do what they say and don’t give up on yourself and your future. It takes 21 days to create a habit, so after 21 days you will have new habits. Six weeks is actually a short time for all of the benefits you will get later.
Phil 4:6
Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to god.
Write us and let us know how everything is going. Love,
Dad
***
Monday, April 15, 2002
Dear Kasey,
Tax day and your w2’s came. How about that? Boston Public isn’t on again, darn. I watched Survivor last week and you will be sad to learn that Rob is history. I was not sad, but I have to say that he was not bitter when he gave his little speech. I have to give him credit for that. The tribes are merged now. Kathy won the immunity or she may have gotten some votes. I will keep you updated and when you are in tech school maybe you will be able to see it again and we can e-mail each other about it.
Our music teacher went to L.A. to run a marathon and stayed with some rich friends for the weekend. And I mean wealthy. They have ray Romano for a neighbor! And across the street is Phil Hartman’s house. I can’t remember the other neighbor. Anyway, they were selling a 73 or 83 Mercedes convertible and they sold it to her for $8,00! Wow. It’s nice.
It was super windy today with gusts of sixty miles per hour! Talk about dust! I guess it’s just as well that I have a dirty car.
I am so proud of you for sticking with it. I know you have ambition and drive for that job you will be trained for and that is what counts. I know they will see how quickly you learn and catch on. You are so smart. Wade is like you, catching on fast, but I think you have even more learning ability than him. How is the food?
Take care of yourself. I’ll write soon. With love,
Mom
***
Tuesday, April 16, 2002
Dear Kasey,
Hi! I’m pretty tired so this may be short. Yesterday, we had 60 and 70 mile per hour winds and they are kicking up again tonight. The kids get so wild when it is windy. Long days. I am sure yours are too. I had to get after a girl today for stealing someone’s snack shack money. I don’t think she will try that again.
Heidi and Adam are taking Colton to a new sitter on Thursday. Heidi is nervous about it. I guess there were some problems with Sam and David. Too bad. I tried to call the place I need to talk to about retirement, but they didn’t return my call. I hoped to get through to them soon so I can get the ball rolling.
Is one day at a time your strategy for now? I am so on your side. You are my very special son. There is no one like you. I can’t wait to see your new picture when you get it. Take care.
I love you,
Mom
***
4/17/02
Son,
Well its 8 o’clock pm, almost time to hit the rack. I think you are two hours ahead in Texas. It must be past lights out. Almost done with your first week and close to be done with your second week by the time you get this letter. We have been busy. Your mom has to work late the next two nights and I have been real busy at work.
When I think about your six weeks of basic, I think it will go fast when you get used to it. I know that you can do anything that they require of you. You have always been able to catch on things very fast in the jobs you have worked at. Just keep the two lips together and listen to what they are saying. A secret to a lot of success is to know what those in charge want. Hopefully you are able to laugh at some things there. You will always remember some of it. Be relaxed and tough. Don’t worry about any pain that you might have, it will go away after your muscles get use to all the activity. We are proud of you.
Still waiting for a letter from you, drop us a line on Sundays, we know the other days you will be too busy. Don’t worry about writing a long letter, short letters are great.