Today was a day that brought me back to my youth. In early July 1983, the people I loved (my mom, dad, and brothers) drove me from Hampton, VA to West Point, NY. After a long 8 hour drive, I was going to become a new cadet at the United States Military Academy. As you might imagine, the trip contained a range of emotions: happiness, anticipation, excitement, trepidation, anxiety, joy, and a touch of buyer’s remorse. As an 18 year old kid, I was moving into unchartered territory far away from my family, the only support system I knew. But hey, I couldn’t turn back. Today was R-Day (Report Day) and I had an obligation that I couldn’t break.
42 years later (June 2, 2025), I took a similar drive. On this drive, it was just me and my lovely wife. The drive was from Jackson, MS to Montgomery, AL. While the drive wasn’t 8 hours, the 4 hour drive seemed just as long. We talked about all the things you might expect from a couple who weren’t going to see each other for a while: the bills, the house projects that needed to be done, and the dreaded “To-Do” list. I can’t believe we talked about so many things. Just like the drive to West Point, this drive too was filled with a range of emotions: sadness, fear, uncertainty, apprehension, shock, embarassment, and nervousness. Today was also R-Day. Instead of an R-Day full of joy and pride, this R Day was filled with regret. Why you might ask; It’s because today, I reported to Federal Prison Camp Montgomery to begin serving a 37 month sentence for Conspiracy To Defraud The U.S. Government.
The R-Day of my youth contained many things I wasn’t familar with: in-processing, new uniforms, marching, saluting, military customs and traditions, parades, and chow. Despite it all, I made it through. I got through R-Day and all the days over the next 4 years by taking it one day at a time. Today’s R-Day contains some unfamilar things that I need to get use to as well: in-processing, new uniforms, count, pill line, and chow. Just like the R-Day of my youth, I feel confident that I will make it through by focusing on one day at a time!
