I literally, accidentally end up going in the Army

I had moved out, I was on my own.  I moved out at 15, close to 16, was working, pretty much gave up on school at this point, and was just living my life as best I could. When not working I was partying and dating. Cyndi, my son Tyler's mom, and I dated off and on during this time. I met a girl one fateful Saturday down at Owen's beach who I would get serious with for a time. Before, of course, when I failed to tell her I signed up to go in the Army.

Dawn and I met at Owen's Beach at Point Defiance Park.  My roommate Todd and I would head down there every Saturday morning, early enough to get the best spot in the parking lot.  We would bring alcohol, of course, and maybe some food and other things. Dawn and a friend drove by and we met. Her, a cheerleader from Curtis High School, and me, well a high school drop out just floundering around at that moment in time.  We hit it off and I asked her to marry me. When I think about this it is interesting. I was already getting serious with a girl just like my mom would almost immediately get serious with men.  

Kenny used to hitchhike around Tacoma to get from point A to point B. Normal for him. One day he got picked up by Army recruiters.  They said sure, we will give you a ride, but, you have to come listen to our pitch. This was 1983-84, during the cold war, they were nearly begging people to sign up.  On one Saturday Kenny and I were hanging out and he told me he was going to the Tacoma Mall to listen to what they had to say. I wasn't doing anything so I went along. I had zero intention of having happen what took place, it just did. We went, they had us both take the ASVAB (initial test to see where you might fit in the Army), when done, they said thanks to Kenny for coming in, they turned toward me and said "we want you".  

They did their job well.  Showed me cool pamphlets with pretty pictures and told me I could travel the world and do awesome things as a soldier.  Keep in mind my life at this time was one that this pitch was pretty attractive.  I told them I was in, sign me up.  Now, I must have been close to 17yrs old, which would make this in 1984, because you can go in the military at 17 if a parent signs.  I called mom, told her what I wanted to do, and, with no hesitation she said "where do I sign".  I remember well driving in an olive drab color Plymouth Reliant K car with my Army Recruiter from the recruiting station to Mom and Uncle Tom's place in Bremerton.  Mom was waiting, with a fresh baked loaf of bread, pen in hand, ready to sign. It was official with her signature, I was going to be a soldier in the US Army. 

Odd though, I failed to tell my fiance Dawn about what I had just done. I am not sure how many people I did or didn't tell, but you would think I would want tell the girl I planned to marry.  I didn't. I finally did, but it was real close to when I was heading out to basic training in Sept of '84, not long after my 17th birthday.

My life at this time, running up to basic training included working at Mr. Munchies, partying, and hanging out with friends at the apt complex on the corner of Center & Tyler Street in Tacoma.  I just had this thought, that it would be this same neighborhood, about 8yrs later, where I would be going to an apt just down the street to buy crack cocaine.   

While my trajectory from the shit show of my childhood into adulthood would hold good memories, it would also hold more of the same, and, even worse.