What is everyone doing for HS Grad Gift??

[VRSCDX]

Since KP will provide most of what they need (at least what is not on the packing list), I was curious what parents are doing for HS graduation gifts?

I have long been planning to create a memory as the last father-son outing before he goes off on his big adventure. Since we both ride motorcycles (at least we both do up until July 9th), I thought we'd take a road trip. Leave CA and go North for a clockwise ride around Oregon. No plan. No agenda. Just the road and us for this last father-son experience while he is still, well let's face it, a boy. And I figure his life will be planned to most exacting details soon enough, so we would just go where we felt like going and see what we feel like seeing. I know somebody will say wrap him in bubble wrap, but we will be careful.

I also felt strongly about this because I say my Good-bye's July 4th (his 18th B-day) at the AMTRAK station. I will be taking my younger son and a good portion of my scout troop to Philmont Scout Ranch. I will be in at a place on the trail where I have fond memories with my oldest son when we were at Philmont when he was just 14. I won't be there for INDOC Day, and it will be killing me not to help my wife with this. She's going to be a wreck. But we were both Army officers, and she will know the drill. It's just that this time it's her son's turn to serve.

I was just curious if there were any creative ideas out there. We start our trip in the morning.

 

[jamzmom]

Life is short. Live it large. So I wish you safe travels with many memories. Post back here when you return!

Just took a VERY soon to be graduating '09 KP guy to lunch today. Friend of my kid. Funny how he'd gone on and on about a trip that he'd taken with his Dad before he'd gone in back in 05. They'd done a cross country trip. CA to DC. Went on about it for 30 minutes. I wasn't prying & he'd brought it up on his own. Very cool stories of that trip considering the kid had been to 20 countries on his own. I seriously think that you can go out & buy all the watches, gift cards & whatevers for the high school graduation & all but what I find sticking with the Mids was the quality time with their families.

Takes 'em a while but I think they begin to kinda like us in the end.

 

[Texmom]

graduation gifts

How much more creative can you get for a gift than the removal of four impacted wisdom teeth followed by legitimate use of narcotics Who needs new watches and luggage with all that fun to be had?

Hope you have a fantastic ride with your son through some of the most beautiful country in the world. How does one wear bubble wrap while on a motorcycle

Your wife will be in good company at indoc. Her army experience will hopefully serve her well. I feel fortunate that my son has been in high school at NMMI for the last two years, so I have kind of made some of the adjustment already. Happy trails at Philmont!

 

[America's Finest]

I got money. All of it went to savings, 4 years of interest should do it some good.

 

[VRSCDX]

I'll just save all that money we did not spend on wisdom teeth and spend on the trip. Our son only had one wisdom tooth. I say he was genetically inclined to go to USMMA over one of the other academies. In any regards, I will let you know how the trip goes. The bikes are loaded, and I hope to return with stories to tell.

Thanks all.

 

[Is2day4him]

keep careful tabs on your cash brotha (america's finest, and other candidates). cash has a tendency of slipping through plebe fingers very quickly. the best advice when it comes to that is to thoroughly plan out every excursion into the city. otherwise you'll spend $300 and have no idea where it went and nothing to show for it.

i was given a very nice watch from my parents when i graduated high school and it has served me well through both sea years and the time in school. don't get me wrong, i appreciate it very much, but the most memorable types of gifts you can give your kids before leaving for KP are memories. whether it be a road trip, camping, or even taking them to a baseball game. things come and go, but time with family is priceless.
enjoy your last few weeks at home candidates, next time you go home it won't be the same. well, it will be the same, you won't. enjoy what you've got and remember, if those of us before you can make it this far, you can make it.

 

[America's Finest]

keep careful tabs on your cash brotha (america's finest, and other candidates). cash has a tendency of slipping through plebe fingers very quickly. the best advice when it comes to that is to thoroughly plan out every excursion into the city. otherwise you'll spend $300 and have no idea where it went and nothing to show for it.

i was given a very nice watch from my parents when i graduated high school and it has served me well through both sea years and the time in school. don't get me wrong, i appreciate it very much, but the most memorable types of gifts you can give your kids before leaving for KP are memories. whether it be a road trip, camping, or even taking them to a baseball game. things come and go, but time with family is priceless.
enjoy your last few weeks at home candidates, next time you go home it won't be the same. well, it will be the same, you won't. enjoy what you've got and remember, if those of us before you can make it this far, you can make it.

Oh I'm not spending any of it. I've already decided I won't make any withdrawals from savings until I graduate. I have been considering putting it all on a 7 year certificate of deposit too. I'm really smart when it comes to my money.

 

[VRSCDX]

Road trip is done. 1300 miles. Tired rear ends from so much time on the bike. Memories made. I'm glad I did it. Though every night while in the hotel I would wonder if I was doing the right thing. One slight accident and USMMA could be delayed a year for healing.

I really fell in love with Oregon. What a beautiful state.

When we checked into our hotels, I would tell them what we were doing and that my son was off to the academy. I was very pleased they voluntarily discounted our rooms by a significant amount to match the military rate.

It is good to see this patriotism by the business. In hard times, they are still taking care of the services - or even those soon to embark.

 

[WESKI]

I can't think of a more beautiful bike trip than Monterey to Oregon and back! Your rear will recover, but you both will have great memories! And sometimes you get lucky with military discounts & sometimes you don't as USMMA falls into the quasi category with the hard core types. You learn to go with the flow in this and enjoy those moments.