By Logan Neill, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, October 28, 2010
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Army Pfc. Courtney Johnson, 21, holds her son, Alexzander, after a tearful reunion at Scribbles Preschool in Spring Hill on Thursday. Johnson returned after an eight-month deployment in Korea just in time for Alexzander’s third birthday today.
SPRING HILL
The birthday gift that Alexzander Johnson got Thursday took 24 hours to deliver from the other side of the world.
She arrived at Scribbles Preschool in Spring Hill after nap time, just as the toddler was diving into an afternoon snack of pumpkin cookies and juice.
Army Pfc. Courtney Johnson will tell you that it was worth the jet lag and other hassles of traveling more than 8,000 miles just to see her son after eight months.
"I started crying the minute I got to Tampa," an exhausted Johnson said as she held her son in her arms. "I was just so excited."
Johnson, 21, is stationed with the Army garrison in Yongsan, South Korea, where she has served as a supply specialist the past two years. Weeks ago she began planning to return home to Spring Hill so she could celebrate her son's third birthday today.
Using a Skype online video connection, she called Alexzander, who lives with her mother, Camille Johnson, in Spring Hill. But she knew he didn't understand.
"He knows I'm in Korea, but he doesn't know what how far that is," she said. "He's always asking me, 'When are you going to pick me up, mommy?' Hearing that always makes me sad."
Once Johnson caught a glimpse of her boy Thursday afternoon, she couldn't believe how much he has changed since the last time she had held him. The face she knew, but everything else seemed different.
He has grown so much, and is now wearing "big boy" underwear.
Alexzander didn't recognize her at all.
"It's mommy, baby," Johnson called, wearing a camouflage uniform top and trying to hide the weariness in her voice.
But the only faces the startled child recognized were those of his aunt and uncles who had joined Johnson for the surprise visit.
The hesitation soon melted. Within minutes, Alexzander was leading his mom to his cubby to show her where he kept his backpack, and pointing to the Halloween decorations hanging everywhere in the school.
Johnson said she is going to savor every waking moment she gets to spend in the next two weeks with her son and the rest of her family she has missed so much. Then, it's back to Korea.
"It gets harder and harder to leave every time," she said. "I feel like I'm missing so much. But anyone in the military will tell you that's something you live with. It just doesn't get any easier."
Logan Neill can be reached at (352) 848-1435 or lneill@sptimes.com.
