I should be welcoming Joe back "home" right about now. And by "home" I just mean to the states; because although he's coming back, he's not coming back
here. He needs to report back to Holloman, and has to go directly there.
He was
supposed to be landing at an airport that just so happens to be near us; (we got lucky about his arrival location) just about this time. It worked out that he was scheduled for an overnight layover and leaving for NM tomorrow in the late morning. Since I'm blogging now that obviously didn't happen.
Traveling to and from any deployed location doesn't usually go smoothly. The only constant is that things are unpredictable.
You learn not to expect their arrival until 10 minutes before the flight lands; or at the very least until you confirm their plane has left the
very last location before heading stateside.
You know not to get your hopes up that they'll arrive when their
original flight itinerary indicates they will.
You hope for the best and expect the worst...but even so, if the worst happens you can't help but be disappointed. The constant changes and uncertainty of when they will actually, finally, arrive is frustrating.
Joe left Afghanistan on Tuesday and I thought I'd be welcoming him "home" tonight, but that's been delayed. What's a few more days when it's already been a year, right?
Then he was supposed to get in at 0400 Sat morning, what a nice time for an airport reunion.
That was again pushed back to 830 Sat night; which wasn't too bad because it would mean he would have that overnight layover.
What's that? Oh, he still hasn't even
left his 2nd location (with 2 more stops to go)? Forget about that 830 showtime now.
New estimated arrival is another oh-dark-thirty time.
The 830pm time was much more preferable.
Now if he arrives in the early morning hours it'll give him enough time to catch that next day's flight he was scheduled for - meaning we would have a few hours at the airport, at best.
It's better than nothing, and I'm hoping we'll get at least that.
If not, I'll just have to be content knowing he's safely back in the states.
In the meantime I'll continue to pray for safe travels.
