The family touched down at Ramstein AB in Germany on June 24th around 10:30am local time. After driving from Ohio to Baltimore (we stopped for a night in Morgantown, WV), we got on the flight at 7pm. I could not sleep a wink. It might have had something to do with having Sweet Pea on my left, and some Delta Force guy on my right that had held up the plane. He was Mr. talkative at 1st; I learned all about his wife never getting to move from NC, his small son and his newborn daughter. Then he passed out, I mean dead. The flight attendant and I had to manuver him back into his seat many times so she didn't ram into his head with the drink cart!
The girls did really well, sleeping most of the time, although it was apparent they were uncomfortable. Big J slept on and off as well. We finally got off the plane and were met by the new boss and some guy named Keith? They were very nice, staying with us while we went thru customs, giving us a packet of information, chatting about what we would need to do. It all pretty much went in one ear and out the other, but they were nice to try! They stamped our passports, we got our luggage, passed thru customs, and got to see our old neighbor who was waiting for some other people on the plane. Boy was it nice to see a familiar face right off the bat! The boss drove us to our room (they had already registered us, got the key and put groceries in the room [from a small list I sent them earlier]). We ate some PB&J and then took a 2 hour nap! We set the alarm for an hour, I never heard it go off and Big J just reset it for another hour. Not having a car yet, I had noticed that there was a pizza place in the community center, we set off walking in the direction the simple map indicated. We ate pizza, played a little ping pong, explored what was available at the community center, and had a visit from J's boss when we got back into the room. Boss and his wife, came by to chat for a bit about how we felt, what we'd have to do, etc. They are very nice people, and I so enjoyed getting a chance to be a little social! It was hard to get the girls to go to sleep, and for us to sleep. I probably could have slept thru the night if no one had woke me. But those of you that really know us, know that no one in my house thinks I need to sleep thru the nite!
I know, this is thrilling stuff rite? The 1st day of the next 3 years is never very amazing I have found. This is especially true when you must fly thru multiple time changes for 8 hours, while managing your family's physical needs, as well as managing everyone's emotional needs. You are on auto pilot, only reacting to what is in front of you instead of thinking ahead. Even the week that follows is a reaction week...go here, do this, now go there and get this, now drive over here, but wait to drive here you must look up directions and still get lost for an hour anyway, etc. There is an adventure here somewhere, I believe the adventure will start tomorrow though.
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