Getting Home

Getting ready for takeoff

The first big turn-when I almost lost my bag

Golf on top of a building in Baghdad

On top of the building

Time with my sweet nieces

Saying goodbye to the Madster after a quick visit

I left here on May 1st early in the morning.  I arrived in Kansas City on May 6th, in the evening.  It took a LONG time to get home.  A very long time.  The trip was a roller coaster.  There were some things that happened that were so unbelievably cool, I couldn't believe I was a participant.  There were also some lows-one in particular you will probably enjoy.  I will explain.

When we flew out on Sunday morning, I was in great spirits.  Absolute good as Madison would say.  I realized that whoever was first would be able to sit next to the door on the helicopter, so I jumped in front of Derek.  I sat right next to the door, strapped in, the guy told me to watch my bag, didn't close the door, and we took off.  We started our ascent.  The helo in front turned to the right.  We did too.  It was my side.  I had my bag, but it still almost fell out of the door.  Once the helo righted itself, I quickly tightened my straps even more and had a death grip on my backpack.  We only flew with the door open for the first leg of the trip, but let me tell you, it was unbelievable.  We flew over the perimeter of Camp Taji and I quickly noticed that there is a ton of grass and so many palm trees all around.  That was a huge surprise-considering all the dust and dirt we have on base. It was so much more beautiful than I expected.  Everything I had seen up to this point was on the other side of a wall.  This was the first chance I had to actually see (even if it was from the air) the country.  We had several stops before ours.  We got to fly all over the place.  I will never forget flying with the door open.  It was incredible.

We went to the office, checked in, dropped off our luggage, and went to hang out.  We went shopping-sort of (didn't really buy anything), climbed to the top of the huge building that is there, played some golf...on the roof, had lunch at the best D-Fac in Baghdad (maybe not, but it felt like it), and had a fun day.  Later, we had to take the Rhino to another base.  Lady luck threw another amazing opportunity my way.  The driver, on the way up to his seat asked Derek if he wanted to ride shotgun.  This was less than a minute after I had just told Derek that I would like to ride in the front so I could see.  So, Derek let me ride in the front.  Holy Moly.  If I thought I got to see a lot of Iraq on the helicopter earlier that day, I was really seeing it on the drive.  It was a great experience.  I don't think I stopped smiling the entire way.  I went to bed on top of the world.  I had a very cool day, and was on my way home.

There really isn't much to say about being stuck in Kuwait.  It is not very fun.  There is not a lot to do there.  It is hot.  People are constantly arriving and leaving so the lights stay on in the tents ALL the time.  This also discourages the mice.  A lady in my tent said the mice thing is important because, "the cobras that eat the mice here in Kuwait are poisonous."  I wanted to say, "As opposed to cobras elsewhere?" But I didn't.  I just smiled and agreed.  I did get to see a comedy show while I was there.  It just so happened that there were 3 comedians touring.  2 of them were from the show "Last Comic Standing."  They were all very funny.  I laughed a lot.  After 3 days in Ali, it was time for me to go-I could not have been more ready.

I got to Istanbul and had a major meltdown-which I will tell you all about later, so this post doesn't get too long.  I left there the next morning and finally made it to KC.  It was nice to be home.