Since Jesse was deploying for two months, I decided that Fletcher and I would go back to the States to visit with family and avoid our arctic home. I started watching flights a few weeks out, and lucked out with a mission that was going back home to Dover. The plan was to fly from Iwakuni to Futenma, take a cab from Futenma to Kadena, then catch a flight that was going from Kadena to Elmendorf to Dover. It's fortunate that our lives require us to be Semper Gumby, because we didn't panic when we got stuck in Okinawa for five days. It also helps to have friends all over the world who are willing to offer up a free place to stay. When I tell this story to people they think I'm crazy for going to such lengths to "save a buck". I think they're crazy for not catching the free ride! You also can't beat being two of eight people on a C17, which seats 77 passengers. Flying international while snoozing on six folded down seats with unlimited food and beverages? Yes please! Don't get me wrong, Space A travel can definitely be stressful. You never know where you might end up or how long it will take to get there. But nothing compares to avoiding lines, crowds, and strangers :)
We're ready to go!
Best part about flying to Oki? The private jet.
"Are we there yet? It's been 4 days!"
We love the military terminal family rooms!
Hello AMERICA!
When we finally made it to Dover, Beau-Beau picked us up. We spent the night in Philly, and then made our way to NC the following morning. We were able to spend four weeks in NC, a weekend in Richmond visiting friends, and three weeks in Pennsylvania. It. Was. Awesome. I did my best to soak up as much American luxury as I could (ie target and pizza). Fletcher was a super lucky boy and got to experience a LOT of firsts. He visited children's museums, the circus, a puppet show (where he was invited on stage), Longwood Gardens, his first lollipop, happy meal, cotton candy, pancake, and Bo' Chedda', the science museum, his first haircut, sledding, he pet a chicken, stood on his own, and had his first birthday party (cupcake and fire included).
We flew commercial from Philly to Seattle, then caught a Space A flight from Seattle to Yokota to Iwakuni. Fletcher decided to get the belly bug on our flight to Seattle. He held it in until we got to the USO, where he decided to spike a 103 fever and vomit all over my only outfit. Fortunately, we were camped out at the USO for 14 hours so he had time to sleep it off. The USO volunteers were also kind enough to get our luggage so we could both shower and change. 36ish hours later and we were back home in our own beds :)
When you live so far away from home, you start to rely on your friends
as family. It isn't until you go back home that you realize how much
you really miss your family. I think having kids makes that void much
much bigger. Fletcher doesn't get to grow up with his cousins or participate in normal every day activities like family dinners or sleepovers with grandparents. Sometimes it's really challenging and isolating, but I'm grateful for our crazy life and the opportunities and experiences that we're offered; I wouldn't change it for anything.
