Oh, the Benefit of Good (I mean, Awesome) Friends

Here I sit, in my girlfriend's house on Ramstein AFB near Frankfurt. I thought I would be on a plane, happily dreaming of my (almost certain) upcoming visit back home for a couple weeks. I was just so sure I would be on that plane! They said it would be easy; they said that I would just *slip right on*; they said, "just be flexible and it'll be fine." Those people.

Well, it's not so fine. Here I sit so, so thankful that there are old friends who move to Germany just in time to live 2 minutes from where I am stranded with 3 kids, 3 backpacks, a large suitcase, and no place to store our stuff for the day.

If you were in the military, you might guess that I was trying to fly Space -A. And you'd be right on.

Set the alarm at 2:00am this morning to drive 2 1/2 hours away to Ramstein to get on a military HOP (makes it sound so fun) to Baltimore at 05:00. I was actually so deluded into thinking that I'd be on that plane, that I made domestic flight reservations on Southwest. I was so sure. That'll teach me. Cancel the Southwest tickets and mentally prepare myself for a complete change of plans. Ok, flight to Charleston, roll call at 7:10pm. We have all day here in this place, 2 1/2 hours from home, no where to store bags, 3 tired and hungry kids.

In steps my *awesome* friend from 10 years ago when we lived on Ft. Bragg. She and I used to walk almost daily with our first born babies in the stroller. We parted that long ago and have only seen each other one other time in the past 10 years. But when I send an email: "Hey-ey! (I say so cheerily) I'm in town with the kids and happen to have all day-ay... (act nonchalant). If you're not bu-sy, we'd LOVE to see you-ou-ou." (smile, smile, smile)

And does she not show up within 30 minutes to recue me and the kids?? She DOES. She is the. bomb. And so we are here in her lovely, warm, cozy house full of movies for the kids and cumfy couches, and fruit and stuff. (*sigh*)

Now, once I settle down and figure out my next move after *most probably* arriving in Charleston, SC in the middle of the night- the hotel, the train in the morning, the pick up by my brother at the train station - I'm almost feeling settled in, sure of pulling off this inconvenience. Yea, that flight was pushed back a little. To 03:40 am. Seriously. 3. a.m. If I decide to show up at that roll call at 3:40 am, we ALL have to be present to be accepted to fly. Which means another day of getting us all up at 2:15 to *maybe,* *perhaps,* *if you're super-lucky,* get the awesome opportunity to fly for free on a military HOP. (cue maniacal laughter) If that flight doesn't go, or we don't get on, it's another FULL day to maybe get on another possible flight to Charleston, or maybe Baltimore. Either one. It's a crap shoot.

Ask me if I'm happy. Ask me if I'm glad that we saved $3000 by taking this military benefit. Well, I recognize that this is merely an inconvenience, not a tragedy. I'm being flexible and open-minded, along with very, very hopeful. And, I'm so, so, very thankful to those old friends that pop back into our lives at the most opportune times. They are what turn lemons into lemonade. From the bottom of my sleep-deprived, coffee-jittered heart,

Thank you Anja. You're the best.

Now, if I could just get over the dreadful feeling that I'm some ridiculous 20-something with no money trying to hitchhike home for Christmas.