Today is a lot different than my day was last year on December 1st. I just re-read my Travelogue #6 and I am glad that nightmare is over! Here are some highlights starting from last Dec. 1st:
“My exit from Iraq started on Dec. 1, 2004. That is when I left Q-West. I was supposed to get off work that night at midnight, like every other night-shift person in the history of the camp, but the site manager hated me and made me work all night anyway. That’s ok, because I hated him, too. So, that morning around 8 am I flew to Mosul to outprocess. That is when the nightmare started. I wanted to fly to Tucson because I was booked at a spa, but noooooo – the company I worked for was insisting on flying me to Virginia. I had tickets to Dulles, and a reservation in Tucson. I didn’t want to buy a ticket from Virginia to Arizona so I went to HR. At Mosul they said the people in Baghdad would take care of it. At Baghdad they said the people in Dubai would take care of it. Dubai was no help either. After several hours I finally did manage to get the ticket I wanted. All I had to do was write a note that I wanted to go to Tucson and not Virginia and that I wouldn’t hold the company I worked for liable for not sending me back to Virginia. How hard was that? As hard as they could possible make it, let me tell you!!
So, I really left the AO on Dec. 4th because I had to go from Q-West to Mosul, Mosul to Baghdad, Baghdad to Dubai – and finally, Dubai to the US!
Once I left Dubai I had a layover in Switzerland. Since I was traveling I thought it would be cool to spend the night in Zürich and I was on an overbooked flight anyway. So, I decided to see if they could extend my layover – sure they could, for the low low price of only $3000. The guy ahead of me did it for $100, so I think the travel agency of the company I worked for flagged my ticket so I couldn’t change it again. Oh well.
On this flight from Zurich to Dallas I was in the middle row in the middle seat – for a million hours!! This is when I decided to never ever fly across the ocean in coach class again.
I finally made it to Tucson after being awake for 4 days (it’s a long haul from Q-West to Mosul to Baghdad to Dubai to Zurich to Dallas to Tucson!!) I was deliriously tired. I was a day early for my reservation at the spa so I stayed at the Courtyard the first night and just slept for 11 hours straight. The lady in the restaurant gave me a free breakfast, too, since I was just back from Iraq. Then I was off to the Miraval Spa. Mmmmm – that was a good decision.”
Actually, the time when I got back is all pretty much just a blur to me. I don’t even remember the holidays. All I know is I just wanted to sleep and no one would let me. I am sure I was a joy to be around. I look at the pictures from last Christmas and I just look exhausted and worn out. This holiday season is going to be lots better!
In comparison this is how I have spent my day on Dec. 1, 2005: Slept in, took a shower, went and got a bikini wax, went grocery shopping, put groceries away, now messing around on the computer, petting the cat, and thinking about maybe doing some laundry. Later I will make some chicken and pasta for supper, take a bath, and go back to bed. Ahhh, life is good now.
If I could drink I would have champagne in celebration – instead I will have sparkling non-alcoholic grape juice. Have a drink and celebrate with me!!
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