She's Gone

We drove to Rochester International Airport this morning so our daughter could catch a flight to Minnesota to visit one of her Army pals for a few days before returning to Monterey. I can't believe how fast the time went; it seems like she just got here yesterday. We got about five inches of snow last night but the Thruway was clear. The State crews did a wonderful job of cleaning the snow and ice from the road. It was 9 degrees when we left the house.

The Rochester TSA people were very helpful. As soon as they spotted her in uniform, they grabbed us all and escorted us through the security waiting line. We were first x-rayed and sniffed and then drinking coffee in the secure area in no time. The TSA people thanked our daughter for her service as she went through the screening. I have never had a problem with any TSA personnel. They have always been unfailingly polite, courteous and helpful; this was no different.

I hate long, clingy goodbyes, but she was the last one to get on the plane. She waited until the very last possible moment and then some - the attendants didn't say a word while she hugged us all for the last time. We are not sure when we'll see her again. Momma and our youngest were all teary walking away from the gate. Not me. But I lie.

In any event, she's got three more months of training before she graduates from DLI, then another three months at Goodfellow AFB. After that, who knows... We're hoping that she doesn't get sent to Afghanistan next year as Arabic is not amoung the many languages spoken there, but she has a friend who graduated from DLI as an arab translator earlier this year and is in Afghanistan right now - assigned to a motor pool; changing oil. Oh well...

We are hoping that she is assigned to the 10th Mountain Division as Fort Drum is only about 70 miles north of us. But until she is all through with her training and finally assigned to a unit we'll just have to wait. She is in God's hands and that is never a bad place to be.