Happy Ten Years to Zach!

This is actually a few days late, but Zach had his official ten year anniversary this week. Ten years ago he left for basic training while I took on role of working full time single mom. My brother and I were able to go down for graduation so Zach could see Tyler before heading off to tech school where once again we would live apart. Looking back I am glad we did things that way. It helped me prepare for the many separations ahead and gave family more time to get to know Tyler before we left for Florida.

Zach's first assignment was working with the AC-130H Gunships at Hurlburt Field, Florida. The Gunships were much more exciting than regular 130's! We loved being close to his grandma and enjoyed visiting her many times. As we were preparing for Zach's 2nd deployment the end of May 2002 we recieved a call from work letting us know we had been given orders to Alaska! I was getting ready to drive to Cheyenne, Wyoming for a visit while Zach was gone so all plans went on hold. By the end of June all of our belongings were pack and gone and a week later we hit the road for the next big adventure!

Zach worked on C-130's once again, just not the exciting Gunships! Elmendorf AFB, Alaska is nestled right next to the mountains and I am not sure there is anywhere more beautiful! Zach was able to participate in some interesting events such as the yearly visit to Arctic Village, Alaska. Each Christmas the C-130's deliver gifts to the children to the village. He also deployed 3 days after Christmas in 2004 to help in the relief efforts after the tsumani in Indonesia. He also was part of the crew that brought the C-130 that now sits in the base air park. It was supposed to be a week long trip to get this particular plane that had been grounded for quite some time. A month later they finally got the thing to Alaska! Ironically that plane was from Ramtstein AB, our next assignment. We made very good friends while in Alaska and we felt like it was our home, not just a temporary assignment. Alaska will always hold a special place in our hearts!

September of 2006 we stepped off the plane in Frankfurt, Germany. It had been a long week of botched up flight iteneraries (courtesy of incompetent people) so just getting to Germany was an adventure in itself! As we stepped into the muggy unairconditioned airport with people smoking to the left and right of us, we were not sure what to think! We were exhausted from flying overnight and changing time zones, but of course this was just the beginning. Out of all our luggage, my bag was lost! LOST! I could've sat down and cried, maybe I did....I don't remember. Tears would not be for the loss of the clothes because an excuse to buy new would have been more than welcome, but it was for the loss of CD's full of pictures and a gift from my best friend, a beautiful necklace! And not to mention the fact Zach's blues were in that bag and those things are expensive!!!! Fifty euros in phone calls and a week later a guy from worked came by our TLF room at almost 10pm. Zach stepped outside to talk to him and in he came with my suitcase! I wish I could say that our initial welcome to Germany the worst of our time here, but it was only the beginning! The squadron Zach is in has been tough to deal with, but he has made the best of it.

So ten years down, at least ten to go! Where we will go next? Well that is still to be determined......be looking for that post between April 15th and May 15th!