So I woke up Wednesday morning and was ready by 7:30am then didn't know what to do. I was worried because no one had contacted like they were supposed to with more information on his arrival. I was contacting them and Robbie also had a friends wife text me when she received updates so I wouldn't miss him. My mom and I went around to AT&T where she thought I was checking on the price of a new phone for Robbie but I actually was making sure his phone had been turned on (she was in the car). Then we headed to Post where I began my 5 hour distraction mode. We stopped for a car wash, then brunch at the PX, followed by some VERY slow walking around the PX. This wasted all of an hour... So we wandered around outside for a bit before headed to the DQ/Orange Julius for smoothies. We sat in outside in the sun for a while before I decided we should take a tour of post aka waste more time. We headed to the car just before 2pm and I was supposed to be at the place to get Robbie at 3:30. The good news is that Ft. Bliss is GINORMOUS! We went around 'old post' for a while stopping when I would get phone calls (have to be hands free on post but she couldn't hear the calls so I had to stop to answer them) Then we headed to the newer side. I told her I needed to practice driving to the pick up location so I wouldn't get lost the day he came home. We went to the building I saw a few cars there and decided we should drive around some more. We went looking for his current building then where he will be once he switches over to the aviation unit. I failed at both, I wasn't sure which one was exactly his, but we did find a few that would apply to his position and that was nice. Then I told my mom I needed to practice one more time before we head home and headed towards the building. As we pull up my mom says 'See you know how to get here, you won't get lost when he comes home' I turned to her and said 'Well do you want to know something?...We aren't leaving...' She started to freak out as I explained everything to her and that he would be there in 40 minutes.
After a little sitting in the car we headed inside to wait with the rest of the wive/families. There weren't many people there yet for the group that was coming home. It was pretty low key, a few families, churches with snacks and the Red Cross. There was also a bouncy house for the kids (this came in handy later) We sat near a few wives and chatted with them while we waited. The original time came and went without word from anyone when the new arrival time was. We all were going off of what some wives husbands were telling them over the phone. Finally around 5/6 they announced that the new arrival time was 9:20pm...no one was thrilled. My mom and I ran to Burger king to bring some dinner back since we hadn't eaten since 10:30am. Lots of families left to see movies and such but I was too nervous the flight would change and I wouldn't be there to welcome him home. So we waited...and waited...
Around 7 a wife said her husband told her he had to get off the phone because they were telling them they were taking off and the phones needed to be off. Then about 20 minutes later they made an announcement that the new arrival time was 8:20...to say I was glad I didn't leave is an understatement. People were calling the people who had left and were trying to make sure they could get back in time. Then all of the sudden they said grab your things to head outside they are landing soon...I about died at this moment. We walked outside and waited for around 20minutes and would get so excited every time we saw lights from a plane, which was often since we were near the El Paso Airport. Finally it was their plane, I teared up as the plane landed and started to drive forward towards the stairs. I've never thought a taxi took so long. It felt like years. They started to get off the plane and we were told that they were allowing them to hug/kiss family (usually not allowed at all.) so I anxiously waited for Robbie to walk up to me. He started heading towards the crowd of people, he found me and walked over to me. I was done at this point, crying and all. Beyond happy. They had to head to another room for a debrief and turn in their guns. At this point we went back inside for 45 ish minutes to wait.
Once they were done we all stood around the area they would march into and started to scream. They knocked 3 times on the large door and then slowly raised it up. As soon as they all were inside they dismissed them to find their families. I decided to stand in one place so it would be easier to find each other. I was out in the open holding my sign and it seem like 10 minutes before he found me. Once he did find me I couldn't let go. It was so weird and felt like a dream to have him home. I guess it was a dream come true since he was supposed to be gone until next July.
Now we have been getting things done for the house, visited with friends on Thanksgiving day and just relaxing since he has had a pretty stressful/busy few months. Enjoy the pictures!
I had been wearing his actual wedding band on a chain since the day he left. He was wearing a cheap one from Walmart and before we left I had to put it back on his finger.
