Updates from the tents....

It has been nearly two weeks since I watched Will fly off into the sky from a runway in Italy. Once his jet disappeared into the clouds this amazing sense of calm came over me. I think part of it was realizing that the same sky covers the entire globe, so when I look up at the clouds from anywhere in the world, I can picture his plane right above me. The rest of it was this unbelievable release of fear and anxiety that allowed me to surrender the control I wanted to have over this situation and instead accept the complete lack of control we all have over it. Now we take it day by day and let time move forward as it always does.

I received an email from Will the day he left Aviano...via his dad's blackberry. The subject read "For Lindsey - GIVE HER YOUR PHONE!" In his message he reassured me that he landed at his first stop safely and would be on his way to the final destination several hours later. I spoke with him on the phone the day after I returned to Charlottesville and he's been able to call me every day since then. We still email every day too; whoever wakes up first sends a good morning email and there's usually a mid-day "I love you" email as well. The first time we were able to use skype, my heart melted. It was so great to see him, albeit a bit odd from the inside of a tent with a lone treadmill and free weights at the other end...he was in "the gym." After about 20 minutes, the connection was lost and we couldn't regain it. Don't fail us now Skype. You've been so clutch in the past. We tried to skype again a few days later but the massive wind storms must have interrupted the internet speed over there. All in all, it feels kind of like he is just in Italy. We still plan our days around the 8.5 hour time difference and share every detail of our day over the phone. Here's the quick and dirty on the state of our F-16 pilots and their accommodations:

-Tents are the new brick and mortar. Our boys go to sleep with vinyl flapping around their heads

-I Hop has a full on operation in the desert. Breakfast is served 24 hours a day but no one really knows how old the eggs are when they see them on the line at midnight

-Showers are social. They all comment on Will's handy shower caddy as they haul plastic bags of toiletries into the tiny shower stalls. I sent three more that were left in the sorority house, including a hot pink caddy. I am still waiting to find out how these are distributed. I lobbied for a talent show.

-No more burger king. Apparently, all the fast food places were replaced with military ops stuff. However, the Afghan locals seem to thoroughly enjoy burgers and fries served in the chow hall.

-Speaking of chow, Fridays are steak and lobster days. Oh boy! It actually might be better lobster than anything we could get from the gulf coast these days.

-Mail only takes 7 days to deliver or receive. It's been tested and proven on both ends already!

-Our schedules actually match. Will is working nights right now so he calls me at the end of his work day, right before breakfast for dinner, which is just before I go to bed. It is really great to end our days together and feel connected after work.

I'll keep the updates coming. Just a few more months until he's back home!

I made it back to the States in true tourist fashion....with heavier luggage than when I left. Funny thing is, I didn't make a single purchase! It was a great trip and I had a blast with the Andreottas. They are really the best travel companions I could have asked for...even if we would have come in last place on the Amazing Race!

Italy was as beautiful as ever, although someone really should introduce the Italians to the concept of convenience...and a Target. It was actually quite refreshing to be completely cut off from all the interruptions of life for a little while and to just enjoy each other's company. We stayed within an hour of Sacile each day, visiting Aviano, Venice and San Daniel. The food and wine was incredible. Now the countdown until homecoming begins!

PS - I had no idea that my little blog had such a big following. Thanks everyone for your support and encouragement! Let's bring all our military home safely!

Video of Will and the Buzzards taking off...he is the third of the six jets. It was an incredible sight and makes me so proud. Love him.

Today I waived goodbye, blew kisses and sent my Love off to Afghanistan. It was absolutely the most emotional event of my life. I have finally found the person I want to spend the rest of my life with, but before we can do that, we have to get through the next four months. We are so lucky to have such strong support from friends and family and we know that this will just be a short blip on the screen of the rest of our lives. But I still want him home, safe and sound as fast as possible. I love him and need him to come home to me.