Over the past couple weeks we've seen multiple errors in our move. Firstly the Household Goods office basically forgot to book our move. Two days before the movers were supposed to come, I called inquiring about our lack of any confirmation email or phone call. They replied that they did indeed have the same dates as I had, but the move was never put into the "work flow" meaning it was never successfully booked to a moving company. Due to this snafu, our move was moved from the 2nd to the 4th of June. We had not received any flight information, so I was anxious about this change considering my original leave date requested was for the 3rd.
On the evening of the 3rd, at 4:00pm, I received a phone call from my mother-in-law saying a lady was trying to get a hold of me regarding my flight itinerary. I called this lady and she was calling to confirm my flight for 6:00pm! No email, no phone call, and the fact that this flight was supposed to be delayed 2 days left me speechless. I'm sorry, no I can't make a flight in 2 hours to move to Spain, especially when I'm on my way to pick up my husband from work, still had a hotel and rental car, and the movers were scheduled to finish the move out of my apartment the following day. She was not pleased with me, and basically told me I had to wait for the next military flight over there.. which could be anytime within the next 2 weeks. I hung up with her and, out of stress and frustration, cried my eyes out. Upon picking my husband up from work an hour later, he told me they (him and one of the gentlemen on the ship that helps us with these things) had been in contact with the same lady after I talked to her, and they were going to push for me getting a flight within the next 5 days, and that they would also comp us 5 nights in a hotel.
The next morning I drove down to pick up my no-fee passport, as I was instructed over the phone by this woman, and I was told, again, that I could not pick up my passport until I had a ticket. Frustrated, I explained the situation, and told the name of the woman who told me I could come get the passport. The guy in the passport office then contacted someone down the hall to come down and talk with me and figure things out. As we walked to her office, I started crying again and explained how many errors I've seen through the Navy for this move and how exhausted and frustrated I was. She sat me down, asked me when I wanted to leave, told me not to worry, and told me "Let's get you a ticket today". Maybe a half hour later, I walked out with ticket and passport in hand!
I hurried home to meet the movers, spent the day reading while they packed the truck, cleaned the last bit of my apartment (cleared out the fridge, wiped everything down, and vacuumed), and then I went to pick up my husband for our last evening together until we're reunited in Spain!
Today is the day. I repacked my bags, checked out of the hotel, drove to Norfolk International Airport, returned my rental car, lugged my 100+ lbs of luggage to the terminal, and had a seamless check-in process. I got to talk to my husband one more time on the phone, and now I'm chillin' with my tickets at the gate. I'll have 2 layovers (the latter being 8 hours in Madrid), but then by tomorrow this time I'll be just landing in Jerez, Spain!
We'll see how I do with a roughly 24 hour trip, but I'm on my way, and that's what's important. I've been waiting for this for a long time. My plan is to take pictures along my travels, but that depends on how much I feel like taking my camera out of my carry-on ;)
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