I'm really sorry that it has taken me so long to get on the blog and update everyone.
Where do I even start?
This has been the most traumatic past days of my entire life.
I will eventually get around to posting about the earthquake and such but right now I can't even start to write about that because more has happened. Things got really crazy when the radiation leaks started going on all throughout the area.
On the 17th we got a call around 2 p.m. telling us that Jimmy was deploying in the morning. My heart sunk. Now with only a couple hours notice and lots of stuff to do I had to get ready to evacuate Japan.
Not knowing what would happen we packed as if we weren't going to come back to the house because who knows the end result of these reactors. I've never had knots in my stomach like this before...have you ever thought about what items in your entire house you would try to cram into three bags in case you were to never come back? In all honesty...you and your family need to think about this. You need to have supplies ready in case something happens because now I understand the I'd rather be safe than sorry. Also, because of all of this for the rest of my life I will do such things for my family because I see it's importance.
We had only a few hours to purchase things for Jimmy, clean the house to prevent bugs and everything else while we were away, switch my plane tickets which I was on hold literally for 6 hours, pack our bags, stop by work and try and have a good night before we are separated again. It was all way too fast.
I ended up having the worst trip of my life and I'm not just saying that....Here is how the 18th went in list form:
- Dropped off at taxi at 6am for Airport. Had a very short goodbye with Jimmy. It all was going bye so fast I could barely cry because I didn't know what to do.
- About a $500 cab ride later my friend Bronte and I arrive @ Tokyo Narita Airport.
- I stand in the line of about 500 people to check my bags with Delta so I can then move onto security and then onto customs.
- I was informed that my bags were going to cost me $700, yes I repeat $700...to put on the plane. I had three bags which two of them were "supposed to be free" to check it. I fought with the people for about 20 minutes before they took my boarding pass and told me that I had to pay.
- I told them that I wanted to get my bags so I could throw my clothes away but they said "the bags are gone already" so what does this mean...it means they are lazy and couldn't get them and were now forcing me to pay when I could have made the bags cheaper.
- I ask if I can change my thing til tomorrow so I can talk to Jimmy (mind he's already gone but was going to call when he could that day) and they say nope, "you're already checked in."
- So basically they didn't care that I would get stuck in Japan but were so kind to tell me that they could set my up to purchase a $3,000 something dollar ticket for the 19th or I could even fly first class for $5,000 something. How nice of them!! %$#%#@
- At this point I'm forced to find an ATM....
- The ATM's are out of money....
- I have a break down at the ATM where I'm about 100% sure I looked like a manic and a old man walks up to me and asks me if I am okay.
- Long story short...he was the vice president of HSBC Bank and hands me $700 in Tokyo. Angel in disguise?
- I make it through security but then low and behold my passport was flagged because I was supposed to leave the country on the 17th but we changed my ticket to Guam when we found out he was deploying.
- I sit in customs until 20 minutes before my plane is supposed to literally leave. I was asked why I stayed in Japan...hmmm let's see here?
- Then had to run all the way to my gate so I didn't miss my flight which I was the last person to get on.
- After being tested for radiation twice, each one of my bags being tested for radiation I now am late for my other flight.
- Being stopped at security because I had too many quarters in my backpack. I was obviously a terrorist.
- I almost miss my flight to Cleveland luckily they waited for me to get to the plane.
- 12am I'm home in Ohio and its sucks.
I even left some stuff out like waiting for my bags for two hours and being so nervous and stressed I had hives. Jimmy being put into this mess and having to leave him behind. It didn't end!
Now I'm home and I don't even know what to say. I basically feel like I had Jimmy ripped from my hands without a proper goodbye but I guess that's the military life ya know. I don't know when we are going to see each other again, I don't know when he'll be back in the states...I just don't know anything right now. I miss Jimmy I do know that.
My heart is completely torn for the Japanese people. Knowing first had that they are the most respectful and mannered people ever, my heart goes out to them. I can't stop watching CNN and I cried last night when they showed the people crying on TV. The destruction of the quake, tsunami and now radiation is unfathomable to me. Everything was fine there last Thursday. I once again can't find the words to describe what I am thinking. Please continue to pray for these people and also please pray for the members of all groups that are trying to aid in this situation.
Amore,
Kelly Marie
