A TIME TO REMEMBERWE CALL IT " ROME, DELAWARE!!

Well, I know it's been a long while since I posted, and a lot of things has happened since, but the most upsetting event that happened to us was our (so called) trip to Rome, Italy! I think it's wise to start at the beginning!

THE AMERICAN EMBASSY IN ROME

Back in May of this year, we had a conversation about "our" bucket list. This is a list of things you want to accomplish before you "kick the bucket". This, of course, was taken from that recent movie with Jack Nickelson and I think Samuel L. Jackson.

THE ROMAN COLLOSEUM

Well, one of the things on my bucket list was to visit the Vatican in Rome, Italy. Our friend, Chuck, is a liason for our American Embassador. He chose an assignment in Rome so we can visit while he was there for 2 months, June and July. At first I didn't believe it but he asked if we got our passports yet. By this time, I knew he was for real.

THE PIETA
SCULPTED BY MICHAELANGELO

Well, we got our Passports (which are good for 10 years) so that's good. We then got our Eurail tickets which are for the train ride from where we fly into which is Ramstein, Germany through Austria and into Rome, Italy. We are retired Air Force and we can catch a HOP which is a Space Available flight from a base here to any other base in the world.

THE VATICAN

THE SISTIEN CHAPEL
THE CEILING WAS ALSO PAINTED BY MICHAELANGELO

We went to Delaware so we can catch a plane on the Air Force base where Bruce retired from. That's one of the benefits they give you, to be able to fly anywhere for nothing. We couldn't afford a commercial flight so this is the way we were gonna go. But, we're in category 6, which is retired military. We are the last man on the totem pole so to speak. Active duty and their families get priority. Being summer and out of school, there were a lot of active duty and families flying to places because they get orders to relocate. So many kids!!!

MY PASSPORT

WE WILL GET TO USE THEM
MY HONEY'S PASSPORT

So, we waited, went back to the terminal every time there was a flight to go out and again was never called. We stayed with Angela and Patti for 3 weeks trying to go but it never happened. Thank God they lived there.We would have had to get a place to stay all that time which we truly couldn't afford.

DOVER SPACE "A" TERMINAL
WHERE WE WAITED AND WAITED AND WAITED

Each time, I remember getting SOOOO upset, and was so overwhelmed with emotion, I just cried! Then I realized it ain't gonna happen and accepted the fact that it wasn't meant to be at this time. One good thing, we have our Passports which are good for 10 years so we'll try again for our anniversary the end of April. All kids will still be in school, it'll be off season and we may have a better chance of getting to go. We were talking about going to Amsterdam this time. Hopefully we will and if it's meant to be we will go!! I'll keep you posted.