Sand, Sun, and Several More Weeks…..
After three exciting days of travel, and not sleeping in a bed since Tuesday night, I made it back to my base around 1:00 am and crawled into my single bunk bed around 2:00! Exhausted but happy to sleep on a mattress not steel chairs or hammock type seats on the aircraft. Speaking of the aircraft, once again, I had an “excellent to be friendly and outgoing personality” experience. As we are loading up with our gear and finding the hammock seat that would be mine, the Capt. is chatting to me as we load up. He wants to know if I would like to sit up front during the take off and weather permitting, the landing! OH WHAT? Well, my new acquaintances are laughing and carrying on about being a female and the things we get (it does help that I was one of three of the 24 on the aircraft), off I go to the cockpit (I am sure there is some other political correct word for it these days). It’s amazing how high off the ground you are and how little everything looks on the tarmac. After many checks, switches, turning of knobs, pushing of buttons, co-pilot check, pilot check, and making funny references to me sitting in the seat behind them, (yes, I had on headphones to hear/communicate with the crew) control tower talks to them and off we go! Hauling ass down the runway, lift off, in the air, and up into the clouds we go…..okay, not that quick as it was a big plane with lots of stuff inside having to get off the ground, but my gosh, it was all AWESOME! The coolest part, seeing The Palms and the 2nd Palm that was a flop b/c it is already sinking into the ocean..but I am sure the oil tycoons will figure out how to raise it and make it as successful as The Palms! Also, cool to see the Burj al Khalifa from the air. Although fun up in the front, opted to get some sleep and head back to my hammock!
Back to the grind tomorrow, smiling with the countdown calendar of 77 more days in the sand (sorry family, misinformation from my co-worker)! No photo as not permitted inside the cockpit or aircraft!
Sand Through My Toes 
It was great to see you. Glad you had a safe trip back. Just count those days down and it won’t be long!!!
Kelly, missed you at our soiree on Friday! I know the next few weeks will fly by. We all look forward to your safe return and send you warm wishes, well not too warm, you are in the desert 🙂
What do you mean no photos inside the cockpit….you should have told them you knew me!!! LtCol Chick Smith!!!! And I guess the politically correct name would be the flight deck! BTW, say hello to your Dad and Dee for me when to talk to them next time.
Uncle Craig