This is a blog post I really do not want to write, but I think I need to write. Life has been so busy with moving and wedding planning lately, it has been easy not to think about the sadness of leaving, and how close I am to it. But now that the household shipments are gone, and I am in a lodging room on base with no “chores” to do, I don’t have much excuse not to face how I feel about leaving England next week.
Two years, 11 months, and 8 days ago, I landed at Heathrow with my eyes as big as saucers, nose pressed to the airplane window, taking in the fleet of British Airways jets and unfamiliar-looking cars and trucks driving around the airfield. I felt like I was landing in a new world, and couldn’t wait to start my “Big Adventure”. My friend Jose picked me up at the airport, and I fought to stay awake the whole 2-hour drive to Lakenheath, afraid to miss seeing a single thing. Because base lodging was full, I was checked in to a historic hotel in Lakenheath village, and I almost went through the roof with excitement when I saw the elegant English décor. I might as well have been checking into a castle.
Jose had a squadron softball game that night and offered to take me and introduce me to people, which of course I accepted. He suggested I take a nap until he came back to pick me up. Fat chance. I bolted for the door and wandered the village with my camera, taking in everything I possibly could, until it started raining and then hailing. I retreated to my hotel room, but sat on the windowsill watching the rain fall on the picturesque village street, wondering if I was in a dream. Two years, 11 months, and 8 days later… I still wonder that.
My assignment to Lakenheath was a dream come true from the moment I got the news, even though looking back, I had no idea of the life-changing opportunities and experiences I would have here. I remember sitting in my former commander’s office at Barksdale, shortly before I left, talking about my plans and goals for the assignment. Lt Col D was someone I looked up to and respected, and who encouraged the adventurous and independent side of me that I’m not sure I knew existed before. I told him that I was going to look for a travel buddy once I got here to sightsee with. He looked straight at me and said “Heidi, don’t wait. Don’t waste any opportunity you have to see the world, because you will never regret a single trip you take.”
I took him seriously, and never sat still for a moment that I thought could be better used exploring. Before I met Martin (who became my forever travel buddy!), my camera was the only companion I needed, and I refused to sit still with a whole big world out there to see. During my first few months here, I went to a castle or historic site almost every weekend. I went TDY to Germany, and got to see Neuschwanstein, my dream castle. I went TDY to France, and volunteered to work the night shift so I could go nearby castles during the day, sleeping just a few hours in the evenings.
Once Martin entered the picture, Lakenheath took on even more significance as the place that I met, fell in love with, and became engaged to my future husband. The memories we made traveling all over Europe together will be treasured as some of the first bonds in our growing relationship. How many couples can remember their first two years together in terms of sunny Spanish beaches, snorkeling on the coast of Greek islands, riding four-wheelers through the desert in Morocco, and so many more adventures that we were blessed to share with each other?
Have you ever felt so connected to a place that you just felt like you belonged there, like you were meant to be there all along? Like every time you look around and take it all in, your heart feels like it is so full of beauty and joy and amazement that it might explode because it can’t be contained? That is how I feel about England, and I think the hardest thing about leaving is being afraid I may not find that anywhere else. I spent so long being jealous of other people who got to live my dream, and then I actually got the chance to live it myself… and I don’t want to give it up now.
Two weeks ago, I ran my favorite 5-mile route through Bury St Edmunds on a sunny Saturday morning. I didn’t take my iPod, just decided to run and take in the scenery. I ran past houses and cottages hundreds of years old. I ran through the bright blooming flowerbeds and the 1000-year-old abbey ruins in Abbey Gardens. I ran on a dirt path past fields of long grass rippling in the wind. I ran past sheep grazing in the sun. I ran past groups of people heading into the town for Market Day. I didn’t intend for it to be my last run in Bury, but two days later, a minor back injury from lifting weights sidelined me from running. At first I was frustrated and upset that I didn’t get to have a “last run” in the town that I considered home here. But when I really thought about it, what better run to remember than the one I had already done? Even now that I am cleared to run again, I’m going to stay on base and leave that last beautiful, perfect morning run in Bury at the front of my memory.
Though there were ups and downs at work in the last 3 years, I will truly miss being a part of the 48th Fighter Wing. I grew exponentially as a person and an officer though my experiences here. I went from not even knowing the structure of a Wing (my first assignment was a tenant unit), to being involved with almost every function and office on base. I saw senior leaders actually make decisions based on information I gave them. I got to lead a weather unit for the largest international flying exercise in the world, Red Flag. I found many mentors to watch and learn from, and gained the confidence to make tough decisions and stand up for the right way to do things. I was called in the middle of the night to help plan the first wave of a real strike mission. Being a part of the Operations Group has been a crazy ride, but one I will remember for the rest of my career.
Though I am leaving England a week from tomorrow, I have to remind myself that “Heidi’s Big Adventure” is not over. When the plane takes off from London, it will feel like part of my heart is being left on the ground… but I’ll be off to start a new adventure in Arizona, one that I am sure holds more joys and memories than I could ever imagine.
Two years, 11 months, and 8 days ago, I landed at Heathrow with my eyes as big as saucers, nose pressed to the airplane window, taking in the fleet of British Airways jets and unfamiliar-looking cars and trucks driving around the airfield. I felt like I was landing in a new world, and couldn’t wait to start my “Big Adventure”. My friend Jose picked me up at the airport, and I fought to stay awake the whole 2-hour drive to Lakenheath, afraid to miss seeing a single thing. Because base lodging was full, I was checked in to a historic hotel in Lakenheath village, and I almost went through the roof with excitement when I saw the elegant English décor. I might as well have been checking into a castle.
Jose had a squadron softball game that night and offered to take me and introduce me to people, which of course I accepted. He suggested I take a nap until he came back to pick me up. Fat chance. I bolted for the door and wandered the village with my camera, taking in everything I possibly could, until it started raining and then hailing. I retreated to my hotel room, but sat on the windowsill watching the rain fall on the picturesque village street, wondering if I was in a dream. Two years, 11 months, and 8 days later… I still wonder that.
My assignment to Lakenheath was a dream come true from the moment I got the news, even though looking back, I had no idea of the life-changing opportunities and experiences I would have here. I remember sitting in my former commander’s office at Barksdale, shortly before I left, talking about my plans and goals for the assignment. Lt Col D was someone I looked up to and respected, and who encouraged the adventurous and independent side of me that I’m not sure I knew existed before. I told him that I was going to look for a travel buddy once I got here to sightsee with. He looked straight at me and said “Heidi, don’t wait. Don’t waste any opportunity you have to see the world, because you will never regret a single trip you take.”
I took him seriously, and never sat still for a moment that I thought could be better used exploring. Before I met Martin (who became my forever travel buddy!), my camera was the only companion I needed, and I refused to sit still with a whole big world out there to see. During my first few months here, I went to a castle or historic site almost every weekend. I went TDY to Germany, and got to see Neuschwanstein, my dream castle. I went TDY to France, and volunteered to work the night shift so I could go nearby castles during the day, sleeping just a few hours in the evenings.
Once Martin entered the picture, Lakenheath took on even more significance as the place that I met, fell in love with, and became engaged to my future husband. The memories we made traveling all over Europe together will be treasured as some of the first bonds in our growing relationship. How many couples can remember their first two years together in terms of sunny Spanish beaches, snorkeling on the coast of Greek islands, riding four-wheelers through the desert in Morocco, and so many more adventures that we were blessed to share with each other?
Have you ever felt so connected to a place that you just felt like you belonged there, like you were meant to be there all along? Like every time you look around and take it all in, your heart feels like it is so full of beauty and joy and amazement that it might explode because it can’t be contained? That is how I feel about England, and I think the hardest thing about leaving is being afraid I may not find that anywhere else. I spent so long being jealous of other people who got to live my dream, and then I actually got the chance to live it myself… and I don’t want to give it up now.
Two weeks ago, I ran my favorite 5-mile route through Bury St Edmunds on a sunny Saturday morning. I didn’t take my iPod, just decided to run and take in the scenery. I ran past houses and cottages hundreds of years old. I ran through the bright blooming flowerbeds and the 1000-year-old abbey ruins in Abbey Gardens. I ran on a dirt path past fields of long grass rippling in the wind. I ran past sheep grazing in the sun. I ran past groups of people heading into the town for Market Day. I didn’t intend for it to be my last run in Bury, but two days later, a minor back injury from lifting weights sidelined me from running. At first I was frustrated and upset that I didn’t get to have a “last run” in the town that I considered home here. But when I really thought about it, what better run to remember than the one I had already done? Even now that I am cleared to run again, I’m going to stay on base and leave that last beautiful, perfect morning run in Bury at the front of my memory.
Though there were ups and downs at work in the last 3 years, I will truly miss being a part of the 48th Fighter Wing. I grew exponentially as a person and an officer though my experiences here. I went from not even knowing the structure of a Wing (my first assignment was a tenant unit), to being involved with almost every function and office on base. I saw senior leaders actually make decisions based on information I gave them. I got to lead a weather unit for the largest international flying exercise in the world, Red Flag. I found many mentors to watch and learn from, and gained the confidence to make tough decisions and stand up for the right way to do things. I was called in the middle of the night to help plan the first wave of a real strike mission. Being a part of the Operations Group has been a crazy ride, but one I will remember for the rest of my career.
Though I am leaving England a week from tomorrow, I have to remind myself that “Heidi’s Big Adventure” is not over. When the plane takes off from London, it will feel like part of my heart is being left on the ground… but I’ll be off to start a new adventure in Arizona, one that I am sure holds more joys and memories than I could ever imagine.
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