FIRST LEG UNDERWAY....

Around 7:00 this evening Tino left Atlanta, Ga for the first long leg of the trip. From Atlanta they will fly to Ireland (about an 8 hour flight), after a layover there he will be heading to Kuwait, then from Kuwait to Iraq. He may not be in contact with me for a few days, depending on communication access.

Unfortunately at the airport we didn't realize that I needed a pass to get through the gate with Tino to wait, so I had to run back to the ticket counter and try to get a pass. I waited for about 15 minutes at the counter and there was only one woman working and she kept leaving and going out back. Then I heard the final boarding call for his flight! I was beside myself, I wasn't able to get a pass, so I didn't get to even hug him goodbye!! I was hysterically crying with Tino on the other side of the window telling me it was alright and he would call me soon. I begged the lady at the door to let me through so I could at least hug him. They all saw he was in uniform, but they still wouldn't let me even say goodbye! He called me from the plane when he got situated but it just wasn't the same. At least it's good to know the airport employees are doing there jobs!

Please keep praying and sending good karma his (and all the guys) way!