Unpredictable as the weather

Life in the military is never predictable. Just when you think you know what will happen next, something completely different happens. We have indeed been cancelled for flight today to Kotzebue. The Air Force Reserve, who will forever more be known as ARF to me, has decided to have us pack our suitcase and duffle bag and turn them in today. Take everything that you need to live and put it in a small backpack. There is a small window at 0430 tomorrow morning and they are going to attempt to fly out if safe. If they miss that window we will be in Anchorage for another couple of days. The C-130s that are supposed to be our ride will have another ride and we will have to scramble to find someone else. No pressure. So they want to pack all of our stuff tonight on pallets so they can move faster in the morning. How does one decide what you can't live without for 3 days? My priorities are clean underwear, my camera, and my laptop and not necessarily in that order. If we miss this window of opportunity we won't be getting the luggage back. Decisions decisions.

Don't know how many of you have flown on a C-130. Its seating is along the fuselage and there is a middle row as well. So you sit there with a person on both sides of you so close that you don't worry about falling over during turbulence. There is someone across from you so your knees are locked in place. There is no overhead storage bin and the backpack you have to put your life into must fit under the small jumpseat you are occupying.

I have figured out from ADVON team that there is limited cell phone access in the villages. No voice mail or text available. There is some internet but I am not sure how often I will be able to access. Hopefully enough to write the daily play by play.

Time to pack and get down to the bare essentials.