Well, after 4 hours, they finally let us go home. But it was under tight security that we were allowed to get to our cars and then we had to be escorted off base.
I finally calmed down and did a little shopping with Mario at the BX. We made the best of the situation and split a Baskin Robins Sundae. We were able to watch the news during the lockdown and we made it to CNN news. They were incorrectly reporting that a shooter was on base and people were shot. The military police warned us not to believe what was on the news. They told us that what the news was reporting was incorrect and it hasn't happened "yet.". We laughed and they realized their mistake and corrected and said hopefully it won't happen at all.
At 2:00, they asked all military to leave the building so they could set up a system for getting us civilians and dependents off the base. I didn't like having Mario leave especially since we didn't really know what was going on. But he had to go direct traffic. They finally let the rest of us leave at 2:30.
The base was on lockdown until about 5 pm. The base commander made a statement to the news at 6 pm and said they never found a gunman or a weapon. So we don't know if it was false report or if he got away.
I was so thankful to finally leave. But I am grateful for opportunities like this because it gives me a chance to reflect on my life. Have I lived a good life? Do I have any regrets? I can honestly answer that I think I have lived a good life. My only concern if I died now would be my kids and of course Mario.
As I wrote that sentence, some bombs went off on base. Our whole house shook. Scared us to death. All the neighbors ran outside. Fortunately Mario was able to get through to the base right away. They said it was controlled detonation. Thanks for warning us!!! It is 11 at night and the whole neighborhood was scared. We honestly thought terrorists were attacking the base. Poor Mario told me that he experienced that many times in Afghanistan. How scary. I am not sure I will get much sleep after all this anxiety today.
I'm updating this now Saturday morning. More bombs went off at 1 am. Even though I knew what it was, it still startled me out of my sleep. I hope Mario never has to go back to Afghanistan, I don't wish that loud boom and ground shaking on anyone. It was so frightening. I got very little sleep.
2 comments:
I'm so thankful that you were with Mario when this happened. That's scary about the bombs that went off at 11 pm. It's make you feel good knowing that you have lived a good life with no regrets. Thankfully you are home now with your family.
So, you don't know anything yet about what happened? I guess they got the gunman?
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