Monday, January 11th, Lee began his leave period at 6:45 a.m., six hours earlier than in Puerto Rico. Since that very moment, he began his "adventure." With no confirmation of the military flight, he headed to Hickam AFB in Hawaii, which is the Air Force Base that he would fly out from. To his surprise, he sadly found out that they had canceled the flight. He would have to wait 24 additional hours to take the next flight!!! At first, he decided just to stay at the base overnight. After eight hours of standing-by, he grew very bored, so he decided to go back to his friends' Heather & AJ's house. His friend Tammy drove him back to their house, and there he spent the night.
The next day, Tuesday, January 12th, he made some phone calls, and had some more news. They had delayed today's flight another three hours. Meanwhile Maggy was half a world away, seated next to the phone, waiting for more updated news. At noon, Lee was at the AFB again. This time it seemed that everything was starting to take shape. Still having no confirmation, but at least he was there, waiting, ready to board that flight of his dreams. He kept encouraging Maggy to be positive and trust him, that everything would be alright, and he would be with her the next day.
That evening, he called again, he was very happy and so excited, because he had his confirmation already. The flight was on schedule and he would be boarding that plane in an
hour, and finally getting on his way to New Jersey (McGuire AFB). During the next nine hours, he would be high in the sky, wide awake and dreaming of all the wonderful
things he was expecting to find. He was crossing the Pacific Ocean, and all the United States. On an island in the Atlantic Ocean, was Maggy awake all night, praying and hoping that her jelly bean was going to make it safely.
The next day, Wednesday, January 13th, very early in the morning, Maggy's best friend, Yayi, was there at her house. She was as happy and excited as Maggy was. They were waiting for any news, making some calls for information, and drinking soda and coffee as never before. He he... When finally, Lee called, saying very excitedly that in ten minutes,
he would board a flight to Aguadilla, PR which should be there at 5:00 p.m. Nervousness, shouting, jumping and dancing, that was the scene at Maggy's home.
Everyone was happy and headed to the airport to meet at last her Jelly Bean.
