Dear All,

Rima, Mira, Michael, and James are finally back in the US. Thank God. Their trip started under the Dbieh bridge in Lebanon at 6:00 am Beirut time Saturday Morning. They were hoping to get on the cruise ship Orient Queen that will get them to Cyprus. Unfortunately, after > 8 hours of waiting under the sun, the cruise ship was full and there was no room for them. They
were put on a hovercraft and had to wait for two hours before the craft took off. Rima said that the marines kept counting them over and over. I guess they were afraid to lose somebody overboard.

They were finally taken to the battleship “ Whidbey Island” that took them to Limasol Cyprus. A young marine by the name of Sean gave Rima her bunker bed. She took a picture of him and promised to send it to his fiancée Jessica in Florida. Thank you Sean. Rima said that someone’s kid fell off his bunker bed and broke his shoulder. She stayed up all night watching our kids. The marines gave them food and water and were super helpful, nice , and polite. Michael made a lot of friends and decided to join the marines. Finally in Cyprus, they were taken to the Nicosia fairground were they were given sheets and a folding bed. They had to wait for their name to be called. Rima did manage to find a Pizza Hut and the kids enjoyed the meal. Their name was called at 4:00 am.

Rima was asleep but, luckily a new made friend awakened her and off she went on a Ryan Air Charter flight to Ireland. They were allowed to stretch their legs at the airport. Michael bought a souvenir from the gift shop. Back on the plane they crossed the Atlantic and landed in Philadelphia at 3:20 pm EST on Monday. There they were met by the red cross that were very helpful. One guy of Lebanese origin stayed with Rima and the kids all the time.

Rima called me on her cell phone and said that she cannot take another connecting flight. There were no direct flights to Omaha. So we decided to have her go to our home away from home in Atlanta. The Delta Airlines agent was giving Rima a hard time initially but after a few tears and a couple of crying kids she was put on the 6:40 pm direct flight to Atlanta. They landed in Atlanta at 9:20 pm Monday evening.

There they were met by Hani and Nouhad. Michael was a little upset because he expected to see daddy but he was ok after he was given a chocolate bar. Hani and Nouhad took my family to there home. The kids fell asleep in the car and had to be carried to their beds. Rima took a much needed shower and sat down to have a delicious home cooked meal. Thank you very very much Hani and Nouhad.

After a good night sleep, Rima called me this morning and filled me in on her ordeal. She will be arriving into Omaha this evening on a delta flight at 6:49 pm. I can't wait. What an ordeal!!!

Khalil