Sunday, May 26 Traveling Home

Sunday morning we arose early for our 6:15 a.m. prearranged pickup for the airport.  As with everything else, the driver was on time and we had a  nice uneventful ride to the Rome airport.  We left from Terminal 3.  By the time we walked to our gate, we had time to pick up a coffee, a breakfast. and get ready to board.  The plane was filled, every seat it seemed.  We had the same seats as going, the bulkhead seats.  The purser on this crew was kind of "all business," which was good.  We had 3 meals snacks during the day and we arrived in DFW at around 2:00 p.m.

People mover at the Rome airport, I think?

It was an uneventful flight.  I watched a couple of movies (The Greatest Showman and an Italian comedy) and Patty listened to an audiobook.  We dozed off and on, talked off and on, and started turning our minds toward home.

Upon arriving in DFW, things went as smooth as silk.  It's a long walk from the plane to the Passport Control, but once we were there, we checked in at theGlobal Entry kiosk, which once again, other than figuring out which direction to orient your passport in the reader, everything was as easy as pie.  There was no line whatsoever for us.  Then I stayed with Patty as she picked up her luggage which was right there!  This did not happen for me when I flew through Chicago or Newark or DFW or Philadelphia so what a pleasant surprise!  God really blessed us in so many of these ways on this trip.  Everything worked out perfectly!

Patty's connecting flight was in Terminal A and I was in B so near the TSA security checkpoint, we took a selfie and hugged good bye.  It was actually kind of anti-climactic and non dramatic considering the dramatic, emotional, life-changing trip we had been on, but it was time to part.




At the point she was entering, there was no TSA pre-check line, and I really didn't want to take off my shoes, dig out my computer, and my 3-1-1 bag so I said I would take the 2 minute walk to the TSA pre-check line.  After starting off in the wrong direction, a kind TSA agent told me to walk this way and look for the wishbone. Whaat?  But sure enough:

Patty caught her connecting flight through Phoenix and Grand Junction; I caught mine to Dayton and actually slept on the plane!  I arrived in Dayton, caught the shuttle van to my car in the parking lot, picked up a sandwich at Arby's and was home before dark --- by 8 p.m.  Even started a load of laundry.

I slept well in my own bed, dreaming of Italy, and thankful for all of you who were willing to share my adventures, pray for me, believe with me.

I am so thankful to My Bella Vita Travel who planned our trip so precisely.  Cherrye Moore and her staff are professional, kind, patient, and everything you would want.  I had not used a travel agent/agency before but it was fantastic.  We didn't find any relatives on this trip, but we got some further information to add to our records and maybe someday we will.  Though we didn't find blood relatives, we definitely found a family.

The person I want to thank most of all is my lovely sorella (sister) Patty.  We traveled well together, laughed together, enjoyed things together.  She was so so thankful that she was doing this trip that she just was a happy camper all the time!  Where shall we go next, dear sister and friend?

Arrevederci!