Kimi2464 Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 I am in a bind! Ok, well if you have been living under a rock for the past year then you would be the only one that didn't know that there was a war going on....Well, In this war I knew well over 15 guys that went over a year ago in March. Out of that 15+ guys I am best friends (inseparable} with 3 of them. It has been a really hard deployment for me. Not knowing where they are, if they are hurt, and more frightenly...If they are coming home at all. Well, I have been keeping touch with my 3 best friends, and in every letter and phone call I get, I hear "I can't wait to see you, we will be home soon, I will email you before we leave Iraq so that you can be at the Army base when we come in." One of the guys wants me to go home with him to see his family for when he receives leave. Well, If you know anything about military...then you know that the only thing that stays the same is change. So, my boss made me pick a week for my vacation, so since I was force to choose then I went with the week that all three of them had told me that they would be home {Mid March} So, I thought this was a good thing and I email the guy I am going on leave with and told him that I got the week off and that I already booked the plane tickets, because he had told me that right when he got back to the base then we were leaving to go to Texas where he is from. So, then he emails me back and said that they would be home mid march but that they were informed yesterday that they would be unable to take leave until May! Ugh! Changes Changes Changes! So, I was like ok....I can figure out what to do with the tickets. So I decided since the plane tickets are non refunable then I have to go. And I am bringing a friend. Which all works out because I used to live in Texas too. So, I have close friends out there that I haven't seen since I moved here (9 years} so I decided I would still go and visit my friends so that I don't bite the cost of 2 plane tickets. Then when he can take leave in May then I would go back with him. So this plan was all good until I got an email from one of the other guys confirming the date of their arrival....So here comes the problem....... I will not be here for their return to the Army base because of the trip to Texas. I feel terrible, not only because I will not be able to be there right when they come in, but I have been looking forward to seeing them and throwing a huge welcome home party...I just want to spend as much time as possible with all of them. This homecoming has been on my mind since they left and each day I prayed for their safe return. I feel like I am such a terrible person/friend because of this. I miss them with all my heart but if I don't go on this trip then I will bite it on $359 just for my ticket, and I am sure if I back out then the other person will not go either, leaving me with another unpaid out of pocket ticket. I know all of this probably sounds selfish, but really it is a problem for me. I get teary eyed just thinking that I won't be here to welcome them home. It means alot to all of us, I know it does. So, I guess my question is.... Should I just bite the dust on the tickets and be here for their homecoming, or should I still go to Texas. I am hurting over this whole situation. I am broken hearted and I know I sound selfish, If you have any solutions to this problem or maybe a plan to clone me to be in 2 places at once....I would appreciate any comments you may have. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME! Link to post Share on other sites
HokeyReligions Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 Put an ad in the paper and see if you can sell the tickets or exchange them for a different date. You might lost some money - but maybe not all of it. I've exchanged non-refundable tickets before in a hardship case. You may be able to explain it to the airline and pay a smaller fee to exchange them. Link to post Share on other sites
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