All packed and ready to go, I headed to the airport. I was a couple hours early so I found my gate and then headed off to the lounge....I NEEDED A DRINK!  Something...anything to calm my nerves!  It was like a countdown......in about 11 hours I would finally meet the woman I have fallen totally in love with!  So many questions ran through my head...will she like me?  will we get along?  will this plane crash and then I will never meet her!  hehehehe

After what felt like days, it was time to board the plane.  Well this was it, no turning back now!  After two whiskeys, I was still a bundle of nerves but now just a little drunk!  The plane would land in Amsterdam in about 7 hours!  Jesus, I would be in Europe!  Wow, the Netherlands...unbelievable....never in my life had I ever thought I would go to Europe!  We would be flying all night and land at noon! Well then you have to add 6 hours to EST...how confusing!

The flight was long but the airlines made it go by quick!  They were always feeding us...playing something on the television, and once in awhile showing on the television screen where the plane was....omg we had flown over Iceland and heading over the Atlantic...that big ocean the separates me from my woman!  There was a young couple sitting next to me and I could tell they were very much in love...young love...how wonderful!  I felt so bad for her though, she was more afraid to fly than me and was having a very hard time.  He held her alot and would comfort her, but it didn't seem to help that much!  After dinner I tried to sleep...dozed off and on, waking up every half an hour or so to check the time.  OK...only a couple more hours and I would be in Amsterdam!  They started to give us breakfast and it was finally getting light outside.   I glanced out the window and saw the sun rising...what a beautiful site!  OMG only five more hours to meet my Stina!  We were now flying over Ireland...just about an hour left....they showed our position up on the screen...closer and closer to our final destination!  Finally!!! we are over Amsterdam!!!!!!!  Then they announced we were in a holding pattern waiting for our final approach!!! I wanted to yell...just land this plane, I need a smoke!!! I have that bad habit and this was a non-smoking flight...I was so nervous again....OMG just a few more hours and I will be in Sweden!!!  All announcements came in Dutch first and then in English.  FINALLY...we are landing!!!  As the plane touched down I looked out the window...straining to see what the Netherlands looked like...how much different is Europe compared to the United States?  I will find out any minute!

Let me off this plane!  Wow what a long flight and I felt so grubby and wanted a shower!  Oh no, I probably look terrible!  After getting off the plane I walked over to a smoking area and lit one up! I wanted to relax a bit and just look around.  All the signs were in English too so it wasn't confusing.  I looked out the big glass window, it was a sunny day...and I could see traffic heading down an expressway...omg the cars looked so different!  I WAS IN THE NETHERLANDS!!! I WAS IN EUROPE!!!! Just four more hours and I will be looking into Stina's eyes!!!!  Those eyes that look so beautiful in the picture she sent me.  OK, now I have two hours and then my next flight will be to Sweden!!!  I needed to talk to Stina so bad...needed to hear her wonderful voice!  So I headed off to find my gate and a phone!

They switched gates, but I found it with no problem...ok now a phone...there was one!  OMG this was so confusing...the instructions were in English too, but it didn't tell me how to make an international call!  After several tries, I figured I needed some help!  There was an officer at customs...aaahhhh...he would know!  He was very kind and told me how to make the call, his accent sounded like he was from Great Britian.  OK....now to try it again!  It worked and finally Stina's phone was ringing!  AAAAHHHHhhhh her wonderful voice on the other end!!!!  Now it was just three hours away...and I could hear she was as nervous as I was!  We talked for about a half hour...both so excited too...finally we are meeting!

There was a little cafe so I headed there to get something to drink and rest before my next flight.  I sat for a little bit and watched the people pass by...no one was speaking English!  This was so strange, I had no idea what they were saying!  Of course, most were able to speak English, but it was not their first language.  All the people I spoke to were so kind and I knew as soon as I opened my mouth to speak, they knew I was an American!  I wondered how I would be treated....did they hate American's?  What did the world think of us?  To my surprise and delight I was treated well and I could tell some liked trying to speak English!

Here we go!!! They are calling for us to board the plane to Gothenburg!  OMG only two hours and I will meet Stina!!!!  OMG MY NERVES!!!!  I found my seat on the plane...buckled my seat belt....ok lets go!!! I am ready!!  I just want to get there!  The stewardesses on this flight were quite charming, and the one explaining how to activate your life vest in case of emergencies, couldn't stop laughing...she kept getting ahead of the guy who was announcing the instructions while she did the demonstration.  This sort of put me at ease and calmed my nerves...they were funny!  OMG now all the announcements were in Swedish and then English...all the different languages was in a way overwhelming....so much to see...so much to learn!!

I was in the air again! This time though it was just a little over an hour and I would be in Sweden with Stina!  I was starting to feel the effects of flying..OH NO...must be jet lag!  I wanted to be fresh and my mind clear when I met Stina!  I glanced at my watch...OMG..only a half hour!!!!!! Now I was really nervous!!!!  Had to go to the restroom to see how bad I looked!  I looked at myself in the mirror...oh no....i looked like I have just flown half way around the world!  Took some cold water and washed my face...aaahhh that helped to get my senses back!  Back to my seat and as I sat down I looked out the window.....THERE WAS SWEDEN!!!!  Rolling hills....wonderful big trees....lakes everywhere!  What a beautiful sight!!!

WE ARE ON FINAL APPROACH!!! CLEARED FOR LANDING!!!! THIS WAS IT!!!!!! I had waited so long for this moment!!! I could see the terminal....my Stina was there waiting for me!!!!  As I walked off the plane, I looked at my watch 3.45 ...we were on time!  One more hurdle....customs!  After a few routine questions at customs they passed me through...OMG so close!!! Only moments away now!!!!  I walked to the escalator to go down and claim my luggage.  I glanced around the airport wondering if I could see her...looking back and forth...can't see her yet!  It didn't take long and the luggage started rolling out on the conveyor belt...after a few moments...there were my bags!!!! YESSSS!!!!  I grabbed my bags and I was so nervous I fumbled with my luggage...knocking my bag over twice!  There were the doors....and just beyond them was Stina!  I pulled together all the courage I could find from inside and went past the doors!  On the other side I looked back and forth thru the crowd trying to see her!  OMG where was she?  It was only minutes, but felt longer and THERE SHE WAS walking towards me!!!!!!!!  OMG I was taken aback she looked so wonderful!!!!!!!!!  She was a little taller than I had imagined....she looked so nice and tanned....her features were so handsome!  As she walked closer I looked deep into those beautiful blue eyes and knew this was the woman I have fallen so in love with!!!!!  We hugged and right away I just melted into her arms!!! OMG she felt so good and smelled so wonderful!!!!!!  Then she kissed me and OOOhhhhhh those lips! Everything felt so right!  I was still so nervous and could sense she was too!  But the moment we had talked about for so long had finally happened!!!!!!  Then she pulled her hand out from behind her back and there was a single beautiful red rose!  I was so happy I almost started crying!

Now I really needed a smoke!  OMG I was still so nervous!  Stina had brought along two friends for support...Berit and Margarit.  She introduced me to them and they were so wonderful!  I had heard about them and it was so good to put faces with the names!  Both said welcome to Sweden!  Their warm eyes and smiles told me they really meant it and were happy to meet me too.  I was amazed at how well they spoke English!  We sat down in a little cafe at the airport and Stina went to get us something to drink.  I lit up a cigarette and talked with them...I could feel they were nervous too!!!  When Stina returned I think they realized that we wanted to be alone and so they said, "well we should be leaving now!"  I cannot tell you how much I appreciated their kindness...the Swedish are wonderful and caring people!

We walked out of the airport...arm and arm...kissing once or twice hehehe I lost count and didn't care...I just realized how happy I was!!!!!!  Then Stina turned to me and said, "OH NO...where did I park the car?"