Pray for Japan

This whole tragedy has just been horrific. Of course, when something like this {earthquake and the tsunami that followed} happens anywhere, it's horrific...but this time, it just hit so close to home.

We are very far away from the devastation...Okinawa is over 1,000 miles from the epicenter...but we are not far away from the people. The Japanese people hold such a special place in our hearts. We have fallen in love with this society. Had this happened over two years ago, before we moved here, it would have been just one more tragedy on the news that you watch and feel horrible about, but disconnected from. Not this time.

But even in the face of such a tragedy, the Japanese people demonstrate such strength of character and compassion and bravery. I am in awe of it...and I love them even more.

I just wanted to share some of the things we've been reading and watching. Firstly, an article which didn't surprise me in the least, about the behavior in the aftermath of this disaster. You can read about it here.

Secondly, you can read about some of what our American military forces from Okinawa have been doing to help by clicking here. This is written by my friend, Mary. Since 75% of the American military bases in Japan are on Okinawa, they are in a great position to be able to respond quickly. The day after the earthquake, things kicked into high gear, and so many of our military friends (Cliff included) found themselves in a pretty intense environment, working 14 hour days, 7 days a week, to organize the response. I'm so grateful that we could be of help in this way.

Lastly, I want to share this video, most likely produced to calm the fears of children...but it sure spells out things very simply for anyone. Remember, animation is used for anything here, not just for kids.

I realize the subject matter is very serious and no laughing matter, but I just couldn't help but enjoy the little glimpse into Japanese culture that this provided...the animation, the unabashed talk of poo, the solidarity that it wants to evoke.

Please continue to pray for this country. They are amazingly strong, and I believe Japan's Prime Minister is correct when he said, "We will rebuild Japan from scratch." I believe they will do it.

Celebration at Anzuya Koza

The evening Cliff returned from Korea, we planned to go out as a family to celebrate. Cliff had been living in a tent in the snow, eating MRE's and tray rations for almost a month, so we wanted to take him wherever he wanted to go. Coree was at a soccer game with a friend, but the rest of us were determined to press on.

The tsunami warning kind of threw things off, however...because that made everything on the water basically off limits. I scoured my brain trying to think of the perfect place (I hear more recommendations than he does). We had settled on Krishna's Indian food since it was already pretty late and Krishna's is just around the corner. But as we were turning, this place came to my mind and I said, "or we could go to the water restaurant." The boys, practically in unison said, "YES!" To which Cliff replied, "What's the water restaurant?" Could it be true? In the 1.5 years since Cliff has been back from his deployment, have I not once taken him to the water restaurant? It's true...we hadn't been back since. So, Anzuya Koza it is!



After stowing our shoes in the cubbies and climbing up the stairs...we walked across the glass to our booth, praying we wouldn't plummet into the depths below.



Can you see the people in the room below (over Jake's shoulder)?



They were having a great time. There were speeches and applause. I found myself wondering how they were connected and what they were celebrating.



See the shoes on the step? They are slippers provided by the house, in case you need to leave the room and don't want to put your own shoes back on. See the cabinet on the left? Those are the cubbies which hold your shoes.



Under the table shot. Glass floor.



Jake pointed behind me to get my attention and this is what I saw when I turned around.
"Pssst!".....



Heeheehee...I just couldn't help myself. He ducked back into his cubicle so quick when he saw my camera.



The food started arriving on gorgeous dishes. They seem to have stepped things up a notch since we were here almost 2 years ago.



Yummy avocado salad...



Beautiful roll...



Gyoza. A Japanese staple.



Troy had to get the ray-fin fries again. I couldn't bring myself to eat ray jerky. Just no.



Patrick had been dreaming about these bacon-wrapped quail eggs since last time.



Nomnomnom....



Jake can't quite decide if there's something else calling to him.



But Patrick feels pretty satisfied.



Suddenly, the waiter appears with more. Evidently, we were starving when we ordered, because there was a TON of food...



Except, see this lovely platter of sashimi? This gorgeous, $30 platter of sashimi? We didn't order it. We didn't know quite how to handle it with the language barrier...so we just ate it. Literally. {Then Cliff suggested it was something they pulled on all Americans, which made us laugh at the thought. More likely a picture-menu, pointing misunderstanding.}



The platter included so many interesting sea vegetables and other greens I had never seen. These little sprouts have a very strong flavor. I couldn't tell if I liked them or not.



But these, I love. Shiso leaves have a very strong flavor that you either love our hate. I think they're pure awesome.



Jake was thrilled with the bonus science lesson in shrimp dissection.



It didn't matter that we were all absolutely stuffed, dessert just seemed necessary. Troy opted (again) for the chewy, mochi-covered ice cream)



Yum. If you like that kind of thing.



Jake had the honey toast...which really seemed to have been kicked up a notch since our last visit.



Jake agrees.



The rest of us opted for this gorgeous chocolate lava cake with the classy cornflakes.



Loved the special spoon Cliff got with his dessert.



That's what I'M talkin' about! And the cornflakes really did add something nice to it.



Suddenly we heard familiar Sanshin music. At first we thought it must be a dinnertime show. Well, it was...but a private one. In one of the booths across from us, a group was having a jam session. All of the neighbors within our view seemed to enjoy it as much as we did.



As we were leaving, one of the sanshin players (who must have seen my enthusiasm) stopped us and motioned to ask if we'd like a photo with his instrument. Now that's my kind of guy!



I had a request of my own, which they seemed to happily oblige.

More Random Gate 2 Photos

I had an appt. just off of Gate 2 St. this morning, and right as I got there, the girl I was meeting called to say she was still on her way. I took the opportunity to wander aimlessly, snapping photos, as stores opened and people prepared for their work day.




I love this old skylight. There is so much detail in the iron work and the stained glass...for something that is hardly even noticed, I'm sure. Even though you can't really see it, there's lots of dust and cobwebs. It looks kind of spooky in person.


I just have a thing for narrow alleys. Don't know why.



Thought this mosaic was pretty fantastic.



And so was the Sing Cake "Factry." I bet I could get something Cake Wrecks would be proud to feature from here.



Love this little Mom and Pop shop. And those bananas look WAY better than the commissary's.



I really just wanted a picture of these old buildings, but the cooks stepped out just as I snapped the picture. Thank you.



Whenever I come here and see these old buildings, with half of their shops closed as this area of town dies off...I can't help but wonder what it was like "back in the day" during the post-war occupation, when this was a bustling hub of activity for the military. Not all good, that's for sure...the area didn't get its seedy reputation for nothing. Still, it's so sad to see it turn into a near ghost town. I just love history...including the places that tell the stories.

World Peace and Inner Rage

Warning: This post is kind of rantish. Normally I like to keep it shiny and happy here (with the occasional mommy breakdown). If shiny and happy is what you are after, you may want to skip this one. My intention is not to offend anyone...(well, anyone other than the whiny, progressive, clueless elitists of which I write.) but I realize my tone here might kill your buzz, regardless. Fair warning.

I've been kind of an emotional wreck today. It's a combination of things, I'm sure...Cliff being gone, the cold, rainy, gray day outside, etc. (and by etc., I'm sure I mean hormones). Before I continue, I'd like you to read a couple of articles:

First, this one. It's short. I'll wait.

Then, this one. It's longer...but please {if you love me} read it. It means that much. I'll still wait....




You back? Thanks for reading those. Maybe now you'll better understand my frame of mind, and the ranting which will now commence.

After reading the first one, I just felt rage. Well, rage, and like I just wanted to throw up. I'm serious. What the expletive is wrong with our country? Or at least with the elite "progressives" in it? I have to say I am a political moderate...I have friends all along the spectrum whom I love dearly and AGREE WITH to some degree or another, I'm sure...but can we not all agree that someone who sacrificed a whole, healthy body and normal life for the freedom of your whiny, elite, progressive behind...deserves some respect?

Listen, you don't have to agree with bringing ROTC back onto your campus...but what these snot-nosed kids did was absolutely shameful and pathetic. {Nevermind that ROTC is a fantastic, self-supporting, leader-developing program...which would help to mold and shape *the very same low-income individuals you claim that the military preys upon*, into the leaders of the future. I hear complaints about how the officer ranks are so lacking in diversity...well here's a missed opportunity to remedy that! ROTC produces leaders.}

And while we are on the topic...let's take a look at the issue of the military "preying" on low income communities. I thank my LUCKY STARS for my (almost) five years in the Navy. It was life-changing. I am not exaggerating when I say it changed my destiny. {Not the least of which was meeting and marrying my husband...BUT THAT'S NOT EVEN WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!} When I joined the Navy, I WAS one of those low-income people mentioned on the sign in the picture! I was recruited out of an inner-city neighborhood, thank you very much! I had ZERO prospects for college...and about as much self-esteem. Since I'm laying it all out there for you guys...here it is...I BARELY graduated high school. I had to go to night school to get enough credits to graduate. I had no money, a part time job at the mall and divorced parents, neither of whom could afford to put me through college.

But I'll tell you what I did have...I had a legacy. Like the beautiful (and pitiful) quote in the second article..."Service to and sacrifice for the nation have become a legacy affair for a relatively small number of families." But even at that, this legacy really meant nothing to me, until I did something to claim it. I entered boot camp with not a lot of prospects, no direction, little self esteem, but a desire to follow in my grandfather's big footsteps. I left boot camp with the realization that I mattered...that there was a big world out there, and that I had the opportunity to invent myself in it. And I did...boy did I ever! If I had stayed where I was, I can promise you...the ending (or at least the journey) would have been much different.

This same scenario happens each time a Sailor (or any service member) graduates boot camp. She becomes part of something bigger. He is exposed to people from all walks of life and learns to work with and appreciate their differences. I realize I'm romanticizing something which is much grittier, but at it's very core, this is the truth. What the heck is wrong with that? I resent being painted as a victim. I resent being presented as someone who was preyed upon or taken advantage of by the military because I had no other options. NO...I was given THE GIFT of options by the Navy, thank you very much. THE GIFT of learning just how capable I am...that no one else gets to define me but me. It's an amazing thing that happens within the walls of that open squad bay. The process of having your "old self" stripped away to nothing so that the "new you" can be built back up.

{Trivia: I remember a friend from high school telling me how sorry she felt for me that I was missing out on the "college experience" she was having (up the street from her childhood home). I didn't have the heart to tell her how sorry I felt for her (and still do) as she is still trapped in the same town by the same family whom she allows to abuse and define her. I might be having a different (and extended) college experience...but I'll take the life-altering lessons the Navy gave me, PLUS the money for college...over frat party life any day.}

{More Trivia: I think this is the main reason I loved my job in military education so much. I got to see these young Sailors, who were just like I was, who had come from similar circumstances and joined the military to "be somebody"...and I had the privilege of helping them to become even better. They were serving their country, and I got to help them through the process of letting their country return the favor with an education. Sweet work, if you can get it.}

Am I ignoring the fact that some of these service members pay a very high price? That some lose limbs? Give the ultimate sacrifice? Absolutely not. I can't even fathom what it is like to make that sacrifice...or to love someone who has made that kind of sacrifice. But I would rather myself, my husband or my child die FIGHTING for something better, than so many other options out there. There are FAR worse things to lose a spouse or child to than death...especially death in the service of something greater than yourself.

In the second article, it was like Adm. Mike Mullen expressed the thoughts I had years ago but couldn't even find words for, when he said, "I worry that we could wake up one day and that the American people will no longer know us and we won't know them." or when Ike Skelton said, "Those who protect us are psychologically divorced from those who are being protected."

Like a horrific flashback, it brings me back to a time in the early days of OEF and OIF, where we were experiencing deployment after deployment...where the price our family was paying was high...and it felt like people were just going about their daily lives, completely unaware of what our reality was. Like we were living in a different country within our own neighborhoods and schools. I found myself tiring of having to muster polite responses to their platitudes. If I had to hear "we support the troops but not the war" or "they just need to bring them all home" in those pitiful, condescending tones, directed at me {their token military friend}; from one more complacent, San-Diego-BMW-driving, quasi-peacenik...I was going to forget my manners. It felt SOOO wrong, that I should have to endure that. To say goodbye to my husband again and again, to steel my kids for the pain and uncertainty ahead, hold our whole world together until he returned...and "play nice" with my "progressive" neighbors who obviously had no idea (or didn't care) whom or what provided them the luxury not to worry, while they thought their progressive thoughts. I can't explain it...other than to say it was soul-crushing on days that I allowed it to be.

So today, I find myself very reflective. Wallowing a bit in that challenging experience...feeling so much empathy for those still in the thick of it (both on the front lines, and trying to hold down the home-front for their families). But I also came to the realization that it is easy for us here on Okinawa to forget that so many military families are still living this experience in their communities back in the USA. It hit me that we don't have that problem here. We are surrounded, day in and day out, by other American military families. Not all of them are in the military...there are civilians (school teachers and asst'd. contractors) but they are all still part of the same basic mission. We all pretty much "get it" with few exceptions. I realized that this was another benefit of living here that makes it hard to want to leave....but isn't that a sad statement? That we would "feel the love" here on foreign soil, more so than in Anytown, USA?

Anyway, this is just one example of why I shouldn't read the news while Cliff is gone. I need to stay focused on doing what I need to do. I really don't normally dwell on these thoughts...it's much easier not to, but whenever I read articles like these, I can really let my emotions get the better of me.

God bless Anthony Maschek, The Kelly family, and all of our service members and their families who are currently fighting the fight, or who have already paid the price for us in so many ways. I promise, I will never forget.

"Freedom is not free, but the United States Marine Corps will pay most of your share."---Ned Dolan

It's Marine Corps Ball Season Again

This post will just serve as a composite of the Marine Corp Balls we attended this November. They are all alike in program and menu (including that wooden, frosted cake, into which they just insert one square of real cake, under the word "Corps,", and frost over again each night for the cake ceremony). Even with that, they do vary by how dynamic (or not) the speaker is, and by the guests in attendance.

The ceremony is my favorite part, actually. I just love a marching band, so this gets my heart pumping.



This year we were fortunate enough to have an actual bag piper. In the USA, this would be a no brainer. On Okinawa...it's a special treat.



Mmm...mmm! Love that pomp and circumstance.



Sweet!



Gorgeous, even if not entirely real. There's enough buttercream there to scent the whole room with it, though.



The first slice is given to the guest of honor (he's not in this pic), then it's handed to the oldest Marine present (we're getting closer and closer in age to the oldest present every year)...



Then the next piece goes to the youngest Marine present. All this is happening while the emcee is reading off the stats of when and where they were born, when they enlisted, etc., while the Marines' Hymn plays softly in the background. This guy pictured...was Troy's age. Yep. Little bit of a reality-slap.



And there they go....



Of course, we're all riveted by the speakers...



From the looks of it, this one was pretty good. I'm pretty sure it was the Deputy Wing Commander this night. He was funny.



Each speaker is given a gift. I imagine over time, these guys get quite the collection.



Wow. I think this is a coat rack? He told his wife they were going to put it in the baby's room.

So then, after the formalities are over, it's time for the real party to start. Remember how I mentioned it varies by those in attendance? Yeah...I wasn't lying. Some balls are pretty straight-laced, but in a fun way...


And others...not so much.



Some of them, you have to fight for space on the dance floor...



And watch carefully for the spilled drinks.



I couldn't resist this shot. This guy is feelin' fine, evidently, and decided to march along with the piper after his little bonus, half-time performance. It reminded me of one of the balls we attended at Camp Pendleton years ago. Cliff was saying the prayer (the reason we have to attend so many...Cliff and his whole "will pray for food" gig) and there was a Marine who had hit cocktail hour pretty hard. He evidently was feelin' the spirit and decided to pray along with Cliff, much to the discomfort of everyone around him. Turns out, he was leaving the Corps the following week, and wanted to go out with a bang. I wonder if the GySgt I saw screaming in his face in the lobby afterward was what he had in mind? That was the same ball where a young, female Lance Corporal lost her balance, fell backward...and literally into the lap of the CO's wife, who I was chatting across the table with at the time. You just can't make this stuff up.



While I love to dance the night away, I have to come to the reality that we are now in the category of people they are wishing will leave as early as possible so the party can really start. That's OK. I'm thrilled to have this guy all to myself, anytime!