You're in the Army now

Well, we're at the midway point of Travis' time in his Army basic training. We get (and try to send) letters about once a week. He describes the experience as 'a really messed up summer camp'. The food has been better than he thought, some of the training more fun than he expected, and the drill sergeants and fellow soldiers a mixed bag.

It's been odd having him gone for so long but we're trying to remind ourselves what an amazing adventure he's having, doing something he worked for a long time.

Oddly, or not, the Army has discovered social media and Travis unit has a Facebook with frequently posted photos of the soldiers in training. There is little description of the training however, that's an area I think the Army could do better with. It would be nice for us civilians to understand what the soldiers are doing and why. Seems like a missed opportunity to educate the public.

Home is the sailor, home from the sea

 We were able to make it to the Big Island for Steve's memorial, thankfully. A quick over and back trip, with half the time traveling, but it was worth it.

The service was at the local sailing club, where Steve kept his boat and where he was president (of the club) at one point. There were probably at least 100 people there, from every aspect of his life: sailing, Pōhakuloa Training Area (the Army base he was in charge of), Ironman World Championship (where he volunteered so many years), friends and neighbors.

Many people spoke, both lovingly and with humor.

I spoke as well and I'm glad I did. I didn't say anything at my mother's memorial and I always wished I had. I used no notes at Steve's service but here's an approximation of what I said:




  "I didn't have a very typical relatonship with my brother. I was still in diapers when he joined the Navy so I don't remember him as a member of the household. He'd come swooping back into our lives like a tropical storm, a force of nature that would suck all the air out of the room. 

It wasn't like having a brother -- Steve was so impossibly tall, handsome and full of life, so smart, it was like having a god for a brother. I pretty much thought he could do anything. In fact, I was surprised when he died. He told me he had not intention of dying and I believed him, wholeheartedly. 

Here's an example of our relationship: Before he left for Vietnam, we were all in the car one night, driving somewhere, and I noticed the full moon. Being very young and concerned with the why of things, I wanted to know how the moon could be so meager some nights and burn so brightly on other nights. So I asked. And Steve said "I did that." He explained that whenever the moon's light died down low he would go up into the sky and light it again with his cigarette lighter. 

Wherever he was, he explained, he would always be sure the moon was lit and wherever I was when I saw it burning bright, I could be sure he had done that just for me. 

So even though he was not a big brother in my house everyday, he always had that ability to convince me that he could achieve the impossible and whenever I needed anything he would be there for me. 

 

  Even though it was Hawaii, the trip was not a vacation. It was mostly about family. We had  a lovely time visiting with Steve's wife Jana and she welcomed us into her home with open arms. She invited some of Steve's closest friends over for dinner, so we could get to know them outside the awkwardness of the memorial and that was wonderful.

We cooked fresh fish and cut a pineapple off the vine for breakfast, all surprising and enjoyable things we could never do at home!

 

We were able to make a few short side visits as we made our way around the leeward side of the island. Out running errands we came across an overgrown and atmospheric Japanese cemetery hidden in a lava field pocked by lush plants.  

We stopped at an ancient Hawaiian sacred site by the sea that had been restored for historical purposes. And we made brief visits to both a coffee plantation and a honey farm, to sample local wares and get a glimpse into the agriculture there.  

There are better conditions under which to visit "Paradise" but since Hawaii is where Steve made his home more than 30 years ago,  that is where we went to say goodbye.