There are those noises again. It's time to go topside to get the images of most of the 1600 Crew out of my mind, so I can enjoy the Holiday Rooty-Toots. I am glad for my small family, gratefully go my job as a "whining boomer", and would have traded none of it, for anything.

Being at sea on a peaceful Christmas evening walking the flight decks, touching the planes that our lives were intertwined with. Some were like our guardian angels and would bring us home no matter what, some folded like a cheap suit and cost the lives of the men flying them in a split second. Very rarely was there an in-between, a grey area of life an death.

****************************************
Maybe that noise is the persistent knocking of my buddies going on liberty here in Tokyo...we're staying in the New Sanno Hotel, minutes from nowwhere and everywhere, depending on your point of view. I answer the door, in my Kong-acquired red-silk robe, a bottle of GlenLivet from my dad (well, he capitalized said bottle for this voyage) and tell me mates that, I am going exactly nowhere, since I have a better view of Mt Fuji than does the dried up old emporer himself. And I have every intention of watching the sun set, drink to celebrate it's passage and then hit the streets looking for sustenance at the Yaki-Niku stands or noodle stands.

Besides, when the scotch is gone, there will be Sake to follow...as to ladies of the evening, they were on their own..

Darkness inevitably falls, hunger prevails and we head out to get food. Much to my initial chagrin, my buds made me leave the robe, since we transited an area where someone migh have mistaken me for merchandise, if they were into Hulk Hogan Crossed with Chris Farley....ewww.

They were both great christmas eves...which later became christmas day. Certainly days that meant a lot to me. When this season comes to pass every year, I want some one else to have those experiences, or to make their own traditions to carry with then, to be brought out in later years, to help add meaining to a job that sometimes seems to have to have no meaing at all.

Be Happy, BE Safe and may this be the last holiday away from the World and your loved ones for you; your troops; and buddies. Happy Holidays, come home soon.