Almost Famous-(Friday)

After the Tokyo marathon, I had to go in for work (and I laugh when I call this work because it is too much fun!). I first took a nap (a little shabbas in my shabbas) and then headed over to the Chapel. I took some video on the way so you can see what it looks like here. When I got to the chapel, Chaplain Ross told me he had put several articles of “The Seahawk” the base newspaper because on page 13 our services were being advertised. He thought I might want to bring some copies home to the folks back home.

It was such a Navy chaplain thing-not only did he see it and note it and point it out to me, but he left 5 copies on my desk so that I can bring them back. The consciousness about family is ever present here. The services available for family, for guests etc are just seemingly unending. It seems to me that military life is crazy hard. I am meeting these people whose significant others are out to see for 2 months at a time let alone, deployed for 7-9 months at a time to the Middle East for war. But the community here-everywhere I have been (...all three bases)…the whole military infrastructure seems to be fully aware of those challenges and it does its best to mitigate against the difficulties which this life presents.

Walking to the chapel, I pass “Downtown USA” with A&W, Cinnabon, Long John Silver’s, Subway, Oriental Express, McDonald’s, Mean Jean’s Burgers and Baskin Robbins. Some part of me hates this and wants this to be an opportunity for everyone here to be immersed in non-America…but that is easy for me-I am here for two weeks. I can tolerate the discomfort of being in a foreign land for a limited period of time. I know I am leaving here and going back to NYC and my apartment and my familiar, unchanged life. For everyone else here-this IS the life and there is no going home in the same way. Having access to something familiar…Downtown USA even, makes a real difference. (However, if it was not here, people could just go outside for Wendy’s, Friday’s, 7-11, off base McDonald’s, Starbuck’s, Starbuck’s, Starbuck’s, and many other familiar US bands and vendors)

Anyway, I digress, off to services where I was NOT leading! What a gift. I got to just be a congregant and see what services here are like. Craig (my lay leader/liaison to the Jewish community)and his 13 year old son, Jay, lead services together. It was wonderful. They lead a great service-it was energetic, upbeat, and full of life. There were about 14 people there-a full house J

After services, we had potluck dinner with lots of left overs from the various other meals this week. I really admire and respect this community for being a community. It was lovely to sit together with this group of people and pass a lovely Shabbat.

After dinner, Craig and his family drove me back to the quarters. We were slightly delayed when Jay had to go hop in to the dumpster (with Craig’s assistance) to retrieve the change from his ice cream run which he had accidentally thrown out…sorry, no footage of that one…

Then back to the Q and 8 hours later…it was Saturday!! Thank goodness for a full night sleep!!!