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Hickam Air Force Base: Hawaii

   After our return home from the PacAf tour, I made a photo album for everyone in the group and crew. The following was the last page in that album. If it gets a little "sappy" at the end, it's because I was feeling mighty "warm and fuzzy" about the band. Matter of fact, I still do. --M--

 

Saturday, October 10th - 6:30 p.m. depart Guam

   Finally, we took a commercial airline flight to Hickam Air Force base in Honolulu, Hawaii. The base was located at the entrance to Pearl Harbor. We arrived at 5:45 a.m., cleared customs and then waited for about 1.5 hours before anyone came up with our room keys. We were beat and not very "negotiable," to say the least. We were ready to to take things into our own hands and just "rush the fort" for our room keys, when someone finally got things organized.

   We got some sleep and played 2 shows over the next couple of days. The band and crew found little time for taking photos, partially because our bodies were totally confused from the long flight back from Guam. Flying back over the International Date Line threw most of us out of sync with "life" in general. The weather was beautiful and the island provided its usual distinctive floral bouquet. Filling the air with a tropical aroma that immediately brings to mind previous visits to the islands. A bit of a romanticized cliché, but true just the same.

   Traveling around the base revealed remnants of that fateful day, December 7th, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. In some of the buildings, you can still see the bullet holes in the walls from the Japanese planes after they had bombed our ships and then went after the American planes on the ground. It has been suggested that the plaster be repaired on the walls, but servicemen insisted that they be left there ... lest we forget. For those who fought the battles, there seems to be an inherent attitude of anger and an unwillingness to forgive. As time passes, there can be a healing, as we rediscover our need for each other on this earth. It's a beautiful home that we share, and it looks suspiciously close to having been custom made for us all.

 

Monday, October 12th. Back to the mainland.

   Everyone, except Digger, left to fly back to Los Angeles and home to our families. Twelve shows in 23 days. It had been a great tour; much better than anticipated. A great bunch of people to be working with and a memorable adventure for us all. To continue on in good health, enjoying the opportunities that life presents, and prospering with those around you, is NOT a bad way to go through this life.

 

   Whatever the future may bring ... this was a time of happiness. May you remember it as fondly as I do.

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