Life's Lasts

1-21-2023 Lasts…..As I sit down to type this blog tonight I’m beginning my last midnight shift as an air traffic controller. I don’t think this will be a memorable last but as I get older, I realize more and more that I am at an age when I will be experiencing more lasts. Some will be memorable, and some will be forgotten as soon as the occur. I remember the last time I saw my mom before she died although I didn’t expect it to be the last. I remember the last letter I wrote to my dad when I told him how much I love him. I remember the last time I did a forward dismount from a bike and from our horse. I vividly remember the last day I wore my Navy uniform because it signaled a significant life change. I remember the last time I saw the sun go down even though it was months ago. Sometimes I don’t even know it’s a last until it’s too late. Lasts are a reminder that life is fleeting. They’re a thing you can’t change but they are also a thing you can embrace as part of the fabric of your life. Embrace the lasts. Embrace your life. On a lighter note, I went to the ship safety briefing this morning in preparation for the arrival of our first large container ship. Basically, it was a reminder to be aware of your surroundings and to exercise good common sense when out walking around during ship operations. What an odd concept, common sense, odd that people need to be reminded to use it, not just now, but every day and everywhere.

Comments

  1. Lori MenkeJanuary 30, 2023 at 2:49 PM

    Very thoughtful, I remember the last time I left the ATC tower…didn’t think it would be the last time, but it was

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Cargo Ships and Whales

Image
  2-7-2023 Ship change…The first cargo ship left port last night and the next ship pulled right in behind him and began off-loading. Because of that, our Yacht Club meeting was cancelled because our Commodore was pulling line duty on the ship change. (For non-nautical people it means he was handling ropes used to tie the ship up to the pier) Because of the sun falling further in the sky it now feels like dawn and dusk all day. The first sunset is February 20 th , the day I leave McMurdo. The days are also getting cooler.   It’s not too bad when the wind isn’t blowing. If I can stay awake, I can visit the McMurdo Museum which is open from 8:00 to 10:00 this evening. The Minke whales are in the sound in large numbers. Last night I watched a pod of about 12 swimming around. It’s fun to watch them all “blow” as they surface. The Orcas are also still around. Penguins stay near the ice edge and are in jeopardy. All the seals are near Scott Base away from the ice edge and danger.
Read more

The Delta

Image
  12-6-2022 The Delta The transition from land to glacier has gotten almost impassable for vehicles, even those with the largest of wheels. One of the vehicles that can still make the passage is called “The Delta”. Remember watching “earth movers” when you were a kid? They had a huge tractor like front end connected to a large trailer that scraped dirt into itself.  Wow, that wasn’t a very good description, but I hope you know what I mean. That’s kind of what a Delta is except it’s designed to haul people instead of dirt. I’ve attached a picture to help your imagination. That’s what I rode on this morning getting to work. If you like roller coasters, you want to ride in the very back of the passenger compartment. Every bump and turn are magnified to the point that if you don’t have a seat belt on you may well bounce your head off the ceiling.  The other interesting thing is on the inside of the Delta, instead of graffiti people put stickers on the walls and ceiling. I’ve included just
Read more

Scott Hut

Image
  10-29-2022 Tomorrows supposed to be very cold and windy (50 mph) so I went for a walk down to Hut Point after work today. The hut was built in 1902 but on the outside, it looks like it did the day it was built. I’m just stunned by its pristine appearance. Outside the front door is a seal that was left there when Scott abandoned the hut over 100 years ago. The seal has remained frozen in place since that day The Hut was open to the public when I was last here but because people were removing artifacts, they now keep it locked. Tours are available on given days and a volunteer docent answers questions and ensures artifacts remain intact for future generations. As you enter the building, you’re forced to duck your head in order to enter through the very short door. When you enter you feel as though you have literally stepped back in time.  Socks and t-shirts are draped over the bunk beds. Blankets and sheets lie rumpled as though the men had just rolled out of bed. A penguin, the object
Read more