Going, Going, Gone... but not without excitement

I just got home from dropping Nicki and Josh off at Narita Airport. I took the day off from work so that I could help carry luggage and squeeze dry the last few minutes of family time together before their big California adventure. If my calcs are correct, they're probably just hitting the airspace above the far tip of Alaska now. Not sure if our readers know, but the airlines tend to fly us to and from the States along a path that includes flying along southern Alaska... I don't know if it's because of the earth's curvature or if it's because they would rather fly near land instead of over the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Anyway, there was a bit of excitement before they left town. We got a somewhat surprise visit from yet another American... Vice President Dick Cheney (click on the image... he's looking right at my camera). I received an ALCON (govt speak for "all concerned") email on my work computer Tuesday morning indicating that Cheney would be speaking on the Kitty Hawk, the only forward-deployed carrier in the US Navy, homeported in Yokosuka. And civilian employees and their spouses were encouraged to attend. Encouraged??? I jumped at the chance for two reasons:

1. I've never been on an active aircraft carrier; and
2. I've never been on an aircraft carrier of any kind that the second most powerful man in the free world would be the speaking guest of honor.

I should add another reason:

3. The email said that bags, purses, backpacks and umbrellas were forbidden, but cameras were allowed!

After getting in touch with Nicki, we made plans to attend and set Josh up with all-day child care on base. We got to the Kitty Hawk's berth early but still had quite a line ahead of us waiting to board the ship. The Kitty Hawk is gigantic. It's amazing that something that large can float. Honestly, from far away these ships look big. When you're within 50 feet, they look gigantic.

Anyway, the VP spoke to us about the great job that our troops are doing to support the war efforts and to give the ceremonial pats on the back and the keep up the good works. Pretty cut and dry speech, but it was received well and although the troops present were basically required to attend, I think they appreciated Mr. Cheney's attendance. He is the first political figure of that stature to deliver a speech on the Kitty Hawk since 1963, when John F. Kennedy spoke to the troops shortly before his untimely death.

Because we were civilian, we got thrown to one side, but it ended up being terrific seating. In fact, most of the enlisted guys ended up having to stand the entire time, while just a handful of people were allowed to sit on the bleachers, including us. And sitting just a few seats away were the US Ambassador to Japan, several generals and admirals, and all kinds of important high-ranking officials of the US Military (and Japanese Self-Defense Forces) in the Eastern World.

I joked with Nicki that she should ask Cheney for a lift to the States, so she didn't have to worry about waiting in the lines at Immigrations and Customs and whatnot. Hopefully, when they land in a few hours, it'll be smooth sailing.

Pictures from the event are up on our Gallery, dated February 22, 2007. Although I took over 100 pictures, I weeded all but 17 because, really, who wants to look at 100+ pictures in a row of the same person speaking? Enjoy.