The Simple Pleasures Appreciated

I have written a fair amount regarding this underway adventure. I have touched on the sacrifices these individuals make and what I have been doing since it began. Of all the differences, there is a similarity that has been constant on most any adventure I have partaken in. The appreciation of the simple pleasures and small things that become spectacular because of where you are. Out here it is the stunning array of stars or the unbroken horizon. It is games that you never felt the need to play while at home, or the enjoyment of a beverage to begin or end the day. All those things that we tend to take for granted are much more appreciated.

 There is a multitude of things that Coastie’s do to pass the time. We cannot drink, so others way are found. Card games, Bingo, reading, movies, music, food and general conversation is common place on the mess deck. The diversity of culture onboard keeps most all these activities interesting regardless of how many times they have been repeated. There is always something to learn about someone, something or some evolution that is done in the typical underway work-day. I have found my ways to relax and pass the time.

I take my time on the flight deck whether day or night. I may see dolphins jumping at the side of the cutter or surfing the bow. A sea turtle surfacing to get some fresh air or sea birds that make their way out to sea and take a needed rest. I cannot hold back the amazement that the slightly alternating shades of blue in sky and dynamic cobalt painting the water. The waves add texture to this landscape from the whitecaps breaking at the peak of waves or smooth glass that graces us like a mirror to the skies. At night that water leaves it marks in the contrast we can barely pick up between the horizon and ocean with the vivid stars shining onto the water. If the moon is up, its path can be followed to the hull of the cutter distorted by the waves that either created by the cutter or the breeze. It makes our 378 foot cutter feel very small compared to the deep blue sea we patrol and call home while on these patrols.

That cup of coffee or tea is not just a beverage, but also a reminder of home. The food is prepared, so I am not able to enjoy the satisfaction of my own BBG or the feel of cold beer in my hand. However I can enjoy a hot tea under the stars and recall all the wonderful memories from home, or the stories I will have to tell when I return. I can join in on a game of Hearts, Spades, or Magic and socialize before I get some sleep. Most importantly, I have forged a relationship with some onboard that I would refer to as friends, in addition to shipmates. I just enjoy the company and as a guest among the crew, I appreciate the hospitality, respect and courtesy.

When it comes down to it, it is the simple pleasures that I recall. They may not be the most productive tasks, nor the most popular. It is whatever puts a smile on my face or kills a little time with some shipmates or friends. Who knows what desires we may have in our life, or the opportunities we will be presented with? I just try to enjoy every moment.

Bahia Malaga, Columbia

The Pacific approaching Columbia

Finally after four years in the Coast Guard, I have been to a foreign port. Alaska may have been isolated, but still part of the US. Puerto Rico is a Territory and within two months of the boat, I have been to South America. It was a short stay and saw very little of the county, but I got an impression. We had a one-night port call at the Columbian Navy Base at Bahia Malaga. It was a working port call due to the fact that were there to cooperate with the Columbian Navy, but none the less, it was some time off the cutter.

A small Columbian Village

The typical verdure of the coast

 My first impression of Columbia was that it had not changed since the Pre-Spaniard civilizations had inhabited the landscape. The villages seen were the only indication of modern culture and even then, it was more like shanties than most Americans would call a home or a town. The multicolored roofs and patched buildings butt up to the beach with an old pier shooting out to the protected harbor. The visible boats are in some state of dilapidation and awe inspiring verdure of forest creates the background as far as the eye can see. Like a painting you see in a gallery of 1900’s abstract fishing village. It has a reverent unrevealed beauty that leads the imagination to wondering what could be hiding in the vast jungle. The lack of refinement in the structures compared to the overwhelming jungle give a sense how small we are. While most of the coast is the endless jungle consisting of countless small uninhabited islands and inland waterways, there is an insignificant amount of civilization. I can see why the Spaniards thought the Indians that inhabited the land to be savages. From the coast that we saw coming in, it seem that not very much has changed.

The band greets us at the pier

We had sailed a ways in when the Columbian Navy Base came into view. It is a very remote base build from sea and surrounded by jungle. The Columbian and American flag flying. The Ships were lined up on the pier, some being older Coast Guard Vessels. Upon arrival, a band greeted us and after the work of mooring up was complete, we had a little liberty and some friendly competition with the Columbian Navy.

A Game of Tug-of-War

Soccer and tug-a-war were the opportunities. Sad to say, the greatest Coast Guard in the world was unable to beat the Columbian Navy in soccer. They played well, but I suppose futbol being a way of life made them pretty good. We did however defeat them in the Tug-a-war. Even with the help of one of our own whom I will not mention, we won two games out of three. It seems they do that a lot as well, considering the marks were painted on the pier. The base was surrounded by jungle as most of the coast was and tempted me the entire time to explore. Roads were carved through what looked to be sandstone walls and plants climbed everything. There was a small shopping center with a bar, and a semi-submersible museum.

For those that are not aware, semi-submersibles are what the drug runners are using drugs. They are very difficult to see on the water and the pilots of these crafts are sometimes forced to transport under the threat of their family being killed if they do not. Columbia is a nation that struggles with the influence of the drug trade. The profit margin is incredibly high, they can afford build a one time transportation unit costing half a million or more. The semi-submersible range in size and capacity and are often painted the color of the water. The Columbian Navy does what they can to capture them and their museum is a collection of those. We were informed the area outside the gate is unsafe due to the drug trade. It is strife I feel fortunate enough to separate myself from. Regardless how fortunate we are in the US, this is a way of life for many. They are good people and do what they can against the challenges they face. We were only able to see the military personnel on the base and the shopping center but it was an experience none the less.

The plants overtake the wall of the rock

Crew members enjoy a little time off

The shopping center was small but a very nice place to relax. It was the only place to purchase anything, so the entire crew happened to congregate there. There was a small bar in the middle surrounded by a few hole in the wall places to eat and some gift shops. They did have a place with internet, but it was patchy at best. I tried to get a hold of family, but was unable. I spend the remainder of the night socializing with my shipmates and having a few beers. Everyone was having a good time dancing, talking and doing all the thing we are not able to do onboard. It was a good break from the patrol however brief. I had some authentic food and took a leisurely stroll back to the cutter. The moon had risen, the stars were bright and the forest came right up to the road. Amidst this wild beauty, the most memorable sight was not natural at all, but very telling of the people. There was a small church on base with a neon cross. When the verdure had faded from vivid to modest, it still shown bright from anywhere in the landscape. The Columbians and many similar cultures, share a strong faith. It does not seem to matter what era you look at, there is faith in what they believe and how incorporate that faith into their life.

We left Columbia the following day with a Helo demonstration before we continued the patrol. It was humbling to see the resources of our allies and the environments they work in. The same band saw us off to the open sea.

More Comfortable with the Underway Life

It has now been about two months and things are shaping up to be a very interesting adventure. Although the first month was spent in San Diego and was mainly drills, we are well on our way to the southern region. Even if the GPS was not available, I could tell you things have changed due to the humidity and heat. It is not too hard to deal with, but I have been well trained by Puerto Rico and Florida. The seas are very smooth down here, and sailing has been relatively easy, I have been able to figure out the routine and feel much more comfortable with the schedule, demands and stressors. I suppose they are all part of the adventure, so I take them as they come. What I can say is that I am grateful for coming to a cutter as a petty officer, It is a very different perspective on medicine.

 The workday is here is not your typical 9-5, the clinic never closes and the trend seem to be that if someone feels sick, they find you. From the routine sea sickness, or common cold to burns, chest pain and emotional breakdowns. I work with an HS Senior Chief, a senior enlisted Health Services Technician for those not in the Coast Guard. It is like being on call 24/7 but fortunately we are not normally called I the middle of the night. There is a sense of respect from being the one of the medical providers for the entire crew. We are able to consult medical officers through email, but are solely responsible for the health and treatment of the crew. There is a mutual respect between us and the crew, that allows us to do our job and them perform theirs.

Approach to Guatamala

Like I said, it is not a 9-5 schedule, but there are some tasks that are done on a regular schedule that take up the time. Some days it seems I am very busy, while at others I am looking for something to do. Much of the work is preventative maintenance or what some would call monitoring the health of the crew. Water testing, galley inspections, heat stress monitoring and maintenance of medical equipment are all done for this purpose. The rest of the work is from seeing patients, administering medical treatments, counseling members, duty and standing by for medical aid for the many evolutions the crew performs. Being temporary party, I do not stand normal duty, but I still have special sea duty when mooring or unmooring the cutter. As you can imagine the details of the work day may vary, which is what keeps its interesting, or sometimes a little aggravating. What I can say is that it takes a lot of work to run a cutter and take care of the crew, if we did not work well as a crew, we would be dead in the water. In the big picture of the CGC Midgett, the medical side is just a very small, but intricate and necessary aspect.

To give you an idea imagine how complex something like a Cutter is. Imagine all the required services that take place in a major city, compacted to a area that is 378 feet long. I had to talk to a few people to figure out the proper analogy, but it is accurate to what is here. Everything we have onboard is either stored or created on the cutter. We are responsible for our own power, water, propulsion, sewage, food, supplies, medical care, intelligence and security. There is an ample amount of work. The reality is that we all play our small part to allow everyone else to do what they need to do. As a temporary member of this crew, I am grateful for the opportunity to work with these individuals and assist in any way I can. I am thoroughly impressed by how well this crew has worked together. They may have not wanted to do all that was asked of them, but they still performed with distinction.

I suppose to state it simply, I never know what to expect when I wake up in the morning. It keeps me on my toes. I have not had a port call other than San Diego, but we are en-route to some very interesting places from what I have heard. We did pull into Guatemala for fuel, but I would not consider a port call just stepping onto the pier and taking some photographs. However, I will say I have officially been to South America though, even if just for an hour. I will keep you updated on the progress of the adventure.

An Ode to Ziggy

There are moments when words are not enough, yet they are all you have. When there is no avenue of communication that does a moment, person, a place, or a cherished member of your pack justice. They range from jubilant, to sorrowful and everything in between. The only constant is that they leave a mark on your life you will never forget. I have written about many of these moments in my life whether in my Journal or my blog, but unfortunately I write about an unfortunate moment that followed many I will forever be grateful for.

I write about Ziggy Touble, whom I have never mentioned on the blog though I had been meaning to. Unfortunately I never did find the time and I suppose this will be his first and last appearance, so I shall do my best to honor the memories that I can never forget. Ziggy was only four months old, yet he left his mark. He never had a chance to grow to become a dog, he was born and lived with the innocence of a Puppy. But I suppose I should start at the beginning.

For those that know me, I love animals, especially dogs. I have written about Hobie on multiple occasions. Hobie has been with me for five years now and I am lucky to have such a loyal, kind and loving best friend a man could ask for. So you should understand that for my family and I, dogs are not just a pet, they are a member of the family.

This short chapter started a little over four months ago when a rescue puppy happened to cross Aimee’s and my path. It was at the farmers market where a rescue has a plethura of dogs for adoption. Most of the time, we would just look, but one little white and grey puppy caught our eyes. I was just holding him at the rescue when Aimee came around the corner and simultaneously fell in love and reached her arms out to hold the five-pound furball in my arms. It truly was a moment, similar to when I first met Hobie five years ago. As if Hobie and my path were meant to cross in the unexpected way that it did. Somehow I knew this puppy was different than any other animal at that rescue. After a quick discussion and some reluctance, we left. Afterwards Aimee could not stop talking about the puppy. I made the offer to make him and early Christmas present and she accepted.

We brought him home that day and from that moment, he was part of the family. Hobie took to him right away acting like a proud father should. Although a little annoyed by the constant chewing and playing from Ziggy, he quickly taught him who was in charge. Cheeca took a while, but she warmed up once she realized he was not going anywhere.

Like any puppy he had his challenges, but for the most part showed promise to be a very good dog with some training and time. I suppose Aimee and I had some differences of philosophy with what should and should not be allowed, but Ziggy was doing the best he could. He would join us on our weekend brunches and would always draw a crowd. It was like people were unable to walk by without wanting to pet him.

He was always very hyper and would often times “photo Bomb” any time I was on skype with Aimee. When I left for California and my deployment aboard the Midgett, he was a hyper happy little puppy that put immeasurable joy on the face of the women I love. I said good buy in the usual way, never expecting it to be the last time I would see him. Hobie came with me because he was staying with family in California during my deployment.

Ziggy passed away as a puppy, a little over four months old, due to respiratory failure from fluid in his lungs; but I am grateful for the time we had with him. When I heard the news in an email sent from Aimee, I took some time on the weather deck. In the time I was there I saw multiple dolphins jump and a few turtles. It may not have the ability to bring him back, but it did warm the heart. I suppose it was a sign that life is beautiful regardless of how brief.

It does not matter how long something is in your life. It is the impact that matters. It was the last thing I expected to hear and to be honest it feels like losing a family member. The well of emotions, the sense of loss and wondering if you could have done more. Regardless, I have no regrets. Aimee and I saw an opportunity to give a rescue puppy a home and a life. Even though the outcome is unfortunate, the actions were done in kindness. Ziggy does not leave us without purpose, simply a valuable lesson. A reminder that we should do our best to enjoy every moment and that life is precious, because we do not know what is to come, nor how long it will last. So the cherish the ones you call family, friends and confidants and don’t hesitate to show the one you love how you really feel.

Until we meet again …. Enjoy Every moment.

The First Weeks on the Midgett

For those that have not been underway, not counting a luxury cruise, it is a very different lifestyle. In the few short weeks I have been here I have seen first hand why many people either Love, Hate or fall somewhere in between to how they feel about being stationed on a ship. It is like Port Clarence in the respect that we must rely and maintain all the machines that allow us to function. We are at the mercy of constantly changing seas, weather and never know what we may find in this immense body of water. Yet amongst all this potential, there is peace. There is time to reflect on the many sacrifices that these individuals make for duty, country or because they chose to serve.

The Crew at Sunset

 I joined the crew of the Midgett in Seattle, Washington which is another city that I had never seen, at least only seen during layovers at the airport. We then headed down to San Diego to partake in our TSTA Training for combat readiness. We were there for the duration of three weeks and had the luxury of shore leave nearly every night. San Diego is another city I have barely seen, only once when my family stayed on Coronado Island, but that was years ago. After all was said and done, the drills complete, we are in the current moment, ready to pursue the mission that we came here for. From the Time I have been here, a few things have become very apparent. First and foremost, teamwork is paramount. A 378-foot Cutter is a large unit to maintain and everyone has a part to play. It is not nearly as comfortable or convenient as a Cruise and everyone has a story to tell.

Teamwork is paramount. Regardless if it is a medical emergency, mooring evolution, navigation, small boat operations or HELO ops, there are many roles to play. During TSTA, much of our time was spend drilling on possible scenarios. These included navigation, loss of power, damage control, medical emergencies and anything you could possibly imagine happening while underway on the deep blue sea. I was part of the medical drills, but had little to do with the Damage control or navigation. As a unit we did very well and learned many lessons in the process. Although the drill were not always enjoyable, we were able to fire weapons, so that made it all worth it. Other than a fast sports car, there are few things that make a man feel like a man, big guns happen to be one of them.

A Coast Guard Cutter is not nearly as comfortable as a Cruise for several reasons and the mission defines this very well. With a crew of about 180 people, there is ample space for everyone, but we don’t all have out own stateroom. Showers and heads are shared by up to twenty people and irregular work schedules from the typical 9-5 make life a little different. Privacy is rare if even present. The public areas of the cutter are constantly inhabited by someone eating, socializing or doing something to pass the time. The only space we have is our rack which is a 6x3x2.5 foot box with a curtain to separate us from the others that inhabit the berthing area. Everyone respects the privacy of the rack, because it is the only private area. Although that can be offset by the stunning skies we have the opportunity to see away from all the light pollution. It is nothing short of spectacular and where that sense of peace I mentioned before stems from.

Ben and Julia

Aimee and I

These rocks are balanced, it was amazing o see

I have written before that it is the people that makes things worth while. The crew is as diverse as the places and experiences that have defined them. They hale from all over the country and contribute to the personality of the Midgett. They have been very welcoming and treated me as if I was one of their own. That is not to say that Air Station Miami does not have personality, but living with people and seeing them multiple times per day, give you a different perspective. When I normally see a patient, they go home and I will not see them until they follow up. On the cutter, I will usually see them before and after I treat them. I will oftentimes see them when I eat, work out or just around the passageways or berthing areas. It truly is a very personal approach to health care. We have been fortunate to have the medical facilities in San Diego that have been a invaluable resource during our import.

The San Diego Cityscape

The Bridge to Coronado Island

Seaport Village

Pacific Beach

I suppose the more telling aspect of the crew was when we had our onshore liberty in San Diego. I spend much of my time in the Gaslamp District, Downtown, Old town and Seaport Village. Aimee flew out for a wonderful weekend and I was able to show her the beautiful city of San Diego. I surprised by picking her up in a Camaro SS allowing a shipmate and myself to zoom around the city for a weekend. It was very nice to see her after being away for about a month. I am fortunate that she is supportive of my desire to experience the adventure the Coast Guard has offered me. In the short time she was here, We were able to visit Old Town, Downtown and Seaport Village. We had dinner and drinks with Ben, Julie, Josh and Jenny. It was nice for her to meet some couples to get an idea of how they feel. As for the crew, the multiple times out in Downtown San Diego and Old Town made me feel like I was a part of the crew and not just a temporary crewmember.

Josh and Jenny

Like any group, people pick and choose who they want to socialize with in their free time, but come together and work as a team when duty calls. There is a significant Navy presence in the area, but military is still much appreciated by the city and people alike. We spend much of our liberty hours in the local area and enjoying the attractions like Balboa Park, The San Diego Zoo and Sea World.

Most would take their liberty time in the Downtown. It was close by and had many wonderful restaurants and bars to pass the time. An entertaining mixture of high Rise building and older traditional buildings that built the city. The Gaslamp District is the more so historical Downtown area. The galley food is good, but would eat somewhere you will be eating for the next three months? Fortunately everyone conducted themselves safely and still had a good time. Old town San Diego was a ways away, yet still only about 15 minutes by trolley from the cutter. They call this the birthplace of California and have maintained it to look as it did many years ago. My favorite restaurant was here and the place I would spend my 30th birthday. There is the historic area with some shops in the old buildings and an authentic feel from the old fashion clothes the meandering people are dressed in. On the other side of the street is the tourist shops that always have something amusing to sell and unsuspecting tourist, which I was not. I resisted buying the mexican wrestler mask. The preserved time of Old Town is when the area became owned by the United States and was in transition from being a Mexican town to the border American City.

I never made it to the Zoo, but I was able to go to Sea World and it was incredible. I am not a huge fan of animals in man made tanks, but even then, the Orcas were majestic. I would have taken some pictures, but I was mesmerized by the size and abilities of these amazing creatures. In addition, my camera was in jeopardy from the Orcas playfully splashing the first row. It really makes me want to go kayak with the wild orcas. The Sea Lions were very impressive as well. The show was like a Dave Leno Show and was very funny. They were not nearly as majestic as the Orcas, but were the comedy relief, including the trainers that played the part well. I could see why they are considered the puppy dogs of the sea. Although I liked the otter most because he was the troublemaker of the group. He was the smallest, yet always found a way into the skit.

In short, it has been a good trip. TSTA was a good experience, the crew has been amazing and San Diego has been a great place to be for a few weeks. I have not gone to many places, but that is about to start and I see nothing but a wonderful adventure ahead. I will keep you updated as much as I can. Entrees will be delayed as this one has for the reason of OPSEC, but I will post when I can. Until then, Enjoy every moment and I look forward to when we shall meet again.