Homecoming for G.W...Gone Rogue

The morning started out with an email from Zack saying to go with the plan and pick him up at the ship at 11.  The ship docked at 9 and it may take over an hour before the first person walks off.  Noah and I were going to go to PT Tots at 9:45 and then meet him at the ship at 11.  Neither one of us knew how it was set up at the pier as we have never actually seen the ship docked here.  We spent the morning cleaning odds and ends up...those things that I knew would annoy him.  I am member of the group of spouses that run around like idiots right before the husband comes home making sure that he has his favorite foods, the house is clean, etc.  And you do those things that you know bug him...like clean windows, the counter tops are clear of clutter, the car is free of trash...etc.  Even though you've functioned the entire time they're gone just fine without doing those items.  Noah and I did PT Tots and usually we come home and I have his lunch all ready for him...we do lunch and then quiet time...and he's in his bed by 11:30ish.  But instead we headed for the ship, which I had no idea where they docked but figured I couldn't miss a giant aircraft carrier!  While driving towards the pier area I saw hundreds of sailors in the NWU(Navy Working Uniform) all carrying their sea bags and then bags caring the treasures they bought at port visits...so I figured I'd just follow the trail to the ship!  Noah kept pointing at all of them saying...dad...dad!  I ended up driving right by the docking area of the G.W. and was able to find a great parking spot super close.  It is set up so different here than Norfolk.  Norfolk was a planned base where the pier area is a whole line of piers with miles of parking.  However since the U.S. sorta just peed on the base after WWII(there is actually a dry dock with a sign saying it's the oldest one in Japan...made in the late 1890's)...it's not nearly as planned out and there is pretty much nill parking.  And there wouldn't be room for parking anyway...all the buildings are right next to each other.  I get Noah out of the car and make sure that I refill his snack trap because it is after all lunch and nap time.  I got past security and have my eyes open for Zack.  We walked up and were standing on an elevated area right in front of the brow(basically the ladder area where they come off of the ship).  Noah finishes his snack and runs around a bit with a few other children.  And then all heck breaks loose!  It had been an hour and we were hungry, hot, and tired.  When Noah and I are hungry and have low blood sugar...we...simply become huge bears to be around.  This is not the phrase that Zack uses though! LOL.  The sailors that are now coming off of the ship are in civilian clothes and I KNOW that Zack would not come off out of uniform.  And I get that sinking feeling that he had gone rouge on us.  So I make the executive decision that he is not on the ship and he didn't follow his own directions...so we're out of here.  I haul a screaming, hungry, and tired toddler to the van...along with this mommy also being hungry, aggravated, and tired.  He's in his seat and I am filling up his snack trap again and Zack pops his smiling face around the side of the van....and says..what are you doing...followed by where were you?  Hmm...yeah you can guess that it didn't go over well.  I said that we were getting ready to leave your (enter cuss word)...and we were at the brow at 11...we were there and you weren't.  He goes on to explain that since I didn't reply to the email in the morning he wasn't sure of the plan...even though we had discussed it off and on for the past few days that I would pick him up at 11.  He said that at 11 he was along the street area outside of the security point(where ID's are checked before even getting anywhere close to the ship).  He had since walked home (15min. walk or so) with his bags...and then walked back to find us.  Noah could tell that I was aggravated at Zack...and yells at him...DUDE!  I say this when I'm thinking..what the (enter cuss word).  I am still unsure how being out on the street area(on the opposite side of the road that I had to drive on) constitutes following the plan, which was meeting him at the ship at 11.  But in the event of forgetting the whole thing...we drop it!  Homecomings never go as planned...never!  I was still aggravated and we headed home and did lunch and quiet/nap time.  I would like to tell everyone that when he comes home it's a happy feeling in the household and we're both all smiles and falling over ourselves to be amazing to the other.  This is simply not the reality in the Gogel household.  It's like trying to fit a circle into a square hole the first few days.  This time it's worse than before because our lives wern't consitent before he left.  And now that we've found some scheduling and consistency with our new enivronment...he has to play catch up.  The first few days are full of arguments, deep breaths, prayers for patience and understanding...along with smiles, happiness, and laughter.  It's the reality of a family on sea duty.  The spouse gets used to running the show, making all the day to day decisions and being a "single parent".  It's hard for me to flip the switch instantly when he walks down the brow.  But after a few days we are all on the same page again...at least for a little bit!  While we are at this duty station we will most likely be doing less sea time than when we did on the Truman...they all think they have it rough!  Those that we have talked to...all find this nuts...but the Truman has had a crazy past 3 years.  And we are looking forward to having the schedule of a forward deployed carrier.

Not soon after Noah was done for his nap...the maintenance man came to install and new garbage disposal and the contractor came to match the color of our tile.  And how nice it is to deal with these types of people here in Japan compared to the U.S!  When making the appointment they suggest a set time such as 9.  That time didn't work for me obviously so I suggested 1 to both of them.  They say...okay...1..we be there.  And if I suggested a time in the middle of their lunch...I would bet that they would have cut their lunches short and arrived promptly on time.  And at 1 the doorbell rang and they were all standing at the door.  It isn't any of the U.S. crap where you have to be there all darn day waiting for them to show up.  They take off their shoes(as is custom in Japan) when they enter your home...and bow to you.  They are here to provide a service to you...they work for you.  They are kind, nice, courteous, clean up after themselves, and so much more.  They do their work...and when leaving I was asked to sign a paper stating that the garbage disposal had been replaced.  I am handed the paper with a bow and two hands.  I have to accept the paper with two hands as well...I signed it and handed it back.  Again he bowed...as a sign of respect and thanks.  He left bowing all over himself.  I told him thank you in Japanese and replied back in Japanese...your welcome..and in English...have a nice day.  He spoke a bit of English but the contractor spoke none!  Don't you wish you were treated with that amount of respect by a maintenance man or contractor in the U.S.?!

When Noah woke up we picked up a few things at the NEX and went to the park by the water.  Then it was the evening routine.  On our walk home...Zack and Noah enjoyed playing with each other and Zack throwing him up in the air...along with my yells...saying it was too high, be careful, Zack!...etc!  Noah was really bad about not staying on the sidewalk and was going rogue everywhere.  He climbed a hill to run down it and found a damaged CD.  So what do you do when you find a CD?  Well Noah grabbed the end of his shirt and carefully cleaned the bottom of it(yes he flipped it over) and proceeded to clean it from the inside out...not going in circles.  Zack says..where did he...and I say...no idea!  I have no idea where Noah saw this, but when he did it stuck!  And with that...the events of the rest of the evening routine were non-eventful.  Noah got up this morning...came in to let me know he was awake, played in Bean's room, and then when I noticed that he wasn't making noise...I found him downstairs closing the refrigerator door after he got his milk out!  Today I got Noah's pool aired up and he played in that all morning...and then this afternoon he had to make me pay for going off schedule at nap time yesterday...and just wouldn't go down for a nap.  He thrives on a schedule with consistency...and just like his momma...everything has a place and everything in it's place.  Just a warning that should you enter our home...Noah will promptly have you take off your shoes and place them in correct spot.  And should you not put your shoes with our shoes...then he will do it for you!