Eternal Father

This hymn is know by many as "the Navy Hymn". If you take the time to watch the slideshow I added please think of these words as you watch.

Eternal Father, Strong to save
whose arm hath bound the restless wave
who bid'st the might ocean deep
It's own appointed limits keep
O hear us when we cry to thee
for those in peril on the sea.

O Christ whose voice the waters heard
and hushed their raging at Thy word
who walked'tst on the foaming deep
and calm amidst its rage didst sleep
Oh hear us when we cry to thee
for those in peril on the sea.

Sound memories

I was in Purto Rico, seeing the sights. I had spent a good part of the morning touring Moro Castle An old Spanish Fort that guards the entrance to the harbor of San Juan. At interesting place to spend some time. I walked all the areas I could get too. I dropped out of the tour group and visited where and for how long I wanted.

Toward evening I went into old San Juan. Narrow streets, tree lined plazas. Parks with TVs where the locals could go watch TV without cost.

While walking around and having a wonderful time i hear some strange music. I followed my ears till I came across a band playing a kind of music I had never heard before. They were banging on 55 gallon medal drums. They had cut them to different lenghts and somehow tuned the top into different notes. It was a steel band. I listened in awe at how they could get music out of discarded metal barrels. they also had gourds of different sizes that had ridges cut into the sides. These they raked with a pick and made a scratching sound. I learned that some of the steel bands use guitars too but they are not purest. I have often thougt of the sound of steel drums and of sitting on a beach of white sand listening to the sound. I have CDs and records of steel drums but they can't come close to capturing the sound but it is all I have now. I have added a couple of them to my music selections on this blog. They have "sb" before the title. Take a listen if you wish.

Was it real?

I sit and think back to my youth. Was it really that long ago that I stood and watch the pier move away from the ship and smelled the diesel smoke from the tug boats? I think back and I remember.

First comes the word that we will deploy for a six month cruise. We will be part of first line of defense. But first, there are many things to be done. We load supplies, fill open billings on the crew. For weeks there are working partys to load boxes of can food, frozen foods, spare parts, and last fresh foods. We know that the first thing to go will be fresh milk.

Then as time draws nearer to leaving the medical staff brings out the needles. Time for shots, long lines with sailors with rolled up sleeves, check your name with the list and get shots needed. Get our personal lives ashore in order.

At last the day comes when we leave. Wives, girl friends, sweethearts are allowed to come onboard and spent a last few sad moments with us. Announcements all morning long on the 1MC (intercom). When the commander of the second fleet comes to call we hear, "Second Fleet, arriving", when he leaves, "Second Fleet, departing". Our admiral comes aboard, "Com Crudes Four, arriving". (Commader cruiser/destoryer division 4) . He does not depart, he will sail with us and we become flag ship.

Then come the word on the 1MC, "all guest depart the ship". Time for one last hug, kiss and smile. A band has arrived on the pier in there full dress uniform. The command to "single up all lines", "Man the sea and anchor detail" are heard.

We all line the decks and stand at attention. Then we hear "cast off all lines" There is a loud blast on the ships horn. We are underway, the band starts to play Anchors Aweigh and the tug boats apply power to their engines. Slowly, the pier seems to fall away but it is us, moving away from the pier. We see our love ones waving and throwing kisses to us. In just a couple of mins we are in the ship channel and the tugs leave, we are on our way. We watch the shore disappear and soon we pass the last marker and head for the open sea.

What lies ahead? Drills and more drills. Long night watchs, storms, fair weather and a warm feeling knowing we are defending the land we love, our families. We will do the "hands across the sea" and help the people we visit. Kind of wining the hearts and minds. Yes, the milk runs out in short order, and we get recontitured milk. Lots of us stop drinking milk. Drills and more drills. Just about every other day we refuel from a tanker. Have to have full tanks in case we have to rush off. One never knows what may come up. If we have to leave and take the destoryers with us we will have to refuel them as the tanker can't keep up. So we refuel often.

Did it really happen or was it just a dream? If not for pictures, I would have a hard time knowing it really did happen. Long ago when things were black and white. Good or evil. We were the good guys. I'm glad I lived it.

home is the sailor, home from the sea

Two weeks ago today, I went to visit my brother in Corpus Christi, TX. He was ill and not in very good shape. I received a call a few mins ago that he had passed away.

He died at home, as he wished. When we visited him he expressed a wish to return to his home. He was tired of being in the hospital. He had been there since Christmas. Hospice was called and that afternoon he was released to his wife's care.

My brother was a veteren of world war II and Korea, Vietnam and any other conflict that happened between WW2 and his retirement after 33 years of service. As a retired vet he work as a crash crew member at the airport and also as an Airport police officer. He brought me my first bike when my dad could not afford to get me one and he paid for my sister's pep squad's uniform when she was in high school.

I will remember him and the stories he told of his days in the navy. I think it was a prime reason for my becomeing a sailor. So brother, David Rivera, MCBM, I shall remember you and I salute you for your service.

MCBM= Master chife boatswain mates (E9)

Lee SN (E3)

my attemps at slide shows

Today my son Steven and his wife, Stephie took their little girl to have her picture taken. I was surprised that they gave them a cd with the picture and the rights to have them printed somewhere else. Lianna is now 4 years old and will be starting preK this fall. Time sure flys.

I can't take pictures as well as some of my fellow bloggers. So I used some of my old pictures that I took and then used the CD for the newer picture. All the pictures of Lianna in her little green dress are from today.

I would like to hear comments from anyone that has taken the time to view the show. There is also a slide show of my wife Sandra. Both have music background so turn up the sound.

I'm Blue

I am very blue right now. No, really, my shoes are blue, my shirt is blue, my hands and arms are blue. A full gallon of blue that I had forgotten all about popped today. My DIL came and told me there is some blue stuff all over the floor in the back room. Went to check what in the world she was talking about. My heart sank to my feet. Blue paint all over the floor.

After using an old blanket to wipe up some of it and and then newspaper I was blue. Sure glad it was water based paint. But my floor is blue between the tiles. Guess I will have some new painting clothes now. The shoes were old but oh so comfy. Glad the dogs didn't want to come and see what was going off. I chased off my grandaughter. She really wanted to help.

Sure was a nice shade of blue. Long ago, before kids, I painted my house blue with dark blue trim. I guess the can had been there since the late 70s. Oh well, when the blanket drys off and the papers are dry I shall put them in the trash.

That was the week that was

I think the passing of President Hinckley effected me more then I expected. I have just felt at a lost as what to post on this board. All in all, I had a full week. The day after the passing of President Hinckley I received a call from one of my sisters telling me my oldest brother was in the hospital and had been for some time. He had told his wife not to tell the family as he did not want to bother anyone.

Well, when he quit eating she called my sister and she called the rest of us. Three of my sisters and myself went to Corpus Christi to visit him in the hospital. Well, they are sending him home, there is nothing they can do and he will be under hospice care now. He has cancer of the pancrers. Also he had fallen and broken his hip plus his ulcer started to bleed. Well, the bleeding has been stopped but his hip will not be repaired as he is to weak to operate without fear of dying.

We visited for a day and then they told us they were waiting for the paperwork so they could send him home. That is what he wanted.

Also, it is February, the month I received my transplant. It seems like I have had this liver all my life but it will be 11 years Feb. 15, 2008. I got the call to come in on Feb. 14, valentines days, that they had a donor and that thing looked good.

Every year about this time I think of that and say an extra prayer for the family that extended my life, allowing me to see my sons grow and become men. I have become a grandfather. To this day, I wonder, "Why me?"

I have meet so many good people, made new friends, grown in the Gospel and now I find myself wondering, "When will I be with my wife again?" Mixed feeling, I want to see my grandaughter grow a little and I want to meet my new grandbaby that is due in June. I want to see my other son get his degree from Brigram Young University. BUT, I miss my wife.

Lee