The oil that continues to surface from the USS Arizona has typically been referred to as tears. But after seeing it for myself, I disagree. I think it is more like blood. This is blood from the wounds that warfare inflicts. Not all wounds heal. I pray that less such wounds will be inflicted in the future.
It was a truly remarkable experience. I'm grateful to have gone. I'm also grateful that they present the Japanese as something other than enemies. More than anything, this experience renewed in me what it really means to forgive and move on. Can you imagine how relations with Japan might be if they held grudges against us for what we did to them in that war? We would miss out on so much! They are a wonderful people. We are lucky to be on such great terms with them, when it's only been a short time since that terrible war.
While we were visiting the memorial and museum, this aircraft carrier was docked nearby, getting ready to ship out. I was totally flabbergasted by the size of everything associated with this ship. The ropes tethering it to the shore were bigger around than I am! I've never seen a vessel like it before.
Just imagine, each one of those fighter jets on deck is approximately 50 feet long. I realize they've got them packed in there pretty tight, and the wings are raised, but still, it boggles my mind!
Below is the USS Bowfin--a submarine that has been fully restored and opened up for tours.
Everything inside was so cramped. The thought of living with so many people, in such a small space, under water, for months at a time, made me a bit claustrophobic. I was awfully glad to get up on deck again. I would not make a good submarine sailor, I'm afraid.
An anchor from the USS Arizona.
There were lots of profound statements about WWII--made by all kinds of people--displayed around the grounds. But this one from Eleanor Roosevelt was the most poignant to me. If you can't read it, you should be able to click on the picture to make it a little bigger.
After this experience we headed back to Waikiki and knocked around on the beach for the after noon. As evening wore on we mixed in with the mobs of people living it up along Kalakaua Ave. and all along the beachfront. Ben and I strolled all through the International Market Place, enjoying all the performers and spending way too much on gifts and souvenirs and t-shirts and such.
At one point, we ended up in a hotel art gallery full of beautiful and dramatic works by local artists. The curator or director or whomever, was a sweet little Japanese woman. She was assured of her uncle and aunt's safety, but she hadn't been able to reach her sister during the hours after the tsunami had hit Japan. She wasn't freaking out, but it was clear that she was worried.
I've thought about her an awful lot in the days that have passed. I hope she was able to find that all was well with all of her family.
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