I remember thoughts of what it would be like to see the ocean. I wanted to hear the waves pounding, feel the sea breeze and raise my arms to be sprayed by the mist. I had read numerous books that were centered around the sea. I also might add that my father was a Merchant Marine. I never realized the significance of that till much later in life. Another story for another day.
My books from school and the Public Library took me all over the world as a child; what the stories and novels provided me was the opportunity to escape my reality and imagine a life out of Southern Illinois. My passion for reading was the beginning of my first trip around the world. Little did I know as a child that it was the beginning of many more fascinating and real adventures.
I did see the ocean as a teenager! It was amazing. I saw nothing but blue water and it went on forever. I still remember the sounds of that evening and the smell and taste of the salt. My face was damp from the mist blowing in on the shore.
Standing on the shore that evening I knew there was a bigger and better world out there for me to discover. I couldn’t wait to get in the ocean. I couldn’t wait to be on the ocean and I could only imagine what was on the other side of the water.
I did join the Navy as a DP; that’s an IT in today’s technical world. My duty stations included Orlando FL, San Diego CA, Norfolk VA, Napoli Italia, Charleston SC, Guam USA, New Orleans LA, and Mayport FL.
Two (2) of those tours were on ships. I did a total of (7) seven years Sea Duty. While I was on Sea Duty I went through the Panama Canal and the Suez Canal. I crossed over the equator. I travelled to Columbia South America, Hawaii, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore. I also had port visits in the Bahamas, Barcelona, Malta, Dubai, Egypt and the Red Sea.
My last tour in the Navy was on an on a Navy Aircraft Carrier and completed completed my tour around the world. This included the Mideast Countries of Libya, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrainand Iran.
My favorite tour was Shore Duty in Napoli Italy! Oh my – I found it all there. That’s another story that deserves its own page. However while there I travelled all over Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland and even Lichenstein! Oh my! What a life I lived. The best ever.
I chose to retire in SC. I return to Southern Illinois on occasion to visit my siblings and their families. I am close enough to the Ocean now that I can be on the shore as needed within (2) two hours. Since retiring I have returned to Europe visiting the Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland and of course returned to Italia. I have also visited Iceland and Ireland most recently.
This is my life. I still turn many a page in books – reading will always be a passion of mine. I love traveling! All of this from the child that escaped Southern Illinois through the love of books – one page at a time.
EVERY PAGE IS A JOURNEY AND THE JOURNEY ITSELF IS HOME