A Bit of Bum

Monday, November 9, 2009

Happy Veteran's Day

A short while ago, the Army School of Music Student Company took a trip to Washington, D.C. The purpose of the trip was to meet some of the musicians who work with the Army's top band, Pershing's Own. However, a secondary purpose was to help us remember what our role is as musicians in the Army.

While the entire day was spectacular, one of the most humbling experiences of my life occurred on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. There are nearly 100 hundred soldiers in Student Company and we all gathered at the famous landmark in order to take a company photo. As we marched across the National Mall, tourists and visitors started to appear from all directions to take pictures of us. We were warned beforehand by our First Sergeant that the people will look at us like characters in Disneyland, but nothing could have prepared us for the shear numbers of onlookers.

We climbed up the steps and lined up below President Lincoln's "temple." Still the people gathered, now pulling out their cameras to take pictures of us. I was touched by the excitement they had at seeing soldiers. A few minutes later, we were all in place and a civilian spectator offered to snap the photo. As he took a few pictures the crowd took advantage of the opportunity and the flashes and click-clacks of digital cameras reminded me of a rock concert. You have to imagine, the flow of people to the bottom of the steps of the memorial didn't stop until we left. They came from every corner of the National Mall to get a glimpse of the soldiers, all dressed in combat uniforms.

Finally, our leadership were satisfied with the photos and released us to spend the rest of the afternoon touring the Mall on our own. As we attempted to leave the formation, an applause followed by a cheer echoed throughout the park. Now stunned and entirely overwhelmed, we could only stand there, recognizing the gratitude the American people had for their servicemen and women, and yet feeling completely unworthy to receive such praise. After a minute or two the applause died down, and we were able to leave, but not before our company commander stopped us and said something very poignant: "When my dad got back from Vietnam he was booed and spit at. You should be very grateful for the way you are viewed today."

An unforgettable experience on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, just above the stone from which Dr. King spoke about freedom for all, and just below the feet of the man now considered responsible for preserving the unity of the United States.

I spent some time pondering about why that crowd of people gave us an applause. I think it was because we represent to them over 5,000 soldiers who have died in the last seven years. Maybe to them we represent someone they know and love who is in harms way right now.

We were constantly being stopped to take pictures with people; adults and children. We also had people yell at us from a distance, "Thank you for your service!" On my way to the Washington Monument, a man said, "Thank you boys for your service." I casually turned to smile, expecting to see just another person. When I looked at him, though, I saw that he was wearing a Vietnam Veteran hat. All I could say was, "No, thank you for your service." I had to stop and talk to him. It turns out he was there with some of his old war buddies to pay respects to one of their fallen comrades. They had built a small wooden cross and came to lay it underneath his name found on the Vietnam War Memorial Wall. He was kind enough to allow me to join them as they began to search the wall for their friend's name. Once they found it, they made a rubbing with a crayon, placed the cross on the ground, and then spent a moment in silence. The sacrifice they made, both the living and the dead, is far greater than anything I will have to go through. Once again, I was very humbled.

In the nation's most well-known cemetery, Arlington, I had a chance to pay my respects to the Fallen, particularly, the Unknown Soldiers. I watched the Changing of the Guard ceremony that happens every hour. Soldiers come out and carefully lay wreaths on the tomb and then a bugler plays Taps. It was very solemn. Very humbling. Those three soldiers represent the millions killed in action and the those who are still unaccounted for. The way that bugler played Taps made me understand a little better my responsibility as a trumpet player in the Army. He plays Taps every hour, every day and yet he played it like it was a special ceremony. I hope to be able to show that kind of respect to the soldiers whose funerals I get to play at.

It was an amazing trip. I was moved and motivated. I hope someday to tell these stories to my kids and then take them to D.C. to show them where they happened. In no way do I subscribe to the America-is-the-Greatest-Country-in-the-World doctrine, because I love another country and its people just as much. It's the great symbolism of freedom that America is, or should be, that I love. I'm grateful to represent not only those who fight for America, but those who fight for freedom of all God's children.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Cameron's BCT Graduation

So...He did it. He graduated from Army Basic Combat Training.

Not only did he graduated, but he also was the Soldier Leader of the Cycle for his company. It sounds like that's the best award you can get at basic training. We are so proud of his accomplishments.

He got a certificate and two coins like this one.

Ok. So I know what you're thinking. What's with the glasses?! Yeah, they are government issued glasses. The Army calls them BCG, Birth Control Glasses. No kidding. That's what they call them. Everyone (who has bad sight) has to wear them. But you know, just because everyone is doing it, doesn't mean it's right. Those glasses gotta go.

Cameron's mom was kind enough to come with us to SC. She really helped us out a lot by coming. I mean...there's no way I could've taken those two WONDERFUL children to SC by myself. Besides, it really meant a lot to Cameron.

Thursday was the family day and Friday was the graduation. We got to be with him for two days. The kids needed it. I needed it. And most of all, Cameron needed it. We still don't know how long Cameron has to be in VA (now doing music training), but he has his cell and his computer. So I think we'll make it.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

1st day - Disneyland 2nd day - Disneysea

We went to Disneyland!!!　　　ディズニーランドに行っちゃいました。

Caden was soooooo excited to see Jesse and Woody that he couldn't stop dancing.
恵伝はトーイストーリーのウッディーとジェシーを見て大興奮して、踊ってばっかりでした。

There were also Princess Aurora, Cinderella, and Belle. But Caden had no interest in them and Maya was scared (of course). My sister Nozomi, her daugher Hannah, and I were the only ones who got super excited.

他にもオーロラ姫とシンデレラとベルがいたのに恵伝は全く興味なし。真椰は誰やねんっていう目で見てたし。興奮してたのは、私と妹の望と姪の花ちゃんだけ。

I think Disneyland is funner to go with kids. Even Cameron who does not like Disneyland, had fun.
ディズニーランドは子供と行くほうが楽しい。ディズニーランド嫌いのキャメロンでもすごい楽しんでた。

We went to Disneysea the next day. It rained a little so we didn't really take pictures but we had a lot of fun.

Caden's Birthday

We've decided to have an early birthday party for Caden since we were moving. He wanted a firetruck theme party.

引っ越しやら何やらで忙しかったため、恵伝の誕生日パーティーを早めにした。消防車のケーキがほしいと言うので…。

作りました。

Firetruck cake was a disaster...
I stacked blocks of cakes in front to make the front of the truck higher but it got too heavy and started to collapsed. I had to put graham crackers on the bottom of the cake to stabilize it. Unfortunately, it was after I put the frosting so it looked really bad.　But the kids were excited so I guess it turned out alright.

でも前が重過ぎてケーキの前がつぶれてきてしまい、フロスティングをぬったあとにクラッカーとかを下に入れたり上にのせたりで最悪な仕上がりに。一応子供は喜んでくれたからいいかあ。

We first played "put out the fire" game. Cameron made Wymount (our old apt) looking box and put red tissues everywhere to make it look like the building was on fire. Each kid got a water gun to put out the fire. We had fun.
最初にゲームをした。キャメロンがダンボール箱でワイマウント（前に住んでたとこ）を作って、赤いティッシュをいっぱい火事に見えるように作ってくれました。それを子供たちが水鉄砲で消すって言うゲーム。楽しかったみたい。

After we had did the cake and the presents, we all went to a fire station.
ケーキ食べてプレゼント開けた後、みんなで消防署に行き、いっぱい写真撮ったり消防車に乗せてもらったりした。子供達は大興奮！楽しいパーティーになりました。

Even Maya had fun.
真椰も楽しかったみたい。

Sunday, May 3, 2009

"Wicked!"

My crazy mother (I can say that because I'm pretty sure she hasn't figured out how to access the world wide web yet, let alone a "blog") stood in line early in the morning this past December to buy the whole family tickets to "Wicked!" as a Christmas present. We've all been waiting in great anticipation for April 30th to roll around when we could experience the "real story" of the Wicked Witch of the West.

In preparation, my wife and I listened to and became familiar with the soundtrack and checked out some video footage of the original cast online. Other than that, all we knew about the musical was that it was about the Witch before she was The Witch who tried to kill Dorothy and her little dog, too. I am typically the kind of person who likes to know the ending of things before I experience them. For example, I know the entire story of Harry Potter just by word-of-mouth. Whenever I asked people about the details of "Wicked!" however, they responded, without exception, "You have to see it for yourself." So, I curbed the desire to find a synopsis of the show, and went in without knowing anything but the very barest of bones.

For those of you who have not seen "Wicked!" I say, "You have to see it for yourself." I was totally overwhelmed by the two leads, Donna Vivino's Elphaba and Katie Rose Clark's Glinda. I was brought to tears once by the story, but I teared up at least twice involuntarily due simply to the brilliant performance of these two actresses. I was rendered entirely speechless and could have sat through the entire production again right away.

It has now been a few days since "Wicked!" I was sure by now the magic of the show and its impression on me would be long gone. But even now when I think about that night, the music and the performers, my reality is once again suspended. I was so lifted by something so...secular. Whatever it is that I do in life, I hope to make people feel as good as I did, and still do, because of "Wicked!"

I'm starting to feel like I should bear my testimony, so I will now shut up.