July 1

We were on the road by 7am to get to Pearl Harbor for the day. Entrance is free but ticket times to be on the boat out to the USS Arizona Memorial is the reason for needing to arrive there right when it opens. Even by doing so (about 8am arrival) we had 11:45 boat tickets. Which was fine because in the mean time we bought our tickets to see a new (new to us since last time) memorial - the USS Missouri aka Mighty MO!!

The "Mighty MO" tour was really beyond awesome and I words just don't do justice to the experience. It is a retired Navy ship - where on it took place the surrender of Japan and pretty much the end of WWII as the agreement of peace with each other was made. I'm not a big history person but Pearl Harbor and the events that took place are probably one of the only parts of history that means something to me and that I enjoy learning about. Again - family influence plays a big part in that!! (I'll explain more further down) The tour on the ship was really neat to see all the parts on a Navy ship - things you don't really think about them having...like a dentist, law office, 3 huge kitchens...I figured just 1 would be there). And the space these men had/have for living quarters - makes me feel terrible for how I was pretty much disgusted with my dorm freshman year of college and it's lack of space. Compared to their area...my dorm was a mansion! As a foods teacher it was really great to see the 3 big kitchens and prep areas where the tons and tons of food was made. I also couldn't get over the size of the "huge cannon-like things" (don't know names ...lol) on this ship - HOLY COW don't mess with the US!!! Impressive to say the least!

My dad's father (my grandpa) & brother (my dad's uncle) were both in the Navy & part of WWII. My dad's uncle unfortunately was killed at sea during this war, very shortly after the Pearl Harbor attacks. Pearl Harbor really leaves a huge mark on my dad's side of the family - especially with my dad. It brings tears to my eyes now just to think back to our time at Pearl Harbor and watching my dad. It was powerful, moving, and just stopped me in my tracks to watch him. There was a point when he just stood and stared out at the USS Arizona memorial for 20 minutes - just standing, tears in his eyes, and looking, thinking back on his uncle and father and all the many people involved in that war and events. I will never forget this memory I have of my dad - it's so special to me!! (If you know my dad - he's a pretty tough guy! ...Seeing him like this, not afraid or embarrassed to let out his true feelings - wow! Talk about a powerful moment!!)

My mom later told me part of a story about my dad's grandma (who's my dad's father and uncle's mom). She never ended up leaving or selling her house after her son died because she didn't want him to come home and them not be there. She also never ate fish after that since he died at sea.

What also get's me when you're out on the memorial over the USS Arizona, there is still, STILL oil coming up from it. Gave me the chills for sure! And that is one thing I do remember from when I was 10 and looking down at the Arizona. One thing that is different than 15 years ago is how much more I appreciate going to Pearl Harbor and seeing everything again. Age 10 vs. age 25 does include quite a bit of different life experiences and it just meant so much more to me now, especially having experienced 9-11, seeing and hearing stories about our men and women fighting over seas for our country and to help other country's find peace within, and for Jack and I losing a friend about 3 years ago who was in the Navy. Jason was certainly in our hearts and minds during our day on the Mighty MO and at Pearl Harbor. I still think about how different it all was this time for me and I am really thankful for getting the chance to experience this again!

After Pearl Harbor we went to the National Cemetery of the Pacific, also known as Punchbowl. You want to talk beauty... start here!!! Pictures don't do justice!
























National Cemetery of the Pacific









Also the day we had a little tooooo much fun at happy hour! We are silly!