It’s about 11:30 pm here in Hanoi and I’m sweating like I did 39 years ago. It’s been really good, at least for the first hour and a half. They drive just like me over here. It’s about a forty minute drive from the airport into the Old Quarter of Hanoi where I’m staying and it’s really Vietnam. I’ve made it. I was on the plane for 18 hours today. Dr. Pradhan, my VA psychiatrist, wrote a letter to Korean Air telling them about my disabilities and suggested keeping the normies away by blocking out some seats around me. At first, after I read it, I was afraid they wouldn’t let me on the plane, but she knows her stuff. The Airline was very kind and accomodating and gave me some room. I had a whole row for the flight from LA to Seoul. That’s a hump! My hotel had a mixup. The couple that was in my room was supposed to head to Hue today, but they couldn’t make a connection. So I’m at the Prince Hotel II for the night. The rack’s comfy and that’s all I need right now.
Yesterday in Oceanside was eerie. Driving along the freeway past San Clemente, San Onofre Beach, Camp Pendleton, Del Mar and into Oceanside brought back a flood of memories. ITR at the old tent camp Onofre was remembered. Digging holes into the sand at the beach at Onofre for recon IBS training came back. My hands even starting burning. First Sgt. Maurice Jacques telling me he was going to make me a recon marine and before you knew it I was doing leg kicks for the Seal Instructors at 11th Street Naval Station in San Diego and shutting my eyes while I leaped and prayed for silk with the old T-10’s at Bennings. Dodging the agressors by running the platoon over the freeway at midnight brought a chuckle. Fred thought I’d lost my marbles. No he didn’t. He knew. Before then, right about noon, I was parked in front of the Sullivan home.
To start this journey with a day with lost family is fitting. To see Reggie standing tall and his son Stephen the spitting image made a lot of confusion make sense. To be held by Jennifer is much better than a 60 day supply of Welbutron. The girls are beautiful women, strong , handsome and real. Regina’s kids are proof the world can be right and Kiki still can steal your heart. It was a full afternoon and I didn’t want to go, but I had to get back nearer to LAX to get where I am right now.
See ya, for now.