Most of us have visited a Mouse Factory (Disney Parks) and remember that ride “It’s A Small World” Okay so you won’t admit you rode the ride, but try to deny you don’t remember that annoying song they drilled in to your brain until you ran screaming to Space Mountain.
Well it is a small world, and shrinking more every day. There I was on FaceBook a few months ago and I found a friend request from a guy named CJ, Wills, after looking his page up I found that we both were retired from the Navy and if that wasn’t enough, he also lives in Roosevelt, Dinalupihan Bataan. We exchanged phone numbers and I walk over to the elementary school which he said he lived behind. And in fact he does, but just not the one I went to. In confusion I called him again and he described his house to me and still right behind the elementary school. I looked again and there was still nothing there but the graveyard.
How was I to know that our Barangay had two elementary schools? After a few more calls we sorted it out, and CJ might have been thinking; “Do I really want to meet this knucklehead named Paul?” He came and picked Mayang and I up and brought us to his house, which was less than a mile from mine.
His house was lovely, and he has his very own Dog Army made up of MinPins (Miniature Pincers), we start talking sailor talk, which is, where we’ve been stationed, who we both new, and where we were from. Then it was noted that we both love old Rock and Country music, a match made in heaven.
We opened his computer when I noticed he had Globe Broadband, Whoa Nelly, I’ve been told for years that it was not available here in our Y2K zone of Bataan. Now my eyes see it first hand less than a mile from my abode. Nuff said on that, Paul, move on!
We decided to trade music, and meet for lunch at Texas Joe’s on Subic for lunch. We then reverted back to being sailors and broke out the SMB’s to get better acquainted. His wife Carmen and Mayang both looked at each other and knew the day would be long.
A few days later we are at Texas Joe’s and my friend Tommy and his wife Loleth joined us also. We had a great lunch as always, and adjourned to the outside bar for cocktails and more sailor talk. Tommy had once sailed on MSC (Military Sealift Command) ship’s when he was in the Navy, and when discharged he sailed on the same ship’s, as a CivMar (Civilian Mariner) and CJ was the Command Master Chief for the Military Detachment on Subic Bay Naval Base. So Tommy and CJ knew of each other and as with me, we all knew a lot of the same guys we had all worked with, see that world is still shrinking!
More lunches ensued, and more music was exchanged, plus more gatherings planned. Our three ladies? They’re still nodding their collective heads, for they are all married to men of the sea and know how we are when we get together. So new friendships are born and new Shipmates are met, and I’ll have to agree with Mr. Disney; “It is a small world after all.”
About the Globe Broadband? That a story for next week, isn’t it?
Paul;
Sure is a small world, or as someone once said “A Global Village”.
Engine room eh, i have many memories, good and bad, of working in the bowels of a ship, as i liked to call it. We were nicknamed “Stokers”, after the guys who went before us, who used to shovel the coal into the boiler,lol.
Chas;
A good friend of mine from the Royal Navy was a Chief Stoker, and he and I drank a few Gin ‘N Tonics together, while watching Fawlty Towers on Base TV in the Chief’s Sun Downers Lounge at the Chief’s Barracks. In the old coal fired days of the US Navy because they were covered with coal dust our boys were called “The Black Gang”.
I would have to say that’……..really “cool”….
Paul, my wife is convinced that the man standing to the port side of CJ is her brother or a look alike. Next time you see him would you ask him if the guy is named Cinco? thanks.
Loren;
I’ll do that today!
Loren;
CJ, said his name is Lou Transfiguracion. Does that help?
Yes , thank you. I guess then it is’t my wife brother unless he changed his name. The brother in law AL Cinco, allso retired as a E9 engineman. Thanks for checking Paul.
Loren;
Al retired as a Master Chief, who’s pay-grade was e-9, it a Navy thing. (lol) We are very sensitive about that, for some reason. You could call me anything, but late for Last Call.
Lenny;
Who would have thunk it, just down the road from each other?
His name is Lou Transfiguracion, Retired now living in Long Beach Ca. By the way that is No. 3 engine room on the USS.Missouri BB-63
CJ;
Thank you Master Chief!
My ex mother-in-law drug everyone through that stupid ride 5 times….in one day! I still get murderous urges everytime I hear that annoying little song. ( shudder)
Dave;
You’ve proven my point about the fact that the music is annoying. and we’ve all had a ride on the dumb thing. Ex- Mother-in-law? I fully understand! (lol)
The “Pirates of the Carribean”! Now that’s a good ride, especially if you’re able to sneak in a flask of Captain Morgan!
Hated the “Small World” ride, but my daughter loved it, so I did my “duty”. Now I can’t get that damn song out of my head.
Billy Mac;
I was asked to leave the “Pirates of the Carribean” ride with a lady friend, as we had drank more rum than the real Captian Morgan. I know about that duty deal, when I took kids with me, I did the rides they wanted in the order they wanted, and without the blessings of cocktails! Oh the pain of it all!
Great story, Paul! Couldn’t ya have done it without the Disney reminder? My wife is presently in the galley singing it over, & over!
Mike;
She’s doing it to spite you, they find that weak spot and chip away.
Lets see? Old Rock & Roll and Country music? Along with a frosty San Magoo? Now thats a match made in heaven!!! Also retired USN (airdale) back in 94, waiting for second retirement from DOJ then planning on last PCS to there. O the Disney thing, rides scared the heck out of the wife, haven’t been back since..hahahaha
John;
Nothing wrong with Brown Shoe Navy, and you sound like you’re working on a plan. Those cool SMB’s will be waiting when you get here! Wow, she won’t ride the Small World ride, you truly are a lucky man!
Paul,
Brown Shoe Navy great guys!! Uncle was a Brown Shoe Submariner, he told what he did but it was greek to me…hahahaha. In the early 70’s through the 80’s when there was no speed limits, road rules or super highway there, we used to ride both the old non-a/c victory liner and salog buses from subic to (through your town matter of fact) manila and cavite. That was the most terrifying ride in the world and she was ok with that, then for her to be scared of a disney ride…go figure!! Must have been the scarey dwarfs…hahahaha
OOPS i meant Black Shoe…duh!!!!!
John;
I was on a Sub Tender (USS LY Spear AS-36) and worked with Submariners every day, this is what I know about what they do. They do something I don’t want to do, and collectively are a bunch of specially dedicated Sailors. I built a great respect for them over the years. BTW: The old National Highway now has a speed limit, but the cops still don’t have the cars to catch anyone.
Paul
Great story of you meeting up with another old salt. However you have brought back memories for a lot of us that have been scarred by that dam song.
Neal;
Be afraid, be very afraid. That song will drive one to drink excessive amounts of beer. So will meeting up with good buddies do the same.
Hi Paul,
I liked the part about the “graveyard.” I found that funny. 🙂
Alex
Alex;
It had me going also, I kept walking behind the school and all the houses were very, very small. Thank my stars for cell phones to help clear that up.
Paul,
I’m glad you were able to meet another retired Master Chief and right at your front door to boot. I can just imagine listening to all those “tales” of life on the sea. I know i always enjoyed listening to the “stories” that the Gunnery/Master Sgt’s would tell when i was in the Corps. I really respect what you guys accomplished in the Navy and would love to meet you all over some very cold SMB’s when i’m there next. That song brings back nightmares of when i took my kids there when they were small. I can’t get that sound out of my head now lol. Take care brother
Papa Duck;
When a couple of guys get together and start talking about “Back Then” it’s not realy important if they were former military or not. And did you notice it was always better back then? (lol) Someday we’ll do those cold SMB’s under a mango tree, just don’t wait too long!
Paul,
I will be there next year for a visit and for good in 2014. Under a Mango tree is great or any other place would be great. It’s always who your with that matters the most. Have a nice day Sir Paul!
Papa Duck;
I’ll trim the area around the Mango tree and start chillin’ the SMB’s.
Senior,
Yes small world indeed especially when it comes to meeting a shipmates that know each other in one way or another. Senior let me ask you a question does it seem that only the older sailors who have experienced the Philippines go back there to live? Since we left in 94 I don’t think to many saliors have had the priveledge to go their and only hear sea stories.
Bruce;
Last week the Sub Tender Frank Cable (AS-40) was in Subic for ten days, and I ran into the kids everywhere. Their getting here, just not as often as we did!
Been wondering what happen to you. I miss the good times we had while on recruiting duty in Titusville, even the night we were out drinking and you tried to kill me by flipping your car. It sounds like you have continued to live life to the max and are enjoying it.
I’m retired now and living in Melbourne. Saw in the paper that Jack Stuchell passed away in November.
Take care,
Don
Don; I’ll e-,ail you!