Eglish 1302 Essay #1

Jul 12, 2007 15:55


     Ok, so i'm finally back in class, the GI Bill Rolling, and all that good stuff. Since I'm prompted to write again, I thought I'd share my work on my blogs. So, without further adieu, here goes:

A Reflection on Life's Priorities

In the distance, the mountains off the isle of Maui stood in a graceful presence, their lush greenery and soaring gulls swaying and flying with the cooling breeze that gently caressed everyone on deck at dusk that December day. The USS Lassen was floating just offshore, and she too, swayed softly with the wind and waves in that rhythm to which we had all become so familiar as to accommodate unconsciously. The temperature in the Hawaiian archipelago is mildly warm at that time of year, and no one was too uncomfortable as our usual blue coveralls were stowed. Everyone was in his or her dress white uniforms, clean, crisply pressed, and shoes polished up for the day. And there we were, standing in orderly, silent rank and file, at attention as our Captain and Master Chief ceremoniously called forth names from our ranks to receive promotions and recognition. My attention was primarily elsewhere as the voices caught my ear in snippets:

"Engineman Second Class..."
     "You are hereby authorized to assume the title and wear the uniform of a First Class Petty Officer..."
     "...Your appointment carries with it the obligation that you exercise increased authority and willingly accept greater responsibility..."

Even when my own name was called, and I sharply walked over before Captain O’Connor, saluted, and listened to the pronouncement, it was all rote. Despite how professional it may have appeared, I simply was not all there.

"Information Systems Technician Third Class Angelou del Angel, you are hereby authorized to assume the title and wear the uniform of a Second Class Petty Officer effective immediately. Your appointment carries with it..."
     "Thank you, sir."

And with that, I shook the captains hand, looked him in the eye, and took the written and signed copy of my promotion in hand. Briefly the Captain and I turned towards Counselor Carman, who was photographing the promotions that afternoon. We stood still for a moment as the camera clicked, then I saluted once more, turned, and returned to the ranks, to maintain the illusion of attention while my eyes were fixed on the horizon.
     Behind the proceedings, through the far haze was one of those spotty, half-cloudy skies that subtly etches itself into one’s memory. Just above the point where the Pacific met the sky, a row of clouds obscured the descending sun, and from behind there it cast a glow upon the rest of the clouds above it, surely the very same glow that caused ancient peoples to associate the sun with gold and divinity. And in the space between the waters and the lowest distant clouds, the glow was broken, and sunbeams rained down at angles away from the epicenter of the light. Finally, in louder tone, the Master Chief called:

"Crew, dismissed!"

The stolid rank and file dissolved as everyone proceeded to their watch stations, to the chow hall, or back to their bunks...but not me. Darkness would be upon us soon, so I ran to my locker and grabbed my camera. And so, out on deck, the ambient sounds of the gulls in the distance and the water lapping against the hull were momentarily and discreetly usurped, by one more click of the lens. Minutes later, as I leaned against the rail, eyes cast westward, ancient Helios dipped below the waves, and bid me his fond farewell for the evening.

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