If the weather is exceptionally nice at lunchtime Melba and I will sometimes drive out to a small parking area on the north end of the base. It's a quiet place to eat and enjoy a great view of Tokyo Bay. Because Melba lunches early at eleven o'clock we have the place to ourselves for a while before others with the same idea begin pulling up at noon. We like it here because the boxy nature of our little car encourages a sense of intimacy in its confined interior. It makes for good quality time. We enjoy the parade of ship traffic in the distance, the 'flying show' that these strange fish put on sometimes by continually leaping out of the water as if they are trying to snatch a nibble in the air, or just watching the sea birds sail lazily on the currents of air over the bay. We sit there and talk quietly to each other about home, friends, and family. It's easy to do that when you let your gaze extends far beyond the hazy blue horizon where the sky drops like a curtain to meet the sea. It can be a dreamy place when it's quiet like that.
Our meal of choice is from the local SUBWAY; a six-inch turkey on wheat, no cheese, with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, jalapeños with spicy mustard. We throw in a couple of bags of chips and some delicious chocolate cookies to the order, washing it all down with diet Pepsi.At times, when another vehicle parks alongside, we'll look over and catch a quick glimpse of the lone occupant sitting quietly, staring into the distance, not really focusing on anything. It almost always is a young person. We know what they're thinking. Estamos muy lejos de casa.
