One Big Ocean. A thought and a Wes Loper song

Possibly it's because I've always felt a strong connection to large bodies of water (probably a metaphysical extra dimensional connection http://ericerdmanmusic.blogspot.com/2012/08/we-love-each-other-or-we-may-just-be.html?m=1)

Or possibly it's because I've been around water my entire life.

But either way, I am an aquaphile.

I get mesmerized by it.

Today We are playing in Panama City Beach. We have some down time between load in and soundcheck. I ordered some food and then turned my eyes to the Gulf.

Just like a million other times in my life, I instantly feel at home because of the water. It has an amazing comforting, calming affect on me.

These surroundings (or truly any other surroundings) may be foreign but if I'm within sight of those familiar emerald waves I am at peace.

Maybe it's because the water is in constant restless flux and I feel it must therefore also be a musician, but the connection I feel is undeniable.

So I sit here and feel absolutely happy. It is like I'm getting to visit with my oldest friend, saltwater.

As I soak it in I have another thought:
The magically beautiful waters I enjoyed while on Kwajalein a few weeks back are part of these same waters.

Everything about my surrounds is different: the people, the sounds, the wardrobe, the vegetation, ....everything.....Everything except that saltwater.

Maybe that's why I love it so much. In this crazy ever changing world I live in that saltwater is constant. It maybe always moving (just like I am) but it in a different way it acts as an anchor too. I can hold on to it. I know it will always be there for me.

These thoughts bounce around my head and a song is instantly attached to the sentiment. Wes Loper's "One Big Ocean". I had the honor of playing a duo with Wes last night. As always he was spectacular.
But being here ,thinking about that song in retrospect gives the song and my current situation more meaning.

If you are unfamiliar with the song you should familiarize your self with it (http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/wesloper). It's great. But the chorus perfectly fits my feelings now :

"One big ocean
Let their names just flow together don't forget your lotion
let's go play in the sunny weather
near one big ocean
it can seem like a childish notion
but all the water
around this Earthly Island
is one big ocean."

It's a happy fun beach song but there's more to it than that.

It sums up the feeling I'm having at the moment. Our perceptions that all these different ocean views are somehow 100% unrelated is false. Sure some spots have a uniqueness others do not but the important part of the picture, the ocean, is one solitary thing.

As I said earlier I love being around bodies of water. It's part of who I am (literally and figuratively). As everyone I am comprised greatly of saltwater. But also I love boating (sail or motor) , skiing , surfing, swimming, snorkeling , or just floating.

I need water and I need to be near water.

I appreciate Wes Loper for writing a song that helps me appreciate it even more.

I'd keep pontificating but sound check is rapidly approaching and I am wasting time that could be used spending quality time with my oldest friend.

"You Dropped The Bomb on me, Baby!!"

When l landed in Majuro (Capitol of the Republic of the Marshall Islands) a couple weeks ago there were many tell tale signs that I was in a foreign place. The
most obvious of these was the visual surroundings. There was a little thing known as the Pacific Ocean which was visible in
virtually 360 degrees. There were palm trees, pandanus trees, and tropical bushes. There were the buildings that had obviously
been built in the time of the American occupation during WWII (late 1940's-1950's) which had been highly weathered by the
salty rain and winds combined with 60 years of heavy use.

Another sign that I was in a foreign place was the smell. The scent of salt air is definitely not foreign to me. However the way it was
mixed with the smell of Majuro vegetation and the aromas of a densely populated island was unique. The nose is a sensitive organ. And my nose was telling me I wasnt "in Kansas" anymore.

Another sign I was far from Alabama was my interactions with the Marshallese people. Of course they have a distinctive look.
They have what l'll say is an island look (i.e. coarse black hair, dark skin, etc) but it's a version of that island look that is
discernibly Marshallese. However their appearance isn't the reason for this blog. lt's their attitude.

The phrase I heard most while l was in the Pacific was "lsland Time". lf someone was late, he was said to be on "lsland Time". lf store hours
posted on the sign outside didn't really match the actual hours the store was open ..... "lsland Time". lf a 10 minute break lasted
30 it was chalked up to "lsland Time".

The people in the Marshall Islands are just laid back. They get their business done but they aren‘t overly stressed about it. And
this general attitude is instantly obvious.

A perfect example of this laxness is why I am writing this blog.

We landed in Majuro and had a 45 minute layover before taking our short flight to Kwajalein. Majuro airport is only a 40'x60' room and they probably get an international
flight once a week and maybe 5-6 island hoppers a day. Majuro is a tiny tiny airport.

We had travelled through multiple times before so we knew what to expect (for the most part). When you land in Majuro
half of the plane (typically everyone sitting in rows A, B, and C) have to get their carry on and get off the plane. Once they have
left the plane the security force comes in and checks all the overhead compartments and all the seat back pockets and seats. All passengers who are in rows D, E, and F have to hold their carry ons and awkwardly dance around the security folks as they check the other side of the plane. Therefore I always get off the plane in Majuro regardless of which side I'm on. It's usually time to stretch out tired legs when ya land in Majuro anyway.

So the rest of the Ugli Stick and l get off the plane while they check it. We head to the small airport to use the bathroom while
we wait. Once we had done that l noticed that there was a bar in the airport. You have to understand, this airport only has
enough space for probably 20-30 people to sit and yet they felt it wise to have a bar. I like the way these people think. The bar consists of about 6-7 dusty bottles. Only some of these bottles are of a brand I have heard. I looked at Tim and said, "Let's have a drink. lt's burning up. We are both
sweating. We‘ve just flown 30 hours. We‘ve finally made it (minus a short little jump to Kwaj). Plus we need to support this lovely
establishment." Tim wasn‘t so sure but he was a good sport and eventually agreed.

We walked up to the bar accompanied by the 3-4 flies that were circling. The bartender was a sweet smiling older Marshallese
lady with more than a couple teeth missing. She greeted us warmly with her half empty smile and said "Want some drink?". l said "Yes
please" then turned to Tim. “What do you want to drink, man? Selection is highly limited and we probably need to have a shot
not a drink since we will be re boarding the plane very soon." Again Tim agrees. l begin looking at the selection. lt's 1 bottle of scotch, 1 bottle of whisky and some weird beer ...... and Jager. Jager isn't the first choice for Tim nor myself but a) Jäger is something we are familiar with and b) this shot was about commemorating not about
getting enjoyment so much. So we reluctantly ask the bartender for two shots of Jager.

She grabs the bottle down and dust from years past erupts into the air. l was gearing myself up for the vintage cough syrupy onslaught when I hear the lady say the last two words any one ever wants to hear in regards to Jager ....... "No Ice".

Oh god! We are sweating in this tiny swelter box of an airport and about to "quench" our thirsts with hot Jager.

The sweet lady is already pouring. There is no backing out now.

At this point, Federal Aviation regulations are the farthest thing from my mind. I am simply trying to gear up for this self imposed
punishment/commemoration shot then get back on the plane.

Federal Aviation regulations were inadvertently and instantly brought to my mind by the sweet lady. And it was then I knew i was truly in a foreign land.

With complete disregards to her surroundings or any institution controlling said surroundings, the sweet semi-toothed barkeep says very loudly , "MAKE A BOMB?"


She was pointing to a half empty can of hot Red Bull on the shelf. But all I could think was .... "did she really just say that in an
airport?" I realize this is a more relaxed atmosphere than at say....JFK or something, but it's still an airport.

I'm sure the blank look on my face confused her because again she asked loudly, " MAKE A BOMB? MAKE A BOMB?" It then officially sunk in that this was really happening so I was able to gather myself . I waved emphatically and say "NO NO NO! Thank you though"

She smiled calmly and went about pouring our hot Jager into styrofoam cups. I paid her and Tim and I gagged down our "treat".

That sweet lady yelling "Make a bomb?" repeatedly in a packed yet silent airport is a moment l'll always remember. It was so incredibly peculiar to
me but it was also extremely memorable for me because it vividly displayed how differently the Marshallese live.
She wasn‘t yelling "Make a bomb?" in an airport as any sort of defiant act. I'm positive she had no idea what she was saying was a severe no no. She was just being friendly and happy. She may not even know the rules of global, international airports. But even if she did I get the feeling she would still have said it.

It is refreshing and relaxing to be on "Island Time" but it‘s also refreshing to be around a culture of people who have the island mind set.

A little of that mindset rubbed off on me I think.

Don‘t worry, I haven‘t made such a drastic transition that l‘lI be yelling "Make a Bomb"
in LAX. But I am a lot less stressed about all this travel when I think the Marshallese way.

“Life is good. Eat well. Have some rum, If I somehow miss the plane that comes today I will just try to catch the one tomorrow or next week.

It‘lI all be fine."


(By the way, on the way back through Majuro as we were leaving the Pacific, we went inside the airport and the same lady was working. Of course Tim and I had to revisit our friend (it was too great of an experience to not repeat. Besides I'm feeling a Marshall Islands tradition forming). Our "leaving the isIands" shot of hot Jager tasted exactly as horrible as the first one did. But there was a difference this time. When the little lady once again yelled "Make a
Bomb?", I just smiled, waited for her to ask again and calmly said "No Thanks")

Resilience Amongst the Coral

Today was our Off Day on Kwaj. We did an Interview for the Kwajalein paper. I can't wait to check out the article. Our segment will be 1 of 16 pages. Once again Kwaj wins as far as percentages go. I've had many articles written, but never been 1/16th of an entire publication. 

After the interview I rode around the island for a bit.

Then we had a Happy Hour hang at the Kwajalein Yacht Club before dinner.

We were invited to dinner at Denise Dorn and Mike Nast's house. Denise and Mike own the boat we sailed down from Roi on the other day. Anyway, Denise is a fabulous cook. I realized this when I had her banana coconut muffins and Kona Hazelnut coffee on the boat. Since then I have heard from everyone on the island that Denise is THE BEST cook here. After last night I can see why they say that.

Denise had prepared us a mexican meal that was incredible. She had home made tortillas, shredded beef and all the trimming for making tacos. She had jalapenos which had been hollowed out and filled with cream cheese then wrapped with bacon. She had some incredible salsa. And more and more and more. And every single thing was delicious. 

We had a great evening hanging out on Denise and Mike's back patio. It was a perfect evening.

This morning Bobby and I got up and went to film the sunrise.

As I was sitting out there on the coral mound watching the sun come up on this miraculous piece of the Earth I started thinking about the local vegetation. The vegetation here is obviously different than any place stateside. I just hadn't put too much thought into why. I mean there is obviously different amounts of sunlight, water, and wind here, but I thought of another critical element. This island isn't made out of dirt. The island is almost completely composed of coral (or sand which has been formed by the pieces of coral that have been ground down over years). But coral isn't a very fertile soil type. It isn't a fertile soil type for "normal" vegetation. But the plants out here aren't "normal". These trees and bushes are resilient. They have grown to be tough enough to withstand intense winds and very little nutrients from the soil. Actually they haven't just survived in these less than ideal conditions, they have thrived. The whole island is lush and green due to their being so prolific. 

It is then that I thought back to our dinner party from last night. That dinner party wasn't just a dinner party that was great considering what was available here on the island. That was a great dinner party for anywhere on Earth. Denise and Mike (and the hundreds of other families here) have grown to not just survive on this island, they are thriving. They fed 8-9 people amazing food and entertained us all fully in their lovely home. 

This may seem pretty innocuous but I think it is more profound than that.

The people who live here (as represented by Denise and Mike) haven't simply settled for accepting the best of what's around, they have adapted their life styles to their surroundings and they are flourishing due to it. Much like the palm and pandanus trees these good folks have almost become a part of the island. When the storm comes they use its rain to quench their thirsts and wiggle their toes in between the coral and lean into the wind. 

Just as the palm trees and pandanus add to the beautiful essence of this island, so do the people who call it home. 

The New Disney (Magical Kingdom 2.0)

I'm not big into paranormal activity. I am a staunch supporter of math and science. I don't believe in voodoo or ghosts or telekinesis or the like. I just feel like occurrences shouldn't be tagged as magic simply because we don't understand them currently. We don't understand them because either our equipment and/or perceptions are insufficient to understand the occurences at this time. 

To say it another way, I believe everything can be explained. It is highly likely that our human senses or our understanding of our surroundings isn't currently sophisticated enough to grasp what is occurring during a certain wonderful phenomenon, but inherently it is knowable. 

The place I am currently at makes me question my stance.

This place is the Marshall Islands (specifically Kwajalein and Roi Namur).

In 2009 my band, The Ugli Stick, was honored to be allowed to do a USO tour for the troops. This tour included stops at military bases throughout the Pacific. Two of those stops were Kwajalein and Roi Namur. 

The instant I got there I knew I was some place special. The shows were special because we were able to play for the men and women of our military, the location was special because these islands happen to be some of the most beautiful places on Earth, but there was something more. 

I felt a connection to the place. I felt calm and comforted there. 

It is so ridiculous to relate it to this, but I felt like I was on the TV show "LOST". I had a real sense that "I wasn't supposed to leave the island." Of course I had to leave the island, but it just felt unright when I did. 

That was 3 years ago and nothing really bad has happened, as a matter of fact life has been great since then, but I always had a gnawing to get back out to Kwaj and Roi.

Thanks to the work of an incredible person and friend, Kim Yarnes, I am currently on Roi Namur. Kim worked very diligently for a very long time to get the government to allocate the funds to bring us back out here. I'd like to thank her and the government for the opportunity.

Being here, I am convinced that I was "supposed to come back to the island". 

Over the last few years I have developed a pretty severe discomfort in my upper back. I'm sure I need surgery and also could benefit from chiropractoryship but till now I've had to just deal with it. Well the 30+ hours of flying and the 3 hours of sleeping on the floor it took to get out here made my back very very unhappy. When it gets that way it is hard to concentrate on anything. The pressure gets so intense that I will find myself getting anxious. It makes me feel like I'm almost suffocating (because I can't fully inhale because my rib cage is too tense to allow itself to expand).

That's how I was when we landed on Kwaj yesterday. And guess what……..almost instantly 80% percent of my tension and back pain went away. I felt good, relaxed and whole. Again I am not negating that being in paradise and getting to see an old dear friend wouldn't be relieving anyway. But there was something greater going on.

It was (and still is ) a glorious feeling.

The mathematician in me says it's probably an actual connection I have with this island (in a higher dimension than the 3 I'm living in and able to observe). Or it's the extremely strong radar (the strongest radar in the world is here in Roi) that is giving me "That tingly feeling". Or maybe because of where these islands are the magnetism of the Earth lines up just right to make me feel better.

But I'm gonna believe maybe, just maybe .....this time....there's some magic mixed in.