Wrangler Dani

You guys totally know this about me, but I have to say it again. I love America. I’m totally going to be the embarrassing grandma who dresses my dog in an American flag and cries at hometown parades. Oh, wait… I already do that… and I don’t even have a dog.

So, you all have to have a TON of respect for Adam for taking me to Pearl Harbor for a day. There would be tears and bursting into song and deep thoughts all in one red, white and blue day. Sounds fun, right? (Translation: He’s the best husband ever.)

It really was, to be honest. I had just forced Adam to watch the cinematic masterpiece Pearl Harbor, so he was even caught up on his historical love triangles.

You actually have to take a boat over to the Arizona memorial, because it’s actually straddling the sunken Arizona. It makes the experience incredibly reverent and moving, despite being crowded with tourists – suddenly, you’re not sight-seeing anymore, you’re paying homage.

The Arizona had 1.4 million gallons of fuel on board when she went down, and about a quart and a half a day bubbles up from below. Pearl Harbor survivors call the seepage “black tears.” I was disturbed by how many people asked about the environmental concerns of allowing the oil to bubble from the ship – honestly, it’s not as though the water all around the ship is black and I find it incredible that people are so callous. (In case you are one of those callous folk, the environment is not hurt by the oil from the Arizona.)

After seeing the memorial, we also toured the USS Bowfin, nicknamed the “Pearl Harbor Avenger” and the Missouri, or “Mighty Mo”.

Of course, we also had to take a one-armed photo. OF AMERICA.

I know that I’m not usually the kind of blogger who writes vacation posts or even really uses pictures, and I don’t actually talk about these kind of mundane details, well, ever, on the blog. So thanks for indulging me as I test out some new waters. 🙂