by T. C. Driver
Patty had sent me a now outlawed newsletter inside her letter to me. I threw it down in anger. That big Christian College in Lynchburg had lost its case and was now closed for good. They could not pay the federal income tax bill. They had lost their tax exempt status by supporting Israel and using hate speech. Those students at the ship’s Gospel Café had been so nice. I didn’t know they were haters. I guess you just don’t know! People can fool you! I had enjoyed their newsletters for years, but this was the last one to be printed. The sons of the old pastor who founded the school were both in jail and apologizing for losing the church buildings and property in the law suit also. The talk of a new mosque had the city of Lynchburg up in arms. Police from across the country were being sent in to quell the feared redneck hick violence. Osoma stated that he was for religious rights for all, and not just for Christians, also that some non English speaking black Muslims were not offered free books at that college. These racist extremists were the main problem, most church goers were pretty nice folks, said Osoma, but rich churches like this one in Lynchburg needed to pay more and that was only fair. After the ship docked it was great to watch all those many cargo containers leave the Ark. We would soon be able to fly again. But first a few old Navy contractors would be doing some work around the ship. A month leave was given to most of the crew. Many crew members stayed on the ship anyway because of the bad “Jewish problem”. There was simply no place to stay anywhere. I don’t know what the contractors in Pearl did but all four of them billed the Ark for ten to twelve million dollars apiece. This Pearl Harbor lay- over was a honeymoon period for me and my then still ex-wife Patty. We would one day drop the ex and be a family once again. Good times can still be had by saints and sinners alike even as Rome burns around you. Yes even when most people have been played for fools, “as in the days of Noah, so shall it be!”
Patty (my Tweedy) is my own hotter by half version of Goldie Hawn. Patty flew in commercial to Pearl; when she met me she had already rented a car, and we quickly sped off. This month of shore leave was the beginning of the end for years of painful divorce. Being with Tweedy again was wonderful, a true blessing. We stayed mostly on the northern island of Kauai. That island has always been Patty’s favorite, but she liked Waikiki also, she would sing and hum the song, “I’m gonna wash that man right out of my hair” and then grin at me. This girl is crazy about me, I can tell. Patty and I were allowed to stay in one of Mitch Johnston’s time shares for two weeks while in Kauai. Wow what a nice place, it had five bedrooms, a great balcony and huge windows. Don’t say anything to Janet Johnston about that rubber seal dish thing in the kitchen, we kind of kept it accidently when we left. It was just like old times when Patty did her Christmas shopping early at the Pearl merchant’s road side tents. The grass around the tents is great for sleeping on. Men should always avoid going shopping with their wives at all cost. This rule might not be in the Bible but it is in marriage 101.
The Pearl merchants didn’t have any mushrooms for me anyway (ha-ha) no Christmas spirit. Patty and I both thought about and talked about my father while we were in Kauai. My dad was the real Cornelius. Memories of him were everywhere here. This island became his second home towards the end of his life. He seemed to us, to still inhabit the island paradise he so loved. I often wonder what the old NASA scientist and the original “anti-professor” would think of today’s world. Osoma would very much upset him I do believe.
My own son, Shawn T. Cornelius and his girl friend Monica joined us for twelve days of our stay during this month long layover, just as my wife and I would do when my father was still alive I guess I’m the old man now. Gods garden is always turning under don’t take the flower of youth or yourself too seriously. God tells us plainly that this life is but a season, and to live life Gods way. I reminded my son and Monica to keep their heart, mind, and spirit on things eternal. We so often live for earthly garden rewards, things that God has designed to fade and die.
Our close friends Howard and Betty Janey came for a long week visit also during this month, but our time together was mostly Patty and I together by ourselves. This special time together was a much needed second honeymoon for us that helped heal our broken marriage. Short time lovers like Sarah can’t really compete with the joys found in the arms of a true soul mate and life partner. Surprise, God does know what he’s talking about. His way does work. Who knew this, and why has no one told modern man and all of his silly experts. I guess man just got to smart to read the Bible, much less believe it or live by Gods Holy Word.
The good life on this earth has never been better than the time we spent together on the island of Kauai. The large resorts and hotels are always spectacular and we love to visit them. Why a Hotel would ever build a lobby that is five acres in size or a swimming pool large enough to water ski in is above my pay grade. If you demand luxury or even opulence, you can find it here, but don’t forget your wallet. Patty and I talked about how great our life back together in Virginia will be. The rocking chair on the front porch with my Patty sounded pretty good to this old foolish sailor. I promised her this cruise would be my last tour of duty. There would be no more Saint Augustine for me, my old friend Rosie ran the business anyway.
We drove up to the National Park at the North end of Kauai to a wide cave there that was very close beside the road. This cave reminded me of Island Number Two. Of course I didn’t say anything to Patty, but I just could not help myself from taking a close look at the caves back wall.
For lunch, we stopped in a big resort hotel with a reflecting pool in the lobby. They had an all you can eat brunch special for only $99.00 dollars a person plus tax. This was cheap in the high class snob section of Kauai. One silly little local market likes to advertise itself as the most expensive grocery store in America. I do believe that they might just be right. These large world class hotels are a pleasure to visit but even Mitch and Janet’s big time share suite was too grand for my taste. During our brunch, I looked at a Health Dept license on the wall, and sure enough the manager’s name was Patel. I asked for the manager and told him to say hello to my friend Jediah, and mentioned the town and province in India were he lived. The hotel staff sprung into action and started treating us like the Queen of Sheba. Many servants begged for forgiveness for having brought shame to themselves for not knowing our station in life. Patty enjoyed all of this attention. We had drinks over looking the ocean. Red wine for me, and white for Patty. We talked for hours. Patty said she would help me open a Gospel Café back home, just like the one on ship with a big round corner table and everything. We dreamed of singing Gospel music again together just like we did back when we started. Maybe we could still find or invite some of the singers from that big closed down Church in Lynchburg. Our hearts ached to sing Gospel music and praise God once again. It started that very week. A flood of simple Gospel songs started pouring out of my mouth almost too fast for me to write them all down, just like songs had done in my youth. Have you ever been commode hugging drunk? Most people have at least a few times in their life. Writing music for God is just like that, when it comes, it comes and you must be ready to obey. The process is not always easy or comfortable, or convenient.
One late night on the beach, I borrowed one of those giant over-sized acoustic twelve string guitars and started to sing some of my old songs. This night begged the age old question? If you write down a song one day and then try to sing it years later and have now forgotten or changed the words have you made a “mistake” or have you just changed the song to a newer version since it was your song in the first place (ha-ha). That beautiful night on the beach will go down in the record books of my memory as a song singing, and love making classic. Men always like to recall times when we were well, at out best! Tips on beach sand removal and fancy one chop coconut opening cost extra (ha-ha) fellows. Let us face facts, sometimes the coconut does not pop open even for the best of us. The only problem with my Patty compared to “new girls” is I can’t lie to her, she knows me too well
. She knows when I mess up a song, and hates it when I sing the wrong part. My Patty is the best! I hope you have a lifetime women in your life my friend, a true soul mate. If you do don’t ever let her go, don’t be a fool like me.
On our last day of Patty’s visit we were back at Pearl Harbor. Our old friends Howard and Betty Janey came in from Maui to join us again at the end, just as they had done twice before during this trip. We all still talk about the night of the big luau, even to this day. Also we met up with Daniel and Double De again. In every culture the women folk always work out the details of all of this meeting up with who and when or where. Men should never get involved in the meeting up with other couples. Leave this to the women just like the shopping. Take my word for this and don’t doubt me. Everybody’s favorite day on the trip was the chopper ride, but it was not mine. I tried not to talk about the Great Ark and all of my adventures. I did talk about being Holiness; first to Patty and then to Howard and Betty. They didn’t run off like most but I was driving the rental car at the time with the doors locked (ha-ha). We were all old friends back through our youth. Yes through all those dumb days, and the “drug days.” Howard is a little bit unstable or Zaney (ha-ha). Betty is friendly and a little bit on the quiet side. Betty is a great hugger but only if she has a chair to stand on (ha-ha). I’m sorry I did promise no more short jokes.
Our whole group went through the Arizona memorial together on Patty’s last day at Pearl Harbor. That is except for my Son Shawn and his girl Monica they left for home the day before. We picked out the name of Fred Driver a relative of ours and all the pain heartache, and cold reality of war flooded in. Our vacation and honey moon was about over. We Thanked the Lord for allowing the Japanese people to buy and maintain this war memorial. Please forgive the many selfish Americans of my age group who were born with so many blessing just to throw them all away. Out in the water of the memorial I kept seeing and hearing a black dinghy sinking motor end first into the waves. Rubbing my eyes I scrubbed Doc and the boy’s blood from my memory one more time. It never works for long. I looked down into the water again. No dead boys, no sharks, no words with the power to deceive! That is good! Thank God. You just married a Cracker son, you’re not blood kin Cornelius, please don’t go all crazy on me.
My wife Patty and our friends the Janey’s got into a rental car on the dock next to the Great Ark, right on the same spot where Patty had picked me up before. My friends all headed to the airport and to a flight home. I stood on the dock alone watching them drive away. Go with them stupid don’t let Patty leave, do something you fool but alas they were gone and I was too late. My old friend loneliness moved back into my heart. I looked up at the Great Ark towering over Pearl Harbor. Oh what a majestic shadow she cast. The ship makes quite an impression on “first timers” boarding I thought to myself. This was only the third time I had actually walked onto the Ark from shore. Many older passengers, most of them couples were boarding the Ark that day, their trip of a lifetime. None of these old people ever came to the ships Gospel Café I thought to myself. I should make a point of inviting them. Many of these folks could hardly get up the ramp. What are we running here an old folks home (ha-ha). We officers and pilots never saw passengers much, or most of the crew for that matter. The College also kept to themselves for the most part. We each had our own section of the big ship. We officers ate our meals in the officer’s mess, and had our own quarters. The ship was even bigger now than when the old military carrier had been when she was first built. Many college buildings and housing were built on parts of the old flight deck. She could hold a lot more people if needed.
In less than three days we would return to sea. It was time for Ole’ Corny to put wings on once again. There waiting for me up in my cabin, was a stack of mission orders, printed out by my own personal computer, it’s an old apple lap top with an added on larger key board. Yes, I like it that way, and on real paper. I’m old and have fat fingers and can’t always see or hit the numbers on these damn fancy little ship phones. Hey look! Some orders came in on paper in the pouch that is odd. I went to bed early. Paper work could wait till morning. I thought about calling Patty, but it was too early for that. I was getting as bad about phone calling wives as poor Arthur Hodge (ha-ha). Look where all that calling got Ole’ Doc!
With three fingers of red wine, I looked out over the harbor from my high cabin porch balcony. Pearl Harbor...... Those two words meant something when I was a boy. The greatest generation they were called. Men like my dad who gave God country and family their all. They bridged the span of time from horse and buggy to man in space. Has man ever made that leap before, I wonder. They put a man on the moon without real computers, and fought for the God given freedoms of men.
Now their rich spoiled kids and grandkids have voted into power voluntarily the same old tired ungodly, anti-Jewish, fascist evil that the greatest generation had fought so hard against. History is not hard to understand, it’s a record that repeats. America just like the ancient Israelites has gone “Hot–to cold” with God, now without God, from generation to generation. Could we not read? Could we not listen? These ungodly progressives started way back in the First World War, by the time of the greatest generation we were already sick. Death was not instant. The seeds of our destruction were planted the war before. How could so many be fooled? How could so many men each fail their family duties and not teach the ways of God.
Was Katie on T.V. so sweet and pretty, her skirt so short that it didn’t matter the poison she spoke everyday. Osoma’s democratic socialist party platform was word for word a copy of Adolf Hitler’s platform in Germany. Osoma put out a book telling everyone he was a communist. Every one knew that Rev Wrights church was not a true “Christian Church” not one that preached Jesus. Why didn’t Katie and her friends on T.V. tell us the truth? Why did no one sound the alarm or ring the Liberty Bell? The media was already dead to Gods word, his teaching, and the truth that’s why.
We fools gave up freedoms light without a fight, without a shot. We have gone from victory to defeat, from pride to shame, from riches to rags. Young fools hating their own inheritance, hating their own success, power, and glory. “It was not fair that Americans had so much” they would say, our fathers handed us too many blessing. You fool; know you not from where your blessings come?
Osoma hates God, Freedom and America, he wants to punish her. He is a bitter man, with an even more than bitter wife. No one can hear that bitter hate speech of the black separatist movement or those Jew hating speeches of the Islamic movement for twenty years if he was not one of them himself. I have a question friend; does anyone ever shout out kill the Jews, or down with America, in your church. Wake up America! People who go to KKK meetings are members of the Klan. We have elected a monster. Osoma does not defend the constitution he openly wars against it and us. Government schools have taught the Progressive, Humanist, Communist line for many years in America. Now even racist teachings are openly used. This hatred for America has become anti-white anti-church, anti-rich and is always anti-Jewish. Sad to say most young students have been brainwashed, and agree with Osoma. Let us pick up the ways of the old world once again, they will say. A Godly Republic of free men is too heavy a burden to bear. Give us a czar, a king, let us be slaves as the rest of the world, and equal to them. Each of us to be a charge of the King and by doing so then each will be taken care of for life. My friends let us face the cruel truth! America has been lost!
I prayed myself to sleep that night, life brought so many questions. I studied up on the number 26 by taking fireball candy and making clusters of thirteen. One in the center with twelve around! Ok first I take seven fireballs. One in center with six around it, then three on top, and then three on the bottom to make a sphere. The pyramids then got a little tricky. I kept the candy in a jar on my desk to play with later. I was very proud of myself, for finally understanding some of the math of Gods universe.
The next morning Professor Lou Goodliar and I again met outside of our
cabins. This time Tommy Mute was outside “Loud” Lou’s cabin door with him. They invited me to hear a professor give a lecture (or preach) later that night. This man had been on the Big Island, and would be in Pearl tonight. Lou had tickets. At the lecture in a large auditorium in town many of the ships officers and crew had come to hear this professor, preacher, and author. I think Goodliar got some free tickets for bringing in so many. Lou loved Bible study he always knew more than anybody else and always got in the last word. Our auditorium was packed the seats were comfortable and the air-conditioning felt great. Many put coats and sweaters on. Our group settled in for the lecture. This professor had a long name and even a longer list of titles. He must be a very important man. He had written many history books most of them about the Civil war. Ok I know the War Between the States. He also wrote books about the Wild West. His wife Rosemary was very pretty, this man married very well. His Rosemary was a much younger, whiter, smaller, and taller version of my Rosie back in Saint Augustine. Professor Theodor Whitt (trying his hand at humor) introduced his wife as “Rose the Nose” which angered two old women in the crowd. Whitt was fond of doing Irish drinking jokes and side stories in an Irish accent. His lecture was very entertaining, and informative. His book was a run away best seller entitled “The Sons of God” by Nathaniel, Isaiah Theodor Whitt.