Day One-Hundred Twelve

4 December 2006
This morning I set my alarm to wake me at 4am. The Broncos were playing Sunday Night Football and I needed to see how our new rookie quarterback was going to do. It ended up not being that great of a game—we had 5 turnovers and lost. Oh well, Seattle did not do that great either—Hassleback had a hard time putting plays together and Sean Alexander did not show off how good he really is. It was kind of fun, though, laying in bed, sipping coffee that I made in my little coffee pot, and watching the game with my Christmas lights giving a soft glow to my room. It was also cold (the temperature dropped dramatically has we headed north through the Red Sea yesterday and last night). I got to snuggle in my blankets like most people do in December.

The rest of the ship was busy at that crazy early hour. We had just entered the Suez Canal when the game was starting. During the game, I went out to take a lap on the flight deck and watch the sunrise. It was fridged! The cold air was shocking! It has been so long. Unfortunately, the sunrise was not the greatest—the air was a bit hazy. But as I peeked my head out all day between seeing patients, the haze disappeared and the horizon line sharpened up. The contrast between the tan sandy land, the blue sky, and the green water of the canal was beautiful. It was probably made all the more beautiful since the canal and its landscape is the passageway home—away from the tormented Gulf and toward the country we love. Ah, yes…it was nice to watch the land go by on such a glorious day. The air warmed a bit as the sun rose, but the winds picked up. The wind off the ship is funny. It makes my clothes sound like flapping flags and billows them up so that I look twice my size. Plus my hair would not stay out of my face no matter which way I stood, so I decided my pictures were going to have to be mostly Gretchen-less. It was a wonder to reach the end of the Suez shortly before dinner. The Mediterranean opened up before us, welcoming us to the Western world again—a world where this ship does not feel quite as despised and our guard can be lowered (but just a bit). The opening to the Med also was a symbol that we really are on our way home. There is no denying that now! I felt it in every sailor that I greeted today. The sunset over Egypt was brilliant and memorable. Now every sunset I see will be in front of the bow of the ship, which means we are headed west towards home! I am so excited!