Shilohonlyasked questions.
He got back to her a few days later:
His mom had been adjusting to rehab when he left Omaha, he wrote, but he was still worried. His flight had taken a full day and ended with a helicopter ride. He was back at work now. He worked in Operations, and was almost never called to destruction. His hours were long, and he couldn’t check his email every day, so she shouldn’t worry if he didn’t get right back to her.
Shiloh immediately clickedreply.
Forty-Six
Cary, I still can’t picture what it’s like to live on a boat. Maybe I’ll get a library book. Or stop by the Navy recruiter’s office. Are you standing on deck all day, squinting into the sun? What do you do when you’re not working? How long do you stay out there? On the ocean?
***
A typical deployment is six to nine months. This one is six.
I stand on the deck sometimes, but I don’t look at the sun. (Are you looking directly at the sun, Shiloh? I wish you wouldn’t.)
I don’t get much downtime when we’re at sea. But I read. I watch movies on my laptop. I playMagic: The Gatheringwith some people when our schedules align.
Most of the time we’re either working or sleeping.
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Cary, I watchedThe Hunt for Red October,and Jesus Christ, I’m glad you’re not on a submarine!
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Cary, I watchedTop Gun,and I’m really glad you’re not a pilot. Also that movie sucks. I watchedHunt for Red Octoberagain to rinse my brain out. I thinkTHfROmight be the best movie ever made...
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Shiloh, why are you watching Navy movies? And who was your favorite character inHunt for Red October?
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The Soviet second in command. Sam Neill!!!!
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“I would like to have seen Montana.”
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Yes!!! I’m still not over it! I’m watchingCrimson Tidenext, but it can’t possibly be as good.
I’m watching Navy movies because it makes me feel crazy not to be able to picture you in some kind of context.
Our theater is doing a play based onMake Way for Ducklings. They need me to play a duck.
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You’ll make a great duck. I thought you didn’t act much anymore?
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I only come out of retirement for the really big roles—like Mother Duck.
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