Chapter 337: Dec 29 - Richland, WA
Weather: 37/24
Poor weather has stopped the American Pride dead in the water and we were lucky to get tied off and docked before the worst of it hit. Work continues however. While Vit works in communications, tonight I helped security out by keeping everyone from going nuts by playing my violin and using it more like a fiddle. Essentially I was musical comedy back up for the new entertainment Dr. Forrester just brought onboard the 27th. The plan was to give an educational retrospective of the area but it turned into low-brow variety show that kept people entertained rather than informed. No one cared, least of all I. It was something to do rather than stare out the port holes and windows at the ice storm that was building.
Once known as the village of Chemna, Richland was incorporated as a city in 1910 and sits at the confluence of the Yakima and Columbia Rivers.
Honestly, I think I’ve lost my mind. On the other hand? I feel like I’ve won a battle. I have no idea why other than the fact that I haven’t allowed today’s lousy weather to stop the plan … or should I say The Plan.
I found out today that Dr. Forrester … and that is just going to drive me up a wall trying to balance the fact that our ED is a Ph.D. … is a psychologist. Ridiculous to feel so creeped out by the idea but I am. The analytical side of me sees they are trying to combine a lot of “hats” in one position and the logic they are trying to use. The practical side of me thinks it might even work short term. The realistic part of me? Eh … this could be a disaster waiting to happen. Dr. Forrester is nice enough but nice is not the talent that is needed here, extreme organization is, or such has been my experience for the last however many months. And she is also supposed to provide counseling for those that may need it. I wonder if she will ever rest. I wonder if she really knows what she is in for.
And speaking of rest, due to the weather-related change in the itinerary I was given the full day off. I haven’t really had one since Paris and when Dr. Forrester realized that she nearly freaked. I almost laughed in her face and told her that it has been the same since the beginning. I was either providing security or was doing translations with few exceptions along the way. It hasn’t bothered me because it would be no different if I wasn’t working … there is always something that needs doing.
She got a little nosey and asked how that worked with Vit, and I said we’d worked it out between us and there had been time on some Sunday’s to spend together as we both worked. We both realized the positions we held would not last forever and we wanted to take advantage of what we could while we had them, and we were committed as individuals and as a couple to the success of the Mission itself.
“All well and good but I still see there are a few things I need to be more aware of. I’ll admit I’ve never held a position quite like I’ve got at the moment, but it was too interesting to pass up.”
“You didn’t get drafted?”
“In a manner of speaking. I got my masters in counseling via ROTC. While I was in, I worked on my doctorate. Served my ten and then went into private practice. I remained in the Reserves. I had just finished closing my office in DC and was going to open a new one in New Orleans when a colleague recommended me to his Uncle who was on one of the committees that set up the original Bonhoeffer personnel rosters. You do realize you and your husband are one of only a handful of original civilian personnel remaining.”
“Vit would know that better than I. I primarily served the student program until the Denmark disembarkation of that entire department.”
“Do you miss them?”
“Yes. And no.”
“And no?”
“The interaction, yes. However, I’ve been a traveling tutor in Asian ports and that group size would have been more than challenging given the circumstances we eventually faced. They could have also been used – or abused – by the cultists that have masqueraded as government representatives more than once during the upheavals.”
“Cultists? That’s what you call them?”
Smelling a potential trap I said, “That’s what we were instructed to call them.”
“And … your brother isn’t it? Dylan Petric? Has he been able to find out anything further on the incident?”
She wasn’t very good at her job if she was supposed to be sly.
“Dylan may be my brother, but he is also an employee of his company who is under contract to the US government. We’ve had to … let’s just say we’ve had to come to an agreement that our being family can’t interfere with the work we are doing.” She was going to add something but then I chuckled, “Not to mention, I am the ‘baby sister’ in this equation. He may insist on keeping an eye on me, but he’s got blinders on when it comes to what my job has really entailed I think. He squawks on occasion then goes to his bosses with new ideas on how to ‘help’ and I only find out about it down the road. Do you have any brothers?”
She slowly grinned. “I’m the Big Sister with two younger brothers. I believe I can understand your brother’s position quite well.” She nodded then tapped something into the computer on her desk. “Take the remainder of the day off. May I ask what you plan to do with your time? Just in case someone asks me of course.”
Good thing I’m beyond the adolescent stage of rolling my eyes. I told her, “Probably run to the store … assuming there is one close by … to grab some hygiene items. Onboard supplies are for the active military and diplomats and their staff.”
“You resent that?”
Ugh. Obvious much? “Not at all. And if I’m being honest, choosing my own is cheaper than having it taken out of our paycheck.”
She got a thoughtful look on her face and as I was leaving her office I saw her making some quick notes in my personnel file she’d had on her desk. I don’t guess she realized that in addition to the various languages I am proficient in, I know shorthand and can read upside down. Entertainment Director isn’t all Dr. Forrester is being paid to do.
Convincing Vit of the advisability of my hastily constructed plan was a little more challenging. “Veta …”
I pulled him into the bathroom and turned the vent on. “Does that toy that Dylan gave you still work?”
He nodded and said, “I use it daily. And why are you wondering?”
I explained about Dr. Forrester.
“It is not to be unexpected. It could be worse. Grover told me that for a while when he first enlisted it was much worse with even how they voted being investigated. It is not a good thing.”
“Do … do you regret changing your citizenship?”
He gave me a surprised look. “Nii. Do not worry of that. In America there is still a chance even if there are those set against you. You can still find people that prefer risk and freedom over safety and slavery. But it is not a topic to discuss if you really are planning to leave the ship. Get dressed and I will adjust your faraday bag straps so that it fits over your coat.”
I kissed him and was glad I was no longer required to wear a skirt at all times. At least Dr. Forrester is good for something. She had enough pull with Human Resources that female personnel are now able to wear slacks when they went off the ship as part of their “uniform.” She was still working on getting the okay for personnel to wear civilian clothing off ship when they were off-duty.
As I was dressing I looked up the nearest shopping opportunities and there was a Dollar type store and something called a Winco a mile and a half away. Good deal Lucille as Charlie would say. I screen shotted my planned trail for Vit and then headed out. Security laughed at me … until I had to tell them why I was going off ship and then they got a thoughtful look on their face. Ugh. Thirty-seven freaking degrees. At least it was still a dry-cold and I wasn’t tromping around in rain or any other kind of damp that was predicted for later.
About half the way was along the Riverfront Trail which meant that I was out of traffic and the route was maintained. The rest of the way was along paved roads but traffic was minimal. Sane people obviously didn’t go out in the cold unless they had to. I am so thankful Vit insisted I pick gloves up in Astoria. I would be sick and miserable without them. After leaving the Riverfront Trail I basically followed two roads that followed then bisected a large golf course and country club. The Dollar Tree and Winco was right where the map said it should be.
I walked into the Winco and then walked straight back out. The place was a madhouse. Government checks had hit and people were stocking up for New Year. Crazy, crazy, crazy people. About a quarter of everyone was wearing masks but the “Mask Police” were coming out of the woodwork and I barely avoided two fights between the pro and con mask people. I am forced to wear a mask by employment mandate but otherwise I think wearing masks at the moment is a waste of time. Derrick told me he remembers all the cases of breathing-related illnesses caused by mask wearing during Covid19 and its variants. He also says it is like trying to swat a fly with a chain-link fence. But I wasn’t touching the arguments or getting involved. Everyone must find their own comfort level.
I switched over to a nearby deep-discount store. Their after-Christmas sales hadn’t been nearly as stripped as at the other stores I have been in the last few days. It was also busy, but nothing approaching what I’d seen at the Winco. Going back to what we could need when we got home and taking into account what I’d learned from Angelia about what has been in short supply and what was moving that direction I stuck to staple items for food, then moved on to the health and beauty items and cleaning supplies. I also drew from memories of what I did when I was with the Marchands, particularly sending things home from San Diego that time. And I was lucky that I had the large back pack and found out a Post Office was within walking distance as well. It would mean that I would be out longer than I had intended but it has proven such a productive idea that I’m going to try and continue to do it at each port. Charlie – who will be our point man for delivery – reminded me that I just have to be careful that nothing will freeze in transit. For today’s items there are no worry. We are going to wait to send the “freight” home to hopefully avoid the issue with other items.
The main reason I have decided to mail what I can when I can is, once again, Dr. Forrester. Whether it is only her or not, I don’t want people getting into our business, especially if restrictions get to be a problem. The store shelves already have limits on them … and yes, I picked up my limit on each paper and hygiene item and paid for it with the dollars we are supposed to spend back into the community.
I made one unplanned stop by going next door to a sporting goods store and buying leggings for me and the male version of compression leggings for Vit. I don’t care if he is part polar bear, this weather is cold and he is on deck out in it a great deal of the time it seems.
Shipping proved a little more interesting than I wanted it to be but that’s because it was a spur of the moment idea at the time. First off … boxes. I wound up having to buy boxes at the post office. Second, I had a significant number of items to mail. I addressed both of those issues by taking the packaging off what I could and then packing things like a jigsaw puzzle, utilizing every square micron of space I could. Privacy to do this with? Essentially none but I did the best I could and was only observed by one older, slightly inebriated gentleman that said, “Honey, you can pack my boxes any time.”
I didn’t mail all my purchases because I didn’t want to draw suspicion after I said that I was going shopping. I brought back on ship some of my hygiene purchases and some snacks … Vit learned to like fried pork rinds from Charlie and I wanted to surprise him since I’d spotted a couple of bags of them in the snack aisle.