THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19TH AND FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20TH – NASHVILLE TO OKINAWA, JAPAN (AGAIN!)
Another one of those early morning flights where I had to leave for the airport at 3:30 am. Never went to bed (again!). Josh Gracin is performing at the Camp Courtney Festival in Okinawa this Saturday for MCCS Okinawa. Josh is a former Marine and this is a Marine base. Makes sense! Everyone was on time to check in at 4:00 am and I was able to check a couple of us in on the Kiosk. It offered Josh an upgrade to first class on the 14 hour Minneapolis to Tokyo flight for only $900. He thought about it but felt bad leaving his guys in coach and decided not to do it. I declined the offer and the minute I did, he changed his mind. The kiosk just would not offer it to him again. I told him we would try at the ticket counter. Things were going smoothly….until they weren’t.
Yesterday when everyone was checking in online, Paul was unable to check in. I tried to do it for him and figured it was just because we were flying internationally. He had filled out all his “online” paperwork through the Delta Fly Ready site and everything was fine. At first, the Delta rep told us that his reservation was for tomorrow! I knew that couldn’t be right because we had checked all the reservations. Then she said it was because he had a valid reservation but an “invalid” ticket number. She said the travel agent would have to correct it as Delta couldn’t handle it. She was super nice and helpful but it was out of her hands.
Knowing that my travel agent was out of town, I called the emergency telephone number for the travel agency. Big mistake. Guess he was in India and no help at all. The Delta agent told him to call Delta and get it fixed and he said he would be “on hold” too long! I decided to try and reach my travel agent and superstar that she is, she answered her mobile phone. Evidently when one of Josh’s guys cancelled and we replaced him, there was a mix-up with the ticket numbers. I sent all the other guys through security and started praying that his ticket could be corrected before we boarded at 5:20 am. At 5:10, my agent was still working with Delta to get it fixed. I went through security because I knew I had to fly with the guys whether Paul made it on our flights or not. The sweet Delta agent told me not to worry as she would book him on another flight and get him to Tokyo in time to meet up with us. I made it to the gate just as they were starting to board and received a message that Paul was on his way to the gate, too. Whew!
While all this was going on, Josh was going from one kiosk to another trying to get the offer for the $900 first class upgrade again. He finally found one that allowed it.
Flight to Minneapolis was easy and I slept most of the way. We had about a 2 hour layover in Minneapolis and I worked in the Lounge while the guys grabbed breakfast at a “Diner”. The guys in coach were pleasantly surprised when they boarded. They all had a row by themselves! Josh agreed that it was the best $900 he ever spent to have the “lay flat” seat. The flight attendants were really nice and helpful. I watched a movie while I was eating dinner. The Wi-Fi kept going in and out so I decided to sleep and get up and work before we landed. I slept for 5 hours – very much needed sleep! Was able to work until we landed.
I really hope that the half empty plane is because passengers are finding that Delta’s fares are much higher than other airlines and their “rewards” for flying are the worst of any airline. I remind Delta after every flight I take how dissatisfied I am with their “new rules”.
I reminded the guys that even though we had filled out ALL the forms needed for arrival in Tokyo and had valid QR codes, they should still fill out the paper forms. Told them to ask the flight attendants to give them the forms if they didn’t automatically offer those. They were told that only 1st class passengers were provided with the forms and that they had run out of English forms even for first class.
Once we landed, we went through Immigration and my QR code was working fine until I showed him the LOA. Then he wanted to see my military ID – which of course, we don’t have. Same thing happened to Josh. We finally got our representative to understand why we were there and they let us go through. But the other guys were stopped and a couple of them were forced to get out of line and fill out the paper forms. When we fill out the information online and secure the QR code, it is EXACTLY the same info that is on the paper form. So, WHY are they made to fill out a paper form when the agent can see all the information on their QR code. Some things in Japan just never change.
All our checked pieces arrived and we had to then scan our Customs QR code to exit. Everything worked fine except the machine said my passport was “unreadable”! Good grief. How do they think I got through Immigration if my passport was unreadable? They wanted me to go through another lane to exit but I refused and told them we were all staying together.
We were able to recheck our bags at a special JAL counter right outside Customs so we didn’t have to try to take it on the shuttle bus. Two of the guys wanted to have JAL put their guitars in special padded boxes (which I had pre-reserved in their names) so we had to take those on the shuttle bus and to the JAL check in counter in Terminal 1. They actually had the boxes “reserved” with their names on them! When I had the travel agent request the boxes, the agent she communicated with told her JAL did not have any boxes for musical instruments. I pulled up their website stating that they provided the boxes and she sent it to the agent along with a photo of the box. They put the request in the record but said that they would not guarantee it and they might be out of boxes when we arrived. Again, misinformation. The boxes were waiting for us and reserved in their names!
We had about a 5 hour layover at Tokyo Haneda so they guys went looking for a meal and I went looking for a 7-11. LOL. Josh picked the restaurant and it was an “American” style. They said the food was not good. I told them, when in Japan, eat what the Japanese eat. Not burgers, etc.
Our flight to Okinawa was delayed by 30 minutes due to late arrival of he incoming aircraft. It was only a 2 ½ hour flight but is the hardest flight of the trip since everyone dead tired by that time. I tried to sleep but wasn’t able to. All our bags arrived and Jackson (new employee at MCCS) met us with a nice bus. It was only about a 35 minute drive to Camp Foster where we are staying. Becoming a second home for me. Jackson had our “welcome packets” with our keys in them so we were able to go straight to our rooms. Every room is a suite with a full kitchen. I got my things unpacked and answered some emails. Going to take a shower now and try to get at least 4 hours sleep!
Jude
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21ST – PERFORMANCE AT CAMP COURTNEY FESTIVAL, OKINAWA
Finally got in bed at 4:30 am but had to get up at 7:30 am. We departed at 9:30 am for the 40 minute drive to Camp Courtney. The stage was set and ready for the guys. They finished sound check early but had to wait for the Marines who were attending the Meet and Greet to arrive at 12:30 pm. Josh took a photo with each person and then talked to them and answered questions as a group. Colonel Meador and Sgt. Major Lopez came with the Marines and Sgt. Major Lopez had worked with Josh when he was in the Marines!
We arrived back at lodging a little before 2 pm and don’t return to the festival site until 5 pm. They guys walked over to the base exchange and I used the time to get caught up on some work.
We left for the venue at 5 pm and arrived there at 6 pm. There was a Filipino band performing when we arrived so we listened to the end of their show. Looks like a really large crowd although they are spread out all around the grounds. There are food booths set up as well as games and rides for kids…sort of a mini-County Fair. When Josh took the stage, there was a really big crowd in front of the stage and the fans in front seemed to know every word of the songs. Had a couple of surprises during his 90 minute set. Jason had laid his glass slide on the floor in front of him and at some point, Josh stepped on it and it broke into a thousand pieces. Once the Production Crew noticed it, there was pandemonium. I thought they were going to ask us to stop the show while they cleaned it up they were so stressed out by it. Instead, one of their crew went onstage during the show with a large broom and dustpan and swept up most of it. Then he came back out with gaff tape that he had rolled into loops and used that to pick up the remaining shards….all while Josh was performing. LOL. Gotta love the overall OCD of all the Japanese. Definitely my “kin”.
Josh brought 3 people up on stage to perform at one point and the audience loved that. When he finished his set, the crowd was yelling for an encore. They didn’t realize that he had gone out into the crowd to sing. Everyone had their phones out taking selfies with him. Mika didn’t realize he was going to go into the crowd and when she saw what was happening, she ran a Mach speed to get to him. LOL. He made it safely back on stage.
We were back at lodging a little after 9 pm and our pre-ordered food from Terra Restaurant was waiting for us at the front desk. I’m hoping to get in bed by 1 am tonight! Tomorrow was built into the itinerary as a “rain date” in case bad weather prevented Josh from performing today. Now it’s a day off for us. Thankful to have one more day here. Otherwise we would have been in the air 3 days and on the ground 1 day!
Dureil, Mika, Al, Tony, Jackson and all the MCCS Entertainment Staff are always excellent to work with. Everything is professionally organized and runs smoothly. They know how to take care of the entertainment and it’s always a fun visit for everyone.
Josh and his group are great and “easy” to work with (definitely a requirement on one of my tours). He has a high energy, rockin’ show that is very entertaining.
Jude
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22ND – DAY OFF IN OKINAWA:
Another beautiful day in Okinawa. The guys went to the beach and I went for a long jog….longer than I planned. At the end of my 3 miles, I stopped at the Shoppette and they had a lot of the Kit Kat I was looking for – Green Tea, Ice Cream, Cookies and Cream, Melon and a new one – Chesnutt! They also had the Hi-Chew that the kids wanted. When I left the Shoppette, I made a wrong turn and ended up at the wrong side of the base. I finally had to call a taxi to take me back.
After showering, I took a taxi to Hamashusi and met all the guys there. They loved it, too, but Josh is allergic to seafood so he didn’t each as much as we did. We definitely made a huge contribution to the economy based on the amount we ate. But once again, the total bill for 7 people was only $105.00! That’s $15 per person and we had drinks, sushi, noodles, dessert!
The guys said they had a good time at the beach but walked a long way and were tired so they took taxis back to lodging. I walked over to American Village. I walked around there for a while but there is so much there, I always find it overwhelming. I took a taxi back to the base exchange and walked around there for a few minutes. Didn’t find anything except two large plastic containers and bubble wrap to put all the Kit Kat and Hi-chew in to pack in the extra bag I brought with me so I can fly it home.
We have to leave for the airport at 4:45 am so I’m going to shut down for the night, pack and maybe sleep a couple of hours before we have to leave.
Jude
MONDAY, OCTOBER 23RD – TRAVELING HOME TO NASHVILLE FROM OKINAWA:
I really did shut down and actually got into bed with the anticipation of getting 4 hours of sleep. However, a text message came in from my former neighbor telling me one of our neighbors had been killed in a car crash. Evidently, she was in a car driven by her boyfriend and was coming home at around 1 am Sunday morning. He turned left off the main highway onto the road leading into our neighborhood right in front of an oncoming vehicle. She was killed at the scene but the boyfriend and the people in the car that he hit were okay. Evidently the police found an open container of alcohol and a loaded firearm in the car. The accident report also noted that he had two prior DUI arrests. Once he is released from the hospital, he faces charges for vehicular homicide by intoxication, vehicular assault, and possession of a firearm while intoxicated. She was only 35 years old and has a teenage daughter who did not live with her. So sad.
So I slept for 2 hours and then met everyone in the lobby at 4:45 am. It took about 50 minutes to drive to the airport and I knew we would arrive before the doors were opened at 6 am. But, I also knew that we needed to be first in line because our flight departed at 7:20 am. It took us 31 minutes just to check all 6 of us in. By the time we went through security, we only had about 5 minutes before we boarded the flight to Tokyo Haneda. I think I slept the entire flight.
We were notified that our flight from Tokyo to Detroit was delayed by 2 hours. Thankfully, we had booked a long layover in Detroit so we would still make our connection. We landed on time in Tokyo, picked up the guitars that were checked in the special boxes, hopped on the shuttle bus to the International Terminal, and went to the Delta kiosk to try and get our boarding passes. The kiosks would not show any Delta flights until the counters opened 3 hours prior to flight time so the guys stored the guitars and backpacks and we went in search of food. We all ate at a really great Japanese restaurant — except for Josh. He’s more of a meat and potatoes guy so he joined us for lunch and then looked elsewhere for something he could eat. The guys picked up their guitars and backpacks from storage and we went to the kiosks and ultimately the Delta counter to check in. Jason left us to go into Tokyo as he is staying over until Friday. No issues checking in and we had about an hour and a half to “shop” before going through security. I was really happy to see that the store upstairs where I always purchased all the different flavors of Kit Kat has reopened! I even found a few that I had not purchased in Okinawa.
No issues going though security other than the fact that my passport is never “readable”! No idea what the problem is but I get pulled out and sent through a different line every time. I need to renew it but it’s taking 11 weeks minimum for renewals and I haven’t found an 11 week time period that I don’t need it!
The guys went shopping for their families and I went into the Delta Lounge to work for a few minutes. We boarded two hours late and I assumed there would be lots of empty seats on the flight because of the long delay but it was actually very full. Hopefully the guys had empty seats beside them in coach. Josh tried to upgrade again but was told there were no seats available in First.
I was struggling to stay awake for the meal because all the movies sucked. I tried watching two different ones only to turn them off about 15 minutes in. I ate quickly and slept for almost 5 hours. Still had time to work for another 3 hours.
We landed Detroit 2 hours late but still have 3 hours before our next flight. The guy who checked my passport at Immigration had served 13 years in the Air Force and had seen lots of entertainment during his deployments. All our bags arrived and we rechecked them and went through security. The guys went in search of food since evidently the coach meal was not good right before landing. I went to the lounge and worked!
Flight landed in Nashville a few minutes early and everyone headed for home. Poor Josh has a 5 hour drive to St. Louis. I tried to talk him into staying over but he wanted to get home to his family.
It was a great festival and it was wonderful to see so many of our service personnel enjoying themselves and singing along. Josh, Jeremy, Jason, Paul and Marcelo were fun and easy to work with. Mission accomplished!
Jude
