More of Kyoto

Getting around without a car consists of a LOT of walking (or biking but given they drive on the left I was not willing to even think about biking) and figuring out train schedules. Karyn and David seem to have this down. And you have to be careful about getting on the right train. On a trip years ago returning from Hiroshima we ended up on the express train to Tokyo. We did not want to go to Tokyo but the train doors locked before we figured out what was happening. Katie did a lot of bowing and apologizing. I don't know if they had a stop scheduled or if they stopped to let us off but in any case we did not go all the way to Tokyo!

So....outings generally began with a walk to the nearest station if I was lucky, only a few blocks. Karyn and David live amidst about 3 stations. This is the closest one. I cannot remember the name.

Nearest train station

On this particular day we went to what I think is the main station in Kyoto. See that oval in the middle? It's a good meeting place.

Main train station

 

 

Now for a cool escalator ride all the way to the top......

Last of the ride up

.......where we saw a bamboo garden and great views of Kyoto. Kyoto is in a big valley among the mountains (hills?) and is around 1.5 million in population, about the same as San Antonio.

Bamboo garden

Kyoto

Not a lot to the garden but the view was great. And now to look back down to the lower levels.

Looking down

I love the design of this building. There is only one arched area on the left and the one on the right is a reflection. There is a stage next to that red thing in the center of the picture. The stage is about half-way down to the bottom level. All the steps above the stage also serve as seating in the amphitheater formed there. Pretty cool.

On the way to a local shopping area we passed this building. Karyn doesn't think it fits in at all but I kind of like it. Every city needs one of these!

Kyoto's 'needle'

Guess what I found in the shopping center?! Fiber!!! Made my day. 8^)

Yarn!

Knitting needles. Bamboo, what else?!

Swedish fabric in Japan!

Just like home!

 

 

At the end of our outing we found a nice place to eat. It is infinitely helpful to have someone who can interpret the menu. Thank you Karyn for making sure I always got something I liked!

Look at the size of those bowls!

Karyn had tempura

Lastly, we browsed a 100 yen store. You never know what you might find there. I could spend hours browsing but this was a quick run. My most memorable sighting....

Huh....butt pads!

No, I did not buy them. And yes, I know it says 200 yen. Go with it. I didn't buy fabric either....or yarn! I was very good plus I could not read most of the labels. Harumph!

Blessings,
gk

Kyoto

I recently spent 10 days visiting Karyn and David at their new home in Kyoto, Japan. I left San Antonio on Wednesday, Oct. 10 and arrived in Kyoto on Friday, Oct. 12. This involved spending one night in Salt Lake City as well as crossing the International Date Line and a 14 hour time zone change. It was not an easy trip! David met me at the airport in Osaka and Karyn met us at the train station in Kyoto.

Pizza downstairs

Entrance to apartments

The apartment where Karyn and David live is above a Pizza Hut. No, we never had any pizza! Who wants pizza in Japan?! To the right of the Pizza Hut is this entrance to the apartments. There is a locked door for security so no surprise visits.

David and Karyn at home in Kyoto

After depositing my luggage at the apartment we went out to eat at a nearby Nepalese Restaurant. Nearby means that we walked a ways but did not get on a train. This is what you do when you do not have a car. It requires more time management and a lot of exercise, a totally foreign idea to most Americans!

Nepalese Cuisine

The owners of the restaurant obviously have seen Karyn & David before. We were warmly greeted and well fed. The train station is just a few steps to the right in this photo. The trains rumbling overhead totally add to the overall ambiance of the place! The food was yummy though.

After the meal it was back to the apartment and BED! Yes.....but it was difficult to get to sleep. The excitement of arrival and the time change messed up sleep the whole trip. That's just one of the hazards of international travel. Plus it's just not your bed at home. In fact, this was a futon on the floor, Japanese style. It was an immersion experience. 8^)

Now that I'm home sleep is still a mess. Good that I'm retired and can take my time about adjusting!

Blessings,
gk

A Tough Trip

Last weekend I was in Lubbock, TX visiting my sister, June. A family friend gave me a call and said "If you want to see your sister when she might still know who you are, then you need to come now." My brother came as well and we were able to get some things done together for a change. It was really nice to have him there with me.

I last saw June during the summer right after Bob's retirement ceremony. We headed up to Muleshoe (8 hour drive) and brought paperwork with us. THANK GOODNESS we did that. Medical and durable powers of attorney were all put in order. June was bedridden but totally in full control of all her mental faculties. This trip it was hard to tell if she was in touch with reality. Sometimes yes and sometimes for sure, no. Out of the blue she asked "Where's Bob?" so I know she knew who I was or at least who I'm married to!

I got a two-for-one visit in as well. The family friend fell and shattered his elbow so he was in the hospital too. He told me he is 86 or 87 years old. I had no idea!! Wow! He was raring at the bit to get out of that hospital and get on with his life. God bless James! Here's a photo of James that was in my previous email of Pic of the Day. This was in October of 2011 when June first got sick.

Our angel on earth!

Right now June is out of the Lubbock hospital and back in Park View...a nursing home in Muleshoe. It is unbelievable how quickly and how far she has gone downhill in this past year. Hospice is on board to help us out and we are fortunate to have them. It has helped out amazingly to have the powers of attorney all in order. EVERYONE, sick or not, needs to have these. I cannot emphasize that enough. Do it!! Okay, I confess I don't have POAs but it was vital for my sister who has no spouse or children to speak for her. Without this I could get NO information and had great difficulty in helping out in any way.

Here's a photo with a wonderful nurse....

And a photo of the two of us....

And a close-up....

It's easy to see how I might look in a few years. The resemblance is startling, even to me. And I have to finish with a pic of my Garmin the GPS of my dreams. It never fails to tickle me when I put in a destination back home. Turn in 66 miles!

From Muleshoe to the hospital in Lubbock

Take care of yourself and your family! You never know!

Blessings,
gk

Trip to a Military Mecca

Today I made my way to Bob's new office building where he hopped into the car and off we went to USAA. If you are not in the military then just know that USAA is the most fantastic company for we military folk. We bank with them because they serve us all over the world. We invest with them. We have life insurance, homeowner's insurance, car insurance, charge cards.....the list could go on. When we move, and you know we move often, then all it takes is one email or phone call to change to the new address on everything we have with USAA. If any other insurance company approaches you all you have to say is "I have USAA" and they will just walk away. No sales pitch or pressure to buy from them. Awesome!!!

Now normally USAA is some entity out in the ether somewhere. Everything is done by mail, phone or Internet. Now you can even deposit checks by taking a picture of them with your phone. We can withdraw cash from any ATM in the world and we get reimbursed for the fee up to something like $15 per month. Who needs a bank building?

Well....there IS a building and it is in San Antonio. All those 800 numbers (I think) are answered in San Antonio. Where do we live? San Antonio!! And our financial consultant (I know, it's weird but we do have a financial consultant!) called us in for a meeting to check on our 'portfolio' and to discuss all our options, particularly now that we are officially retired. And here's what we saw:

It's REAL!

 

Sorry about the glare...it was that time of day but I did want to get a photo of the sign. It's on the access road by I-10 near Huebner. We parked and made our way to the glass-fronted building.

Entry to USAA

Inside is what must be a lovely fountain when it's flowing but all water features are turned off due to our extreme drought and local water restrictions. You'll just have to use your imagination!

Dry fountain

 

Then I turned around and this is the view from the other side of the glass. What a nice airy and bright place to work!

View from inside

Truth be told I got in some quality knitting time while listening to the guys talk numbers. Hopefully my eyes did not appear to glaze over. Yes, yes. I'm interested but mostly in the bottom line. How much yarn can I buy this month? When I leave this world there will be one heck of a crafter's dream garage sale!! 8^)

Blessings,
gk

More of the Retirement Ceremony

After Bob gave his speech there was a standing ovation. Such attention makes him uncomfortable so here he is trying to get everyone to stop. It didn't really work though. He just had to wait it out!

Enough already!

Next was the Flag Ceremony. Bob really tried to not have this included but he was overruled by all the lower ranking staff. So much for that Admiral gig! I'm really glad they ignored this request of his. This is just the neatest ceremony ever.

LT to LCDR

LCDR to CDR

CDR to CAPT

CAPT to RDML

There is a poem about the American flag that is read and the flag is very solemnly passed from person to person until all the ranks of the retiring member are covered.

The final pass is from someone with equal rank to the retiring service member. It is a very touching and special thing to watch.

And finally Bob receives the flag. This flag was a gift from troops in Afghanistan. It was flown there. It was then sent to Guam and to Portsmouth, VA to be flown over the two commands Bob had while on active duty.

RDML to RDML

A final salute

A reflective moment

Gift to Capt Fran Robbins

Fran is overwhelmed by the moment

Fran is Bob's sister and she is a nurse in the USAF. She's a Capt which is the same as a LT in the USN. Their dad was in the US Army so this was extra special to all of us. Way to make us all cry Bob!

Fran salutes

 

Next on the agenda is to 'take down the Admiral's flag'. Wherever an Admiral (or General) is working or visiting their flag is flown signifying their presence. The Navy traditions are new to most of the non-Navy service members at METC but Chief did a great job of sounding like a pirate when he gave the order. Thanks, Chief!!

Take down the Admiral's flag!

Admiral's flag has been taken down, sir!

Admiral's flag presented to Bob

Next the final heart-wrenching bit.....the retiring service member is piped ashore.

Piping ashore

Almost finished

Next the family is piped ashore and that is the end of the ceremony.

Ellen and Karyn join Bob and me to be piped ashore.

Fair winds and following seas shipmate.

And of course there is food at the end!

Proud papa

Proud mama too

Jon Cole, Ellen Kiser, Bob, me, David Dahl-Hansson, Karyn Kiser

Kids wanted to include Katie who was still in Pakistan at the time.

Many, many thanks to everyone who came to share in the moment, sent good wishes, wrote letters, called and just generally gave us a lot of support. Lasting memories were created and will be cherished by all of us. After this ceremony Bob was still not officially retired on paper. He had just a few more duties to perform and then went on terminal leave August 6th. Terminal leave is not as bad as it sounds. We just used up all the days of leave that Bob never got around to taking while he was working!

Actual official retirement was on September 1st. So far retired life is pretty busy. I'm hoping for calm to settle soon. 8^) And Bob has a pretty good beard going these days even though it is a totally different color than back in the day! LOVE IT!!

Bearded Bob

Blessings,

gk

Retirement Ceremony

Bob started work this week at University of the Incarnate Word. Maybe I should finally show his retirement ceremony back on June 15th since he finally became honest-to-goodness retired on September 1st!

On June 15th at 0900 (9 AM for us civilians!) we all gathered at Anderson Hall for the formal ceremony finalizing a career of 38 years of reserve and active duty service.

Front row seats

Here we all are right in the front row. Jon and Ellen, me, Karyn and David and then my sister-in-law Judy and my brother Clifford. That last person is RDML Valentin who will appear again later.

Friends were there too

Here also are Erika Pearce, Robin Lewis and Captain Lori Frank. We met Erika and Robin while on Guam and Lori works here in San Antonio. And there were many more in the audience. It was so special to see everyone there.

Color Guard

All ceremonies begin with the Color Guard marching in with our flags. We all stand at attention (Civilian folk are supposed to put their hand over their heart. I'm always amazed at the number of people who either don't know this or refuse to do it!) for the Star Spangled Banner. This time we had our very own Ellen playing on her trumpet. She didn't miss a note and her daddy's buttons about popped from his chest swelling with pride.

Ellen Played the Star Spangled Banner

 

Colors are retired

I know it sounds odd to say the Colors are retired but it just means they are formally marched out. Sometimes they are posted rather than retired. In that case they would be placed in holders to stay for the entire ceremony and then they are usually retired at the end or they can be left posted. Love this stuff!!

You can see Captain Fran Robbins on the left there. She is Bob's sister and is in the Air Force.

CMSgt Kevin Lambing

Chief Master Sergeant Kevin Lambing was Bob's speaker of choice. Kevin was the number one enlisted member at METC (Medical Education and Training Campus) and is now serving as the Chief of the Medical Enlisted Force for the Air Force. That means he is the number one medical enlisted member of the entire USAF! We are so proud of him and all he has accomplished and are honored to call him friend.

 Then there were awards......

VADM Nathan and RDML Kiser

 

Bob received a Legion of Merit from Vice Admiral Matt Nathan, Surgeon General of the Navy. Matt is an internal medicine doctor and a long time acquaintance of Bob.

Gdine-Yellow Rose of Texas

I was commissioned a 'Yellow Rose of Texas' ( http://www.yellowrosedist.com/Award.htm ). Woo Hoo!! Our girls were given awards the night before at the Retirement Dinner.

Shadowbox Presented

Dewite Wehrman, a retired Navy guy working at METC as a civilian, and Colonel Geno Montagno, Deputy Commandant at METC, present Bob with his shadowbox. This is a tradition upon retirement. The shadowbox can be any shape, hang on the wall or stand as a table. It is filled with memorabilia from the retiring member's career. In this case Dewite made the shadowbox and did it in the shape of a star which is the identifying collar device of an Admiral. It has all Bob's ranks, his duty stations and a flag flown at Naval Hospital Guam and Navy Medical Center Portsmouth. It is also the flag that was presented to Bob's mom at his Dad's funeral. It is a VERY special and personal tribute and it is proudly hung in our home for all to see.

And then Bob gave his speech.....

RDML William Robert Kiser

If I had any oomph at all I would figure out how to remove those light reflections from Bob's glasses but you are getting the unabridged version here. To be honest I was so overwhelmed by everything that I cannot give you any particulars about the speech but I do know that Bob tried to talk more about the future than the past. And it was absolutely the thing because the work he has done in Family Medicine, as a Medical Officer and especially at Medical Education and Training Campus will affect our Navy's vision and direction for many years to come!

And there is more to come but I think this post is getting pretty long with lots of photos to boot....so....to be continued!

Blessings,
gk