Last Sunset at Midway Island - a photo on Flickriver

            This was one of the last photos from my last trip to Midway back in 2012. I had such a hard time leaving this beach to catch the flight back to Hickam AFB in Honolulu. I will be honest. I welled up and shed a few tears during this sunset.

I have so many memories from this very beach from back when I lived at Midway. I was stationed there for two years back when I was young, full of P&V and thought that I was invincible. I was just out of high school and the world was my oyster, Midway was my pearl and I was ready for adventure.

This beach provided so many days of swimming, body surfing, snorkeling, water skiing or just lazy days bagging rays. Barbecuing fresh fish or lingusta that we caught during the day - mahi mahi, trevali, yellowfin and marlin were always available. There were beautiful nights poking coals of a fire talking story with friends, some turning into campouts in the sand. Midway's night skies were the most incredible that I've experienced, and I've been to some pretty remote locations. Swimming in the lagoon at night with fish nibbling at our toes. Bioluminescence giving the waves coming up onto the shore a mystical blue color as well as illuminating our footsteps as we walked along the water's edge. Simple moments of meditative reflection and thought at sunset and realizing just how small that you are while considering that the nearest civilization was thousands of miles away out toward that horizon in front of you.

I was a true beach bum stranded on a remote Pacific island. :D

I have so, so many memories that I will always treasure and those who never experienced them could never understand no matter how descriptive I am in explaining. You'd have to have been there. I'm blessed to still have great friends from back then that understand. They were there so they can verify my outlandish tales.

I had a real job too. I worked hard working on and around the aircraft that were stationed at Midway as well as Trans-Pac squadrons that were travelling across the Pacific that would stop to refuel... but when I wasn't working I was partying in Paradise.

When I needed to take a break from the stressful island life I'd fly in to Honolulu and stay at Waikiki Circle Hotel for R&R or hang with friends at Haleiwa trying not to die surfing the north shore curls. :D

I've returned to Midway three times over the last 20 years under extraordinary conditions. I've been honored to be a guest at two Battle of Midway anniversary ceremonies. I always hold out hope for another trip back to Midway but sadly I don't think that it will ever happen again.

I thank God for such incredible memories and the absolute privilege that it was for me to be able to experienced them. I wouldn't be me otherwise.

Taken on: June 4, 2012

Tags:

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Camera: Nikon D3, f/10.0, 1/60 sec, 48mm, ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D3
Lens:	28.0-70.0 mm f/3.5-4.5
Aperture:	f/10.0
Exposure Time:	0.017 sec (1/60)
Focal Length:	48mm
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	No Flash
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Sharpness:	Hard
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop CC 2019 (Windows)
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