Category: Antarctica

They used to be known as coloured
but now proudly called themselves Black.
Born in the Midwest and South
coming-of-age in towns with flat industries
and high unemployment.
Recruiters had it easy
promising paychecks, pensions and healthcare.
“The best of three man,” one explained
welfare and crime making up the trinity.

In the Navy they ceased to be individuals
“man you never been on a boat
sheeeeyit on the carrier there was 9000 of us ”
but never traded individuality.

During the down times
when flights were suspended
or no aircraft to be serviced
they would congregate in the mess
speaking patois and laughing – always laughter.

One grey day
when truculent cloud forbade flying
they came to the warm
sitting at tables redundant between meals
and spoke of tattoos.
Who
what
and where
prompting one to state Lemaster
pronounced Leeeemaarstir, “got one on da bone.”

“Oooooooeeeee.” Lemaster is the man.
“Hey Leeeemaarstir what it be?”
Reply seizes the potential for comic genius
“I’m not exactly sure.”
Incredulity
“it’s on da bone and you’re not sure?”
Timing – humour’s gift wrapping
“well
sometimes it be a fly
and sometimes it be an al….bat….tross.”

For the back story click Backstage

They were many rules
some to do with safety
lots about behaviour
and some concerning stratification.
Mess
lounges
accommodation
accessible only by hierarchical right, or as guest.

Rules protected and nurtured the hierarchy
NCO’s, officers and supervisors to treat with respect
workers to be respectful.
Insubordination
or tyranny
there were rules for that too.

Rule # 1
go to the bar or party where dissent will intersect
toss a few down quickly
tequila or Jack Daniels the excuse of choice
feign alcohol loosened abandon
stumble into target and slur coiled venom.

Rule #2
Allow recipient to adopt same counterfeit drunkenness.

Rule #3
in the morning find the target
manufacture surprise
mumble hazy non memory
and might have been out of line, line
accept reciprocal insincerity.
Antibiotic charade prevents lethal infection.

For the back story click Backstage

Sunday night
after the steak and lobster
after cheesecake or pecan pie
after the soft serve ice cream has been refilled
and fresh coffee brewed
at 7:00 p.m –  the weekly science lecture.

Science as necessary to Antarctica
as embassies to the CIA
an excuse for a presence.
Physicists, geologists, marine biologists
from universities of California and Connecticut
Arizona, Alaska and Florida
all submit proposals to Washington
the lucky spinning summer sojourn to career.

All successful proposals become projects
all projects have an alpha numeric prefix
and a PI
PI not a gumshoe shoe auditor
from the Division of Polar Programmes
Principal Investigator.
All PI’s have to pay the piper
with a Sunday lecture
describing their work, findings and conclusions.

He had first come here in 1960/61
as a young graduate student
now back 25 years later
a marine biologist and expert in starfish.
This, his first lecture
it is interesting and well received.

In 60/61 the program primitive and small
people kept asking him
what was it like back then?
He had a few slides posted down
so for the final five minutes
he would show a little of McMurdo when young.

Same time, same place
one year later.
The marine biologist comes to the podium
telling the audience of last year’s lecture
50 minutes of research
five minutes of nostalgia
his had been voted best lecture
just one small adjustment needed
so this year
he’d, “got rid of all that starfish stuff.”

For the back story click Backstage