HAPPY HOLIDAYS
From
MARBLE POINT
ANTARCTICA
From the bottom of the
world direct to you come my holiday greetings for the year 2002.
Scroll down for
highlights of 2001
The
year 2001 has proved to be a very enlightening and eventful one. Every now and then we all take a moment to reflect
on our past and see how various events have shaped our lives. Often times I wonder where my path in life would
have gone if I had taken that other job, paid more attention in school or smooched that
cute girl in my geology class.
I was
leaning up against a helicopter this morning refueling it for a flight up to the Dry
Valleys of the Trans Antarctic Mountains. As
the gallons flowed by I began to wonder, how did I end up here with this gas nozzle in my
hand. What had I done in the past that lead
me here or what didn’t I do that kept me from holding a gas nozzle at the
Pump’n’Go in Nebraska? These are
but a few of the dilemmas I have been faced with recently.
I became
intrigued and a bit obsessed with this puzzle. Once
the ground settled and the air calmed from the departing helicopter I sat down for some
deep thinking. It took quite a while to
flip through my mental photo album for some clues. The
more I probed the more confused I became. I
was discovering that certain events from my past were easily recalled with incredible
clarity while others would flicker for only a brief moment. These flickering images were the ones that
perplexed me. With my elbow on my knee, I
drummed my fingers against my forehead, think, think, think. I knew the answer I was looking for must be
hidden within these images. I was
concentrating so hard that the snow around me began to melt.
With
the speed of the returning sun to the Antarctic Circle after the Equinox, clarity began to
seep from within my cranium. Two memories
began cycling through my subconscious at increasing intervals until they were the only
ones I could see. For some reason these
memories had been deeply suppressed, as if they had been intentionally hidden. I analyzed each image meticulously, looking for
some clue or answer. The first was from 1989. This was a lost memory from a research expedition
to the Red Sea. I remember the whole trip in
great detail except for this moment. Beth and
I had just returned to Israel from Egypt, which explains our disheveled appearance. Everything about this day seemed normal, however
I do not remember and cannot explain the large protrusion sprouting from my head. I didn’t think much of it until I began
noticing other moments from my past which also contained these oddities.
The
second image in the loop was from the summer of 1998 while I was working for Broadreach in
the Caribbean. Even though the events were
years apart and from different sides of the world they both contain similar protruding
anomalies. What was the correlation between the two and what was that sticking out of my
head? I wrestled with these images trying to
make a connection. As I struggled with my
thoughts the images began to dim and then completely vanished. I was left bewildered until a new vision began to
immerge. This memory seemed to pause as if it
were contemplating weather or not to reveal it’s self.
After a few moments of hesitation the image reached a conclusion and filled my
mind.
I could easily identify the location of
this new vision. McMurdo Station with Mt Erebus in the
background cannot be mistaken for any other place. The
disturbing unknown was the object hovering over McMurdo.
Where did this memory come from and how was it related to the protrusions from my
head? Before I could process these questions
I heard a voice. It wasn’t a true voice
we normally associate with but more the acknowledgement of new words within my
sub-conscience. “We are coming to take
you away”.
When
you combine this image with those words an overwhelming flood of new images and words
should have undoubtedly followed. No mater
how hard I tried I could not detect a hint of either.
I did however gain an odd sense of understanding. I now possessed
knowledge and insight for which I did not achieve through personal
experience. Conscious experience anyway.
Somehow I
came to understand and except that during the summer of 1989 I had been a guest of this
ship. While working in the Red Sea I had been
contacted and ultimately contracted by the Inter Galactic Science Foundation. Their mission statement was never made clear to
me, or why I had been chosen. My only understanding was that I had become their agent on
Earth. On a schedule that I was not privy to,
my experiences, interactions and memories were being transferred via a retractable cranium
link from my head to the Inter Galactic Research Ship.
To this
day I have only that one visual memory of the Starships existence. This one is enough though as it has been
permanently imbedded into my memory. I can
also say the same for a constant pain in my lower spine. For
the past 3 years the Foundation had been scouring the earth trying to locate me. After a visit to a hospital in Costa Rica for a
dislocated elbow I had unknowingly become misplaced.
Repeated exposure to low quality x-rays had damaged the homing devise the
Foundation had implanted in me. The irony of
that visit was the doctor’s diagnosis. “Senior,
you suffer from internal trauma” the truth was more than he could have ever imagined.
I have
no idea how the Foundation reacquired me in Antarctica last year. For that mater I never knew I was lost. Determined never to lose me again I was
fitted with a new transmitter. As you can see
this one was a bit obtrusive and uncomfortable. I
think the Foundation must have contracted out to the lowest bidder back home. This unit had not been designed with a lot of
forethought for its intended host or environment. Fortunately
for me the crew of the ship was able to jerry rig a new tracker from their waste sector. More comfortable and less conspicuous I was again
able to interact with the community without questioning looks.
The
Inter Galactic team took two months to download and analyze the data I had stored since my
disappearance in Costa Rica. As soon as the
initial report was compiled the board of directors gathered to determine weather or not
funding would continue for the Earth Project.
My observers
were very pleased with the results collected to this point and decided to fund the project
for another year. By the end of February the
cranium link was reconnected and downloaded my new project objectives.
I suppose
this answered my question as to why I was leaning up against the helicopter this morning. I had been chosen to be a field agent by the Inter
Galactic Science Foundation to gather information on Earth.
With their support I have been positioned in jobs that provide me with the
greatest opportunity to observe different cultures and regions of the world.
During the
2001 season I continued my undercover work in Antarctica.
When my season ended I was relocated to New Zealand to conduct a
fact-finding mission for the Foundation. My
directive was to gather information of its mountainous regions on the South Island. I spent 2 months hiking and exploring this great
area. New Zealand has to be one of my
favorite travel destinations. The people are
friendly and the recreational opportunities are endless.
What a great place to defrost after months on the ICE.
Following my travels through New Zealand I
stopped in Western Samoa for some island time before returning home. Amazingly I managed to catch up with everyone in
the family, which is a challenging task for a Carpenter.
Following a
couple of weeks on the homestead I returned to Broadreach for my 6th season. I am now convinced that the Foundation had
arranged this job as it provides a good cover and does not eat into their grant money.
This year I
had the job I always dreamed of. I meet up
with three different trips to take photographs for our new publications. My first destination was Australia. After a day in Sydney we flew to Darwin for an
extended foray into the Outback. We rock
climbed, hiked, ate native “Bush Tucker”, canoed Katherine Gorge, explored
canyons with water falls and learned about the traditional inhabitants, culture and
traditions.
From the
rocky center we traveled east to the lush tropical Queensland coast. Our adventures continued with hikes through the
Atherton Tablelands, rafting on the Tully, sea kayaking through the warm waters and SCUBA
diving the colorful Great Barrier Reef.
When we
reached the halfway point of 2001 I celebrated my 33rd lap around the Sun. This was an amazing day for me. I awoke as the sun rose from the South Pacific, a
body of water that I would see from every angle today.
Sadly I had to leave this group in order to join the crew on the Fiji
Vanuatu Quest.
I flew
from Cairns across the Pacific to the Fijian island of Taviuni. My new group was out SCUBA diving when I arrived. While waiting I wiggled my toes in the sand with a
big smile. It was not long before the first
diver popped his head out from the water. Bursting
forth with stories of all the great sights they had seen on the dive made me eager to join
them for the next one. Later that night as I
watched the sun slip into the sea toward Australia I wondered what adventures I would
encounter during my next annual orbit.
While
in Fiji we explored the island extensively above and below the water. I am sure the Foundation was pleased. Among the highlights were jungle hikes, swimming
in waterfalls, kayaking off the shore, and meeting the wonderful people who call this
paradise home.
Our next
paradise lay to the west on the historically rich island group of Vanuatu. I knew very little about this country before I
arrived. I learned and experienced more here
than I ever imagined. I keep questioning how
much involvement the Foundation had in incorporating this nation into my destiny.
The bulk of
our time was divided between two islands in the group.
Espiritu Santo to the North and Moso Island off the coast of Vanuatu’s
main island of Efate in the south. On Santo
we set up base in Luganville. During the
Second World War this small harbor became a major outpost for the US Pacific Fleet. For us it provided some amazing wreck diving and
historical exploration. During the war the transport ship SS Coolidge struck an underwater
mine as it entered the harbor to deliver troops and needed supplies. The Coolidge was rammed ashore by the captain and
the crew ordered to abandon ship. With in an
hour the Coolidge sank to the sea floor with all of its cargo. Amazingly there were only two people who lost
their lives during the catastrophe.
We spent
many days diving on the wreck and nearby coral reefs.
One of the most amazing dives of my life was on this wreck. As the sun set one evening we too slipped below
the surface for a night dive of the Coolidge. Sinking
into the darkness we could see the outline of the bow, deck cranes and eventually the
cargo hold that we were to enter. Once inside
we settled on to the tracks of a military tank and waited.
Our eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness and then became aware that not every thing
here was dark. We had embarked on this dive
to see the flashlight fish that inhabited the ship.
I still find it difficult to describe the thousands of iridescent blue lights that
danced through the submerged passages ways and rooms of the wreck.
As with Fiji
our time here was divided between the wonders above and below the water. On Santo we were fortunate to be invited to
another native village. Here we learned about
the traditional customs and lifestyles of the indigenous people of Vanuatu. Our learning and diving continued as we relocated
to Moso Island. The chief of this
island invited us to help in the construction of a traditional outrigger canoe. Over the course of a week we transformed a log
into a boat. From this canoe jellyfish would
be collected to feed baby sea turtles that were being raised on the island in an effort to
stem the decline of local populations.
Sooner
than I had desired the day came for me to leave my new friends of the South Pacific in
order to catch up with my last group in Honduras. The
journey was long but the rewards were numerous. We
explored new jungles and rivers while learning about the history, culture and natural
environments of Honduras. On the island
of Roatan our diving adventures began. This
local chief greeted us with a warm smile and invited us to swim through his underwater
kingdom as his guest.
Just about
out of breath from all the incredible experiences I returned home. After a few days of rest I was back on the road. This time I ventured off as Uncle Dave. I joined Jan and her crew for a trip to the Gaspe
Peninsula of Quebec. We feasted on
French food under the stars while seeking out all the prime picnic spots and playgrounds
in the province. When I returned to the
States the entire Carpenter Clan gathered to celebrate the beginning of a very special
journey, Sharon and John wedding. Having
us all together is a rare yet adventurous event.
As the
year wound down I found myself back in the South Seas.
These southern seas were not like any of the others I had visited during the
summer. Just off the coast of the Ross Island
Resort and the town of McMurdo the sea was silent and frozen. For a brief moment this quiet was disturbed as my
US Air Force C-141 gently landed on the solid sea.
I am back in
Antarctica for another season of exploration and discovery.
This afternoon I can let my mind rest, as I now know why I have been hanging
around here with this fuel nozzle in my hand.
I guess my
only question now is what sort of samples have I been collecting and storing in this
freezer.
Wishing you
all the best on your adventures this year and beyond.
Dave
