Editor’s Note: Kimo chimed in from Switzerland to remind me that our pal RADM Mac Showers would have been 97 years old today. I still miss him, and am way behind on putting the manuscript of his life into order and getting it out to you.
In the meantime, this is a reprise of some times with his family that will always be precious in terms of people and place. I have no idea what Mac would say about everything going on today. I wish I could ask.
-Ed
Mac was with family last night. I confess I am still a bit foggy. I had traveled from the Mountain West via Fort Worth, deep in the heart of Texas, and managed to dump my bags and slide into Mac’s usual stool at Willow with minutes to spare.
The clan had gathered from all the points of the compass: His three children were there: Donna, Mike and Dave, spouses Tom and Suzanne and an assortment of Mac’s wonderful grandchildren.
(Liz-S and Brett attempt to keep pace with the Admiral’s party).
Mac’s family was going to get together at Willow that night, and kindly extended an invitation to share stories and reminisce. I have never seen a commercial establishment display an outpouring of affection for a patron. Jasper was behind the bar with Liz-S, and she came around the bar to give me a hug. Liz was a special lady in Mac’s life- by turns bubbly and solicitous, and the woman who penned the chit granting Mac “free beer” for as long as he cared to have one.
(Jasper from Guam)
Jasper shares the name of Jasper Holmes, the great submariner and code-breaker who saved Mac’s life by preventing him from boarding the fleet submarine USS Wahoo for Mush Morton’s last combat patrol. Jasper is from Guam, too, and there was a special kinship with Mac, since he had served on Nimitz Hill at the forward Headquarters, and Jasper is proud of his heritage, which included the merry man on the civilian side of the bar.
Mac’s family gathered at the very spot at the bar where Mac used to hold court. He always dressed up to go to Willow- the Admiral had his standards, and they were high ones.
(Bell’s Two Hearted Ale with Gruyere Cheese puffs)
Tracy O’Grady sent out a couple orders of the delicious Gruyere gluten-free cheese puffs, and Bell’s lager, with Anchor Steam one of the Admiral’s favorites, flowed right up until the party ambled back to the private room in the back of the dining area.
(The ladies with Mac’s portrait, the one taken right after FADM Nimitz pinned the Bronze Star on his chest in 1945.)
Mac’s portrait went along, of course. It had occupied the place in front of the empty chair at the private table at the Peking Gourmet the night before, the evening of the last day of his remarkable life.
That is the same excellent restaurant the Iranians wanted to blow up- and a hangout for Mac’s clan all their lives in Washington.
(Gallo jug wine used to come with a thumb-hole for easy pouring).
Willow permitted a corkage for a special vintage of red wine: remember an America that as not nearly as sophisticated as it is now? This bottle would not make the exotic wine list of today’s fine dining establishment. The stories flowed with the Gallo jug-wine that Mac and his beloved Billie use to have on the family table- and those dinners would last until the last of the
It was a remarkable evening. Sorrow could not penetrate for long. There was too much love in the place. It was just the way Mac would have liked it.
Rest in Peace, Admiral. See you for Liberty Call on the other shore.
Copyright 2012 Vic Socotra
www.vicsocotra.com