Memorial Day honors the men and women who lost their lives while serving in the United States Military. We thank those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.
I'd like to offer my special thanks to the men of the 297th Combat Engineer Battalion who lost their lives in World War Two. The 'Army Uncles' I didn't get to meet. As I always do, I will #gosilent for Private Joseph Gajweski, my dad's close friend who was KIA in France during WWII.
Never
Monday Morning - USS Arizona Memorial
Angie linked her hands with DJ and Joan's as they stood quietly in front of the wall of remembrance at Pearl. "Hi, Great Grandpa Steven," she said quietly. "We're all here together today. We love you lots. Thanks for being so brave."
"Me and Mama made a frame and we got pictures of you and Great Grandma in it in my room. It's next to the one of Grandpa John," Joan spoke in a hushed tone.
"I'm still using the glove Grandpa John gave Dad. When it gets too small, we're gonna put it in a trophy box in my room so I can keep it forever."
Mary brushed a tear with one hand as the other squeezed Deb's.
"He'd be very proud of you three," Deb told the children when they moved back to her side. "Just like he'd be proud of your parents."
Steve felt Catherine's hand on his shoulder and he gave her a soft smile. "Aunt Deb, do you want a minute?" He nodded towards the wall.
"Just a short one," she replied and stepped forward. "Look at our beautiful family, Dad," she said. "The children know all about you and Mom, just like Steve and Mary did." Her smile went from soft to slightly amused. "And along with being smart and brave, the McGarrett stubbornness is alive and kicking in the next generation."
With a chuckle that had the adults sharing little smiles, she stepped back, looped her arms through Steve and Mary's and said, "Until next time, Dad. Keep an eye on us."
After a morning of honoring their great grandfather at Pearl Harbor's USS Arizona Memorial, the kids had played outside, eaten some lunch and helped prepare dinner. By late afternoon the excitement was palpable as they waited for the arrival of some very special visitors.
"They're here!" Angie squealed, and even before the cars stopped in the driveway, she had flung open the front door and was hopping in place on the front porch.
"Nonna!" she chouroused with DJ and Joan as the great grandma stepped out of the Camaro with Danny's help.
"Mio bambini!" Nonna held out her arms as they came forward for hugs.
"You rode in Uncle Danny's car?" DJ said with a smile. "I thought you'd be in the minivan."
Nonna kissed his cheek. "I wanted to ride in the cool car with my handsome grandson," she winked at Danny as the rest of the family made their way up to the porch for hugs and greetings.
"Hi Aunt Clara and Uncle Eddie!" Angie caught Danny's folks in a hug while DJ and Joan ran up to Angela, Sal and Theresa. Looking over her shoulder she noticed a third car. "Francesca and Eric got their own car?"
"Hey, beautiful," Francesca said and kneeled to embrace the six year old. "We travel in packs but this whole gang fitting in one minivan with luggage wasn't happening." She stood to hug DJ and Joan. "All three of you grew since Christmas."
When the kids' exuberant greetings died down to a lower decibel level, the adults entered the beach house amidst hugs and hellos of their own.
"I can't believe you're all here for graduation," Grace said while standing with her arms still around her great grandmother.
"We wouldn't miss it, bambina," Nonna kissed her cheek, smiling at the fact that she had to reach up for the kiss, as even at five foot three, Grace was taller than she was.
"I sound like you, Nonna," Catherine said with a chuckle, "but we made a ton of food, so I hope you're all hungry."
"Are you kidding?" Danny's dad said, "airplane food is horrible. I'm definitely starving. I really wanted to take you all out for dinner, but my brilliant granddaughter said that wasn't happening on our first night here."
"Not a chance." Steve clapped him on the back. "After all the meals we've had at Nonna's and your houses." He looked over at Sal. "We've got akule and opelu."
Sal rubbed his hands together. "Awesome. You know we tried to make some back home but even with Angela's cooking skills, it's just not as good as here."
"You're gonna love it, Uncle Sal," DJ offered, "Me and Joan helped Mom cook it and Angie and Dad made the Ahi and Mahi."
"We've got chicken and burgers, too," Joan said, "And lots of sides and salads."
"Family cooking together," Nonna said and beamed at Grandma Ang. "I know they had fun."
"And by request," Ang said, patting Steve's arm with a smile, "we have homemade potato salad."
"Don't forget deviled eggs and antipasto," Elizabeth added. "We knew everyone would have enough time to check into the hotel and freshen up, but since you're staying at Danny's, Nonna, we were hoping you didn't arrive and start cooking the minute you put your bags down," she teased.
"Ahh, you know me well, sweetheart," Nonna beamed. "These two insisted I nap after a little snack, and who could say no to such wonderful girls?" She hugged Grace and reached a hand for Gabby's.
"Definitely not me," Danny said, holding up both hands in surrender.
"Smart man," Joseph said with a grin. "Should we head out to the deck? We got lucky and the weather cooperated, it's not too hot."
"Sounds great," Angela said and looped one arm each through her sister's and Mary's. "No snowball fights but we were plotting …er …thinking."
"Oh, Jesus." Danny wiped a hand over his face in mock annoyance. "You're not here half a day and you're plotting an overthrow?"
"We were thinking volleyball, what days are Carrie and John coming …" Theresa asked.
"I call Elizabeth and Catherine then." Danny announced and everyone grinned. "What?"
"You can't call teams before we even set up the nets," Mary offered with a chuckle and all three kids laughed.
"We didn't even pick captains, yet," Steve tossed over his shoulder while lifting a giggling Angie off her feet.
"Like you're not a captain?" Danny tossed back.
"Of course I am."
"Then so am I."
"Boys, boys," Nonna said with a smile. "Eat first, fun later."
"Okay, Nonna," the best friends chorused, making Catherine and Gabby grin.
"Perfect, it's all settled," the great grandma smiled as she stepped out onto the deck holding Sal's arm. "What a beautiful table and the food looks wonderful!" she complimented. "I can tell you used the secret ingredient…" she led.
"Love!" Angie, DJ and Joan were joined by Grace, Francesca, Eric and even Kendra, making Nonna and Grandma Ang share a beaming smile.
Nonna and the family's arrival from New Jersey had ramped up the excitement for Grace's graduation and Danny was smiling non stop all evening as he watched the interactions unfold around him.
Nonna's eyes were sparkling with joy as she sat next to Angie at the table and placed a kiss on the headful of curly dark hair. "You, my bella bambina, have grown so much since the winter."
"We had our check ups and guess what?"
"What, darling?"
"Doctor Violet said I'm gonna be taller than Mommy by a little tiny bit." She held her thumb and forefinger a hairsbreadth apart.
"Really?"
Her head bobbed with her nod. "And DJ's gonna be tall. Maybe even taller than Daddy!"
"Is that so?" Nonna asked and laughed delightedly. "Then you'll both be much taller than me."
Meanwhile, DJ and Joan exchanged excited glances, thrilled to have everyone there for the week. "Daddy!" Joan leaned across her cousin to address Aaron. "I like the akule, it's really good," she said about the big eyed scad she'd helped prepare.
Aaron placed a hand over his chest. "Be still my heart," he said, making his traditionally picky eater giggle. "We'll definitely make some at home."
"Wait til Casey gets here and I tell her."
"She'll be excited you tried a brand new food," her father said with a thumbs up.
"Speaking of which," Theresa said, "How was Casey's graduation?"
"It was wonderful," Mary told her with a smile. "They normally only allow five tickets, but a few of her friends had four guests so she had enough for the whole family to go. They were planning to stay at a hotel not far from us, but between our spare room and the two at Aunt Deb's we put everyone up. They're staying in LA for a couple of days, sightseeing."
Deb leaned over and passed Theresa her phone. "I have about a hundred pictures, this is my favorite."
The image on the screen showed Jenna, her children and Jess, beaming around the new graduate.
"Perfect shot."
"They're flying back in time for Grace's graduation, it's gonna be so fun," DJ said from his seat across from them. "Everybody'll be here for her and Kendra and Linda's parties."
Over dinner, Grace stood and thanked everyone for coming to help her celebrate.
"We wouldn't miss it for the world, mio bambina," Nonna said, pulling her into a tight hug. "You've made us all proud."
"Every day," Steve offered, raising his drink in her direction with a glance at his best friend who was absolutely holding back a tear. Moving around to where his partner was seated, he clapped a hand on Danny's shoulder. "She's grown into an amazing person. You've done an incredible job."
With a cough to mask the lump in his throat, Danny smiled. "She's had a lot of great role models," he said, indicating Steve and Catherine, making Steve nod gratefully. Watching Grace grow up was definitely one of the best parts of his life.
"Grace graduating college," Mary said to Gabby. "I feel like we were just celebrating her high school graduation."
"It comes at you fast," Sal said from across the table. "Francesca just finished pre-k like an hour ago and now she's a teacher." He winked at his daughter.
"Lightning speed," Danny replied, a blend of pride and nostalgia in his eyes as he looked at his siblings. "All three of our babies are all grown up."
Grace approached and placed her drink on the table, stopping to hug her father before sitting. "Never too grown up to need our parents." She kissed his cheek. "Right, guys?"
Eric and Francesca nodded, making all the parents at the table smile.
"Definitely," Catherine said from her seat next to Elizabeth, who she kissed on the cheek.
"Never too old, right Clara?" Elizabeth reached across the table to squeeze Ang's hand while Danny's mom blew a kiss at Nonna, saying, "Never."
# End thanks for reading!
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