John Blackshoe Sends: Serendipity History - Une Anniversaire

In the Beginning…

HWAET!  And 392 other words from Lex

Happy Birthday, Lexicans!

Twenty years ago today, at 4:44 PM, a banner was raised on the internet, around which Lexicans eventually rallied.   Although our leader has been gone for more than half that time, we few, we happy few, rejoice in our acquaintance, and go forth in his memory and spirit, lamenting that which has been lost, but rejoicing that we had it at all.

Carroll Fairfax LeFon, then a 43 year old Navy Captain newly stuck in a staff job, uncertain about what the future might hold, opened his life and thoughts for all to see, with a fig leaf of pseudonymity provided by the nom de plume of “Neptunus Lex.”

Lex arriving home 2 June 2003 as USS CONSTELLATION
completed her final cruise, 125 days before his first post.

The title of his first post, “ HWAET!”  was followed by a bold declaration:

“So.  Today I am a blogger.”  

He piqued our curiosity with a photo of some guy surrounded by bombs in front of an airplane.  

Followed by somber thoughts about his profession of delivering deadly ordnance and insights on the workings of an aircraft carrier. 

He then revealed his mischievous wit and described his decision to embark on a Navy career:

“When I first thought about serving my country, I considered the Air Force, but decided I’d rather be in the military instead.”²

And he concluded that first visit with:

“Quote Yeats to me and you’ve won my heart …”  

Lex’s first post was 393 words which introduced the world to a man with uncommon education, unsurpassed skill as a writer, exactly the kind of guy with whom most people would love to share beer or sea stories.  Subsequent posts shared his experiences as husband, poet, father, pilot and more.

Before enjoying that first post reprinted below, his choice of “Hwaet” as a title begs for scrutiny to better understand this unique man.   It was the first of many obscure words he would use, invariably the perfect word for a particular situation.

Lex knew, although most of us did not, that “Hwaet!” was the first word of Beowulf,

“… a heroic poem considered to be the highest achievement of Old English literature and the earliest European vernacular epic.  It deals with events of the early 6th century and was probably composed c. 700–750. It tells the story of the Scandinavian hero Beowulf, who gains fame as a young man by vanquishing the monster Grendel and Grendel’s mother; later, as an aging king, he kills a dragon but dies soon after, honoured and lamented. Beowulf belongs metrically, stylistically, and thematically to the Germanic heroic tradition but shows a distinct Christian influence.” (Source)

But, what the heck does “Hwæt” mean?

 

“Hwæt is a term most famous for being the opening word of the legendary Old English poem, Beowulf. In various translations of the millenia-spanning epic it has been interpreted as "What ho!" , "Hear me!" , "Attend!" , "Indeed!" , [or] "So," … To this day there is much debate over its original meaning, including whether it should even be read as an interjection at all.

Hwæt, then, is a term that suggests something archaic but also something contemporary. Its meaning is not only debated to this day but routinely reimagined. It represents ancient ideas consistently brought forward with time, and the extents to which even the oldest stories can still speak to us on a deep level.” (Source)

There are different, but similar, definitions from other reputable sources. I suspect that Lex might have considered it to be a millennia old precursor of the mariner’s traditional introduction to a sea story: “Listen up, and this is no sh!t.”

So many of Lex’s posts have deeper meaning than they first appear, and are thought provoking, stimulating, educational, and almost always a lot of fun to read.   Even more amazing was the way his invitation to comment, or even “Talk amongst yourselves” engendered his readers (“both of them” as he once self-deprecatingly noted) to join in lively discussions. 

Coming from diverse backgrounds, this motley crew found unity and inspiration from a bold leader, often sharing similar thoughts, and often discussing dissenting views, but invariably with good manners.

Damn, that man could write, and we are blessed to have been able to enjoy his company then, and as reruns since “the internet is forever.”

Lex’s unpublished opus, “Rhythms” appeared in serial form with 54 installments bringing alive an aircraft carrier’s crew and their largely unfamiliar and underappreciated work.  Lex’s many contributions to literature in so varied fields deserve greater recognition and readership.

So, dear reader, let’s relive that joyous day two decades ago when Neptunus Lex arrived on the Internet ...¹

So. Today I am a blogger.

This picture is from an aircraft carrier at sea in the Arabian Gulf. March, 2003. Those of you keeping up on current events at the time may realize that the ugly green things in the scarcely more attractive grey jackets behind me are JDAMs - Joint Direct Attack Munitions. They are about to be elevated to the flight deck, for an arranged marriage with FA-18’s and F-14’s. The union will be brief, however - these bombs are destined for the palaces of thuggish, dictatorial regimes, revetted armor formations and sadly, poorly lead, poorly motivated conscripts standing in the way of the Third Infantry Division and First Marine Division, First Marine Expeditionary Force. Ordinarily, we aviators don’t think in terms of people on the receiving end, we talk of targets “serviced.” Except when we’ve got troopers on the ground: some frightened, pimply-faced 19 year old kid from some town in Iowa that we’ll never meet, wearing desert cammies and carrying a rifle - when there are American Soldiers on the ground, then it gets personal. You can spare a thought for the wetware on the receiving end of the machine- the kid has no politics, it’s either this or the plastic shredder… you can feel sorry for him for the bad luck that brought his coordinates to your cockpit, but you can’t dwell. You’ll be back tomorrow.

As for JDAMs, for smart weapons they’re fairly dumb, they don’t know where they’re going yet - but soon they will be told, and they’re going to fall desperately in love with the targets of their affection. A union devoutly to be wished, to be sure - but ultimately a destructive relationship. So it goes…

That was, what? seven months ago. Since I’m a Sailor, and not a Soldier, I’m home now. Pray for the boys over there, they’re doing this for us, they’re doing it for you…

When I first thought about serving my country, I considered the Air Force, but decided I’d rather be in the military instead. My father told me once that in the Army, you’d live like rats and die like gentlemen. In the Navy, you’d live like gentlemen, and die like rats. I rather counted on living, and that has made all the difference.

Quote Yeats to me and you’ve won my heart…

Thank you, Lex for those 393 words, and so many more which followed.   It is hard to realize this man’s wonderful work began exactly twenty years ago, and tragically ended eleven years ago.

Many of Lex’s writings are preserved for public enjoyment at “The Lexicans.”

There are also private groups devoted to Neptunus Lex on Facebook and MeWe, open by invitation only. 

¹ NOTE:  The post is from the archive version here. 

² Ouch! - OAFS