No, it wasn’t the handsome military men showing us the planes they fly.  The USS Nimitz was the aircraft carrier featured on the PBS series Carrier, and as a huge fan of television and pop culture, I was really thrilled to step foot on my first-ever reality show set.  

Officers and pilots were available on the flight deck to answer our questions about the jets and the aircraft carrier generally, so I used the opportunity to learn.  “Is this the same hangar where that officer got in trouble for having an against-the-rules relationship with a fellow officer?  “When can I see the laundry facility where the guy was making extra money on the side for doing other people’s laundry?”  “Who from the show is still on the ship today, and when can I get their autograph?”

There was also a delicious carving station at the reception, and so I availed myself to enjoying two good, old-fashioned American roast beef sandwiches.  Oh, and in case you’re wondering, the answers to my questions were yes; no, you absolutely can’t, and no one’s left from the original show, so not today.