I Confess: I'm Feeling Very American

I've lived in United States of America since 1991. Well, 1987, really, if you consider Guam part of the USA. I learned the Pledge of Allegiance, the Star Spangled Banner, America The Beautiful, and I must confess, I take them all to heart. As such, Independence Day, the Fourth of July is a very special day for me. I can't help but thank America's forefather's for making our country the United States that it is. And what better day to commemorate the birthday of our nation by celebrating with magnificent lights in the sky.

The sky was clear and cool. And what a treat to have the moon greeting the coming night with a smile.

At nine o'clock we made our way to the play fields, where the firework show is set up every year. It felt like it was a record crowd this year. There was hardly a spot to sit on the sidewalks (the streets around the play fields are closed for the fireworks), and even on the neighbors' lawn, I had to sit shoulder to shoulder with fellow spectators.

The event opens with the National Anthem. With hand on heart, standing tall and proud, I belted out that beloved tune, so familiar, so profound, so emotional.

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming

Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming

And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air 

 [a lot of hooahs here]

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there...

O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! 

[A this point the crowd roars with pride.]

Ours is a little town where you almost know everybody, or at least see them on a regular basis through town. So our fireworks show was short and sweet, but did not lack a big bang. With the finale bursting for a good fifteen seconds, the crowd cheered in amazement and awe.

On a closing note, Guam is where America's day begins.Which begs the question: Is Guam part of the United States of America?

Happy Independence Day everyone, Americans and guests alike.

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Grandpa's Jamesie Cat

Jamesie has a new grandpa, Grandpa Ernest, and he loves him.

Because they get along like budbod and mango.

Like peanut butter and jelly.

Jamesie Cat already has Granpa Ernest wrapped around his pinky finer.

So, is he Grandpa's Jamesie Cat, or the other way around? Grandpas are heaven sent.



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Telltale Signs

I spent seventy-two days with PaB and MaK. Until last week. I went from seeing, hearing, being with them everyday, to, now, only catching telltale signs of their previous presence.

Like breakfast. MaK ate Raisin Bran every morning at home. And if you are curious, yes, I eat my cereal out of a mug.

Candy bars stuffed in the granola bar box. No, no one here was trying to kid ourselves about the difference between a 3 Musketeers and a Crunchy Granola Bar. PaB preferred the latter, and MaK the first.

Assorted muffins. They were the perfect snack to hold us over till the next meal. But I can't eat all twelve of them. Preacher and Sonya are so lucky...

Chewing gum. PaB always had a pack. Always. He left them everywhere.

Lotto tickets. Twice a week PaB played the Lotto. Once he won three dollars. But everytime he handed over his dollar for a ticket he would ask himself "How would it feel to win the jackpot?..."

"You can buy out all the yard and garage sales!" I replied. We went to garage/yard sales every single weekend.

Toothpicks everywhere!  He used to chew guava twigs when he was little because they couldn't afford toothbrush and toothpaste. For someone who consulted a dentist only once in his lifetime, and it wasn't because of a cavity or a broken tooth, PaB has immaculate teeth. I think toothpicks have a lot to do with it too.

Everyday since they went back to Truk, I wander into their bedroom where I can still smell them.

Which brings me to my dilemma: do I remove all the telltale signs that they were here, or do I keep eating bran cereal, candy bars, muffins, and pick my teeth after every snack, chew gum while I shop all the garage sales from here to Seattle, and take naps in their bed until I hit the Lotto jackpot?


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Seven and Young at Heart

Today was a special day for this Little Angel.

I've known Little Angel's mom since she was seven herself. That's her in the purple sweater, and her sisters, whom I've known since they were wee little girls.

As little as this little spunk, who is Little Angel's little sister. Have I used "little" plenty enough already?

I'll use "little" again to describe this little boy, who is Little Angel's li-, okay fine, BABY brother.

Baby Brother is a spitting image of his dad.

As I was saying... today was a special day because we were celebrating Little Angel's seventh birthday.

One thing about children's birthdays is that it brings out the child in the adult. Little Angel's aunt playing catch-the-bouncing-ball.

Bubbles. It's like popping bubble wrap. You just have to blow bubbles.

Ah, the exhilaration of flying through the air. Wee!

How can one resist the opportunity to blow a whistle?

Silly Nana, don't you know toys are for kids?

See, take the kiddy toys away, and the adults are just boring old folks who sit around talking about how oatmeal is good for the heart, and that fiber is good for the... um... soul. Yeah, the soul. It cleanses one's soul.

Cherish your single digit years Little Angel. Stay young!

Happy birthday!



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Graduation

June is a very busy month for folks with relatives in the eight or twelfth grades. It's graduation month. My nephew Mattie graduated from the eight grade this week.

The place was packed when we arrived.

I looked behind me to take in what Mattie was leaving behind. Ah, will he miss his tweenage stomping grounds?

But then I saw this. And I realized that these kids are happy to be moving on, even if they would now be the lowest class in the totem pole of high school.

Big Brother Mikey was there to cheer him on. Along with all the other big brothers and sisters who once took that same stage on their graduation day. I wondered if they were as proud of their little siblings as I was of Mattie.

Ah, the money stole. Each stole is probably worth twenty dollars. If Mattie is anything like me, he'll never disassemble that stole.

The proud mama and her boys.

The proud nana and her new hubby.

The public servant who keeps all the proud parents safe.

Amen.


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Wedding Fashion Faux Pas

Tita V's wedding date was announced only two weeks before the event. So imagine the conundrum when Tita V aslo announced that her wedding color would be gold. Gold. The closest thing to gold without it being tacky, considering such short notice, is beige or yellow. So it wasn't surprising that Cousin Ain was handing out yellow ties like they were party favors.

Looks good enough, right?

NOT! PaB is wearing a barong, a very formal attire worn to the most formal of events. God bless his heart though, PaB didn't mind that he looked like... like... like that.

As soon as the ceremony was over, he came up to me, trying to loosen the tie. "I... can't... buh-reath..." he said. So I took it off. And look how much better he looked.

FYI, he wore the jacket because it was cold.

T-shirts...

At least they were black... And extremely comfortable to dance in!

Speaking from personal experience, these shoes wouldn't have been comfortable to dance in...

Unless you were Mayet.

Now, about that mumu... It's a sun dress, meant to wear to a picnic, the beach, somewhere very casual. As such, I paid the price for wearing it. I couldn't keep a certain piece of under garment to stay put under that dress. Thank goodness for that shawl!


Heeeeey, Jamesie Cat isn't wearing a yellow tie... What's up with that?!

All colors and fashion faux pas, choking, and falling bras aside, we all had a swell time!


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