Talking Stories @Family Reunion

While sitting around my sister Barbara's dining room table last week, (@least three generations of us Stallman's), we had good memories to share. Barbara & Edwin's house is where we all gather when we go back to our roots. Everyone migrates to her extra long dining table. She always has a stack of plates, napkins, forks & an assortment of her latest baked goods, including her signature MUD CAKE....she IS a seasoned baker!

I'm telling my latest 'Rileigh Shea story: (a few weeks prior, Rileigh had asked me why I had brown spots on my arms & I had told her it is just something that happens when people get old).

So one day a few weeks later, Lauren, Rileigh Shea & I are driving to get snow cones, and she exclaims loudly 'OMG (just the letters, not the words) OMG! I have a Brown Spot on my arm! I said 'are you sure'? & she goes 'yes taotao, I am positive..............I sure hope my teeth don't start falling out'!............

Everyone had a good laugh, then Barbara took her turn. When her son Donn was a young child, he had been playing outside with some other little boys. There was a knock @the door. Barbara goes to the door & a little six or seven year old boy was standing there looking very serious. 'Mrs. Speck, Donnie called me a bad word'. 'Oh, he did'? said Barbara. 'Well, why don't you go tell Donnie his mama wants to see him'. The little boy runs off & shortly thereafter, Donn goes to his mother. 'Donnie, did you call that little boy a bad word'? 'Yes', says Donn. 'Well, what bad word did you say to him'? Donn hung his head, I said 'You are a sorry piece of shit & a rotten son of a bitch'!

Love That Video Camera, Vicki

Vicki has finally 'mastered' the operation of the video camera I got her for Christmas, and if nothing else, it gives us some great 'pee your pants laughing moments', usually @my expense!

We drove down to Chandler to visit her dads grave last week end. We took beautiful bouquet's of flowers to decorate his, Mary's & his folks' headstones. Vicki recorded all the King family headstones, and took some GREAT shots of me placing the flowers. I'm all bent over w/my ass in the air........OH MY GOD! what a sight for sore eyes! I don't bend my knees at all, & when I'm erect, my profile somewhat resembles a washtub with a ball on top & two short sticks @the bottom. Bwaahaaaaaa.

We laughed until we cried & lauren kept repeating: 'back it up mom, let's see it again'.......over & over. Maybe I will start that diet as soon as we return from our family reunion in S.D.

NO SILLY, IT IS YOU.............

Rileigh Shea is four, and she spends a lot of time with her 'taotao'. We love each other's company and have a great time together. I missed out on these early years with lauren because I was living on another planet..........not really, but Guam is soooo far away, it may as well have been.

Rileigh comes running into my office with a 'drawing'.............'look grandma, I made you something'. I look at her picture & see that it is a 'person'. 'Oh, Rileigh Shea, that is beautiful..........you did a great job drawing, is that you? 'No silly, it is you,..................... see, you are OLD & have FLUFFY ARMS!

I Bawled all the way home......

Yesterday, 5/21/10 was my four year olds 'SHOW'. It was the last day of Pre- School, and, I have been totally INVOLVED since day one. Vicki informed me (several times) that Rileigh Shea needed to be @location by 5:30! Parents were not allowed to go inside until 6:00 she said.

So, where in the hell did I get the idea that the program was @7pm? I don't know, maybe because it was held @7pm last year?

Anywayyy, I arrive @the church @5:30, walk miss rileigh shea to the door, & leave. I notice some 'grandma & grandpa's in the parking lot & think to myself 'why are they here soooooo early? Well, maybe they have traveled a long way..... no other thought enters my mind, and I go home.

I fiddle faddle wasting time, waiting for 6:45 to arrive....so I can head out. Time to go.......when I arrive @the church, everything seems normal. When I enter the building, I'm confused. It is 10 minutes to seven & people are mingling everywhere, EATING STUFF! I spot my son in law's parents, then my son in law & vicki, then I see Rileigh Shea eating chocolate covered strawberries on a squewar..... I am confused & thinking to myself...'why in the world are they letting this child eat B/4 her performance???'

I catch Vicki's eye.....'where have you been, Mother?' 'Didn't you know the program started @6:00? I thought I told you that....then the ugly cry starts on my face, I wave goodbye & just leave. It was awful.........next event, I will 'listen' better..........

Hey, Mr. President, maila fan boka: That's Chamorro for come eat

Found this in the Guam newspaper.......President Obama will be on island sometime during the first week of March. It made me laugh because when I built my retirement home, I wanted to make a sign to put in my kitchen that read 'Maila fan boka' my interpretation of 'come in & eat'. When I told Bob of my intentions, he corrected my Chamoru to say it right, just as the person in the next paragraph corrected the journalist in the PDN:

Who Chamoru you? Ask Juan Malimanga how to say it right. "Maila ta fan boka"..
Let President Obama try out Guam Ayuyu, Luta Fanihi, Tinian Hot Pepper, and Saipan Apigigi. Welcome to the Chamorro Islands!!

I still have my Continental Micronesia Airlines frequent flyer miles in my back pocket for another trip to Guam. I lived there eleven years and have been gone eleven years this month. I didn't realize until just now that I've been back eleven years. I read the Pacific Daily News online every day, and see many construction changes since my departure. Everyone is preparing for the Military buildup that will take place in the next year or so. The Marine bases are closing on Okinawa & Japan will pay millions of dollars to help the United States relocate on Guam.

Also, Continental Micronesia just opened a Guam to Fiji flight two or three times a week recently hmmmm mite be a cheap way to get to Fiji. Daydreams are so fun......

EMAIL KEEPER.....from barbara ......FUNNNNNY!

Did you know....

...that the words "race car" spelled backward still spells "race car"?

...that "eat" is the only word that, if you take the 1st letter and move it to the last, spells its past tense, "ate"?

And have you noticed that if you rearrange the letters in "illegal immigrants," and add just a few more letters, it spells: "Go home you free-loading, benefit-grabbing, resource-sucking, baby-making, violent, non-English-speaking assholes and take those other hairy-faced, sandal-wearing, bomb-making, camel-riding, goat-loving, raggedy-ass bastards with you."

How weird is that???

A Day Of Good Reflections

I have just spent a good hour with myself, sitting in my favorite chair in my living room, glancing from wall to wall, picture by picture, and being grateful for who I am today. Grateful for what I have accomplished in my life, and the roads I have traveled. There were many trials and tribulations.......some of my own making, and some not. It makes no difference anymore, because I have made amends and peace with all but a couple, and my God has taken care of those, I am sure.

Looking & reflecting at each picture brought smiles, out loud laughs and tears. I traveled to many places on the globe in my mind, and visualized many many good friends. The onset of 'this trip' was because of an hour long conversation with my best friend, katy. There are no secrets from katy, so therefore all conversations can go in any direction without guard........and they usually do. I am fortunate, because everyone needs a katy in their life. And, IMOHO, everyone should have a seat in their favorite chair & reflect. It's good for the SOUL.