Pacific Women's Voices

I'm fighting the urge to say something stupid.  The Marianas Variety ran a story today about how women need to make their voices heard regarding the impending military buildup on Guam.  If they're implying that women need to stand up and rally against the influx of military men, then I'm offended by the shallow implication.  Why is this a women's issue? Isn't this an economic, cultural and government issue? Or, is this an issue because thousands of women might find themselves somehow entangled with young, burly men and by process of fornication dilute the Chamorro bloodline?  There...I said something stupid. I understand that there have been crimes against women on these bases and that there will be long range effects of the sex scandals for years to come, devastating effects that are not easily erased by an apology.  There is just something that makes me feel uneasy about the article.

Everyone should have a say about how they feel their community might change when this happens.  There should be programs put in place to boost the local economy and perhaps even to augment existing cultural heritage efforts by fostering understanding and tolerance, not animosity.  But, if women are going to be asked critical questions, let's not limit it to whether or not we think we'll be able to hold our marriages together when the troops come to town.  Ask us about what we think can be done to support entrepreneurship, especially among women of lower socio-economic status and those who may have to compete with a new labor force with greater skills.  Ask us what measures should be put in place to protect our children from the dangers of drugs and how we can help bring awareness of cultural priorities. We've got a lot of ideas about creative curriculum in the schools and we can probably tell you a thing or two about balancing the government budget too.  As much as I appreciate the attention to women's rights, I'd like to know what the discussion really entails.  What is it you want to hear from Pacific Women?

"I strongly object to the primeval notion that women should consider their college years as an opportunity to find a husband. Women, regardless of age, should have an intellectual curiosity that goes beyond wondering if their shoes match their purse."
-- HBI Member, Laura

The best of you, not what's left of you

Sometimes you worry about not having enough money. Sometimes you worry about not having enough time. I'd prefer to look back on my life and regret not having enough money, if that's even regrettable. I'd been working a lot lately and spending little time doing truly dedicated things with my kids. Wayne and I have always tried to do things that involve participation from the kids, but lately I started to feel like I needed something more than just the ordinary pizza night. I was afraid at first to bring up the subject, but I really wanted to do something special. After almost two years with Wayne I still have to work on hang ups that linger. I remembered how hard I fought to go on a family trip to Australia years before; how it seemed like I had to practically defend the need to make memories. This time was much easier, though and I am ever so grateful for the family values we share. One day I will get used to this being a team thing. For now I am just appreciating the fact that time is not something I will regret spending with our children because our time is spent making sure they remember how much we love them.

It was only Guam, but on Christmas morning we surprised the kids by telling them they had to pack for an early morning flight the next day. They looked at us with astonishment at first, then the excitement kicked in. It was funtastic! It was all about the kids! I'd never done anything on Guam before other than work or shop. I actually have never spent any time out of stores. I was always shopping, finding things for the kids or just trying to pick up stuff for home. This time I did very little shopping and lots of laughing. The family time we spent made up a million-fold for any shopping spree. I'll always remember how we sat in the parking lot at KMart unable to get out of the car until our laughter subsided from sharing the day's adventures. Wayne, me and the kids red in the face, tears streaming down our cheeks; stomachs hurting from laughing out loud! I'm so blessed. So truly thankful for the time with the kids. I'd literally never heard my son laugh and talk so much in years. We met family on both my mom's sides, my dad's side, Wayne's side and friends. The smiles on the kid's faces made it all worth it. It seemed like everyone was able to forget some of the struggle at home that inevitably comes from adjusting to a new life, a blended family and those irritating, heart wrenching, stressful weekend switches. This is our life and we need to make it the best one we can. Hope you enjoy some of our little vacation pics.

Waiting to leave early in the morning

We've arrived!

Sommer's grape adventure at Denny's

Hope's cake batter with gummy bear ice cream at Coldstone

Visiting with Auntie Vicky and Trish

Wayne and I

All of us on the bumper cars!

Underwater World

Visiting with John in Talafofo

Tarza!

The girls had partners on Guam!

Sommer and Auntie Annie's mini dobie Metgot

At the end of your life, the people who mean the most to you should have the best of you, not what's left of you...

Lunch in the office and other off the clock thoughts

Spicy Tuna sushi and avocado salad care of Himawari.

Perfectly portioned and nutritionally sound. If you ignore the bacon bits, slices of good fat avocado and packet of soy sauce. Yes, my body is a temple.
To wash it all down? Crystal Geyser natural Alpine spring water. Has anyone ever seen unnatural spring water? I know what you were thinking. I'd eat all that and then have a diet pepsi. Phooey on you.


For dessert, Haagen-Dazs coffee almond crunch ice cream bar. This constitutes my daily serving of dairy. That's my story and I' m sticking to it.

What did you have for lunch today?

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Two Days on Guam

Uncle John's funeral was beautiful, a 15 gun salute from the Army and a gorgeous helium rosary that was released into the sky concluded his burial at the Piti Veteran's Cemetary. The funeral procession ran from Mangilao to Talafofo and then down to Piti. We will all miss him very much. John Aguon Jr.(John Boy), his eldest son gave a beautiful eulogy. He spoke of the day they had to admit him into the ER. Uncle John had promised the little kids to take them to P.I.C. He was so concerned about keeping his promise that John Boy left his dad's side at the hospital and took the kids swimming just to ease his mind. I could never remember my uncle John without auntie Annie by his side. I saw them last in December, all their kids had grown and they reminisced about their years of marriage. When they looked into each others' eyes it made me blush. So in love.

Dinner with Tony Jr. at Ruby Tuesday's was wonderful. He talked non stop about his band adventures. Learning how to deal with many types of people and personalities, and what he wanted to do for the future. I realize that he was just fine without me, even though a part of me wanted him to need his mommy for a bit longer. When we dropped him off at band practice Wayne said that I'd done good, that I was lucky to have such a great son. He's right. TonTon is the best son I could ever wish for. I am so proud of him and his accomplishments/dreams. On a side note: it was nice to see how much support the Guam delegation was getting from it's government. They marched in the Liberation Day parade and were getting discounts at stores, funding support from their legislature, etc. It is the Olympics folks, they are ambassadors. What happened to us? We have five kids going to China and no one blinked an eye. Shame, shame.

Brian's rosary was at St. Anthony's Church in Tamuning. I counted our fallen soldiers at the airport before we left. 27. Take a look at the Insular Affairs website and this one. I think that puts us at the second highest per capita rate for casualties. Friday, July 25, 2008 we welcome another brave soldier home to Guam to be honored for the ultimate sacrifice.


A visit with Chris and Val! Yay! Chris and Val took us to Chamorro Village to walk around and then we had dinner at the Jamaican Grill. If you ever get a chance to go there, the ribs are great and I particularly loved the fish with curry dip. We spent a couple of hours together before heading back to the airport to catch our flight. Chris and Val will be here in August. Come to the AMP and listen to beautiful sounds of Island Kai!

So, we're on Guam and I have to go buy some maternity items for a very sexy prego sister-girlfriend of mine. I walk in and inquire very politely about the whereabouts of the prenatal undergarments, and someone walks in behind me and asks if they have edible maternity thongs. That made the saleslady think I was either prego or kinky. She was wrong about one of those. Here's a little ditty I learned at Motherhood: maternity wear isn't just for pregnant people anymore. Gotta give it to their marketing team for being gutsy enough to penetrate the non-pregnant demographic. Makes me think about the avocado waiter at Ruby Tuesday's. That's ok, because after that little prank I made someone walk around the mall carrying the Motherhood Maternity shopping bag.

Promoting Values

I am so glad to be back on Saipan. Yes, even with the outrageous cost of living and upcoming election madness. I spent my second day on the island of Guahan, driving from Yona to Yigo, trying to occupy my time while my husband was at a meeting. It was nice, for the most part, to drive a longer distance and enjoy the billboardless scenery. I tried to listen to the radio, but after a while I was so disgusted with one of the radio station's promotions that I just turned it off and listened to the sound of the car engine, a better audio entertainment by far than what was on "air".

There was a promotion for the Globe, a hot spot and happening club in Tumon. It was apparently "No Panties Night" at the Globe and the DJ made lude comments about it being "pao pao in Tumon tonight". Now I'm admittedly way out of the party scene and consider myself to be more conservative than the average GenExer. But, this was outrageous. I could go into all the social and ethical implications that this sort of promotion brings, but I know I'd have a barrage of comments from folks who would try to convince me to be more "with it".

No way.

I am glad I live on Saipan, where Porky's promotes no smoking Wednesdays and you can still find a nice place to hang out and have "a few" without feeling like you're in a meat market. Saipan, where the only titillating specials are Naked Fish's hole in one deal and Oleai Beach Bar and Grill's dollar tacos.

Change is a good thing and should be embraced if we are to understand the dynamics of human relationships. Change though, in my opinion, needs to be for the better and I cannot, as hard as I try, contemplate the benefits of having a club full of panty-less females in an alcohol laden environment. What have we come to?

I think of my own children and the things that will become acceptible in their social environment. We have such a heady responsibility as adults. We have the awesome task of preparing them to make their own good choices. We must also prepare an appropriate selection of options for them. Perhaps I am a just a backwards island girl who takes everything a little too seriously. Perhaps the CDC shoud look into bringing their free HPV campaign to the Globe.