Blood pressure and blood thinning meds make me feel like my scalp is trying to crawl off my skull. I am so sorry you are going through this.
Story Aunt Gus and Little Bear's Adventure Book 3 (Complete)
- Thread starter Kathy in FL
- Start date
Blood pressure and blood thinning meds make me feel like my scalp is trying to crawl off my skull. I am so sorry you are going through this.
Nov 24th: helicopter ride and Mauna Kea Summit
No more David but we got our day, last day on the Big Island and last day in Hawaii, figured out last night. We at an early continental breakfast at our hotel and then called an uber to pick us up and take us to the heliport.
I’m not getting spoiled. I mean I’m being spoiled but I’m not getting spoiled. I make sure of it so that I can set a good example for Benny. Last thing I’m interested in is raising a seven-year-old to be jaded. Uh, nope. Not happening. Maybe taking a helicopter ride isn’t like the first time but it is still a thrill. Like riding a roller coaster, it never really gets old.
Diego and Chan both opted to keep their feet on the ground. They took film of us taking off and landing but during the two hours we were in the air they had the driver take them around so they could continue to work. Lev went with Benny and I and sorta did the family thing at the same time he was plugged into the heli’s cameras and was doing his own type of work.
Among other things we got an up-close look at the Kilauea volcano, which has been continuously erupting since 1983. We saw the results of the 2018 eruption and all of the smaller ones since then. We were able to pick out some of the places we’d been in the park but from a completely different perspective. We also flew along the Kohala Coast. We saw the black sand beaches, the volcanic badlands, to the rainforests of the Hamakua Coast. and the valleys of the Kohala Mountains. It was amazing, and as always Lev made sure we got a copy of the video feed from our particular flight.
We figured out how to work the Saddle Road back into our itinerary again but it has taken us until today to pull it off. We signed up for the Mauna Kea Summit stargazing tour. It meant a late night but it has been totally worth it. I hope I am able to say that tomorrow since it is a travel day and I need to be on my toes.
Only a few tour operators are allowed to operate on Mauna Kea. We happened to pick the same one that we used on the Puna Coast. The tour summary they gave in their brochure said: “A stargazing journey from sea level to the nearly 14,000 foot summit of Maunakea reveals the wonders and world-class clarity of the Hawaiian night sky. This tour lets you see the sunset among some of the world's best telescopes and then takes you for a private star show at 9000 ft. with an 11” Celestron telescope.”
The thing is the tour didn’t start until we were picked up at 1:00 pm. That gave us a gap of time, so we had the driver take us back to the hotel. The guys took off for the beach and Benny went with Lev. I don’t know who was freaked out by that more, Lev or me. Benny was cool with it and frankly he had some massive wiggles. I needed to make sure everything was packed so that it can go on a plan rather than just casually tossed in there as we went from hotel to hotel. I also needed to see if everything was still under the weight limits.
Rather than eat out, when the guys came back they brought lunch and we ate while everyone did something constructive and we finished just in time to get downstairs and walk to the pick up point. The vehicle was a luxury 4WD van and we were neither the first, nor the last, group picked up. We took the saddle road, stopping several times for photo ops, then made a short stop to participate in a conservation project. Our particular project was to help collect flower seed heads so the seeds could be used to naturalize another part of the island and return it to the way things used to be pre-plantation period.
From there we headed to a ranch for a picnic dinner. After food and photography, we headed to Mauna Kea, the Big Island’s tallest peak. The goal was sunset in the sky with an ocean of clouds, or something terribly romantic like that. Lev surprised me by paying as much attention to Benny and I as he was to taking pictures.
“Lev …”
“Hey, stop letting the hamster dance,” he said with a grin. “I didn’t bring you along to forget about you. If this is going to be our life, let’s practice enjoying it.”
Geez, he says the right things, I just hope he doesn’t come to regret them. Last thing I want is to be an anchor dragging him down.
After sunset we headed out to an extremely dark and secluded location. Dark? There was zero light pollution. It was like when I’d been on the boat by myself out in the Atlantic. The only light came from what I generated and what was in the sky. And the day and night of the storm, there wasn’t even any of that. It was like fighting a hurricane inside a black cat. Dark doesn’t just mean black, it meant the absence of all light.
This is where the telescopes came out. They were 11” Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes with Stellina Observation stations. It was part telescope and part camera. Lev’s mouth was watering. The guide used the camera to talk pictures of deep space objects and believe it or not, within the hour copies of those pictures were sent to each person in the tour as a type of souvenir.
While we were up there we came to understand why Mauna Kea is so special to astronomers. The summit is 13,802 feet high. The air is thin and clear and with no light pollution, the many observatories up there can get the best pictures.
Mauna Kea last erupted about 4,000 years ago. If you measure from the peak to the base, which is actually underwater, it is taller than Mount Everest. That’s 33,000 feet happy campers. Wow.
The tour closed with an unexpected bonus of several falling stars and being able to see a satellite with our bare eyes. We got back to the drop off point at 9 pm and not too many minutes later we made it to our rooms. Lev, Diego, and Chan did a little work prepping for Guam but not much. And now it is time to say g’nite.
What a way to say goodbye to Hawaii. I don’t know if I will ever return but I made enough memories for a lifetime.
Nov 25th – 26th: How to get from Hawaii to Guam
Today has been an adventure. Or that is how I am choosing to look at it rather than view it as the fluster cluck that it started out as. First, we had a breakdown on the way to the airport and had to call in a new vehicle that turned out to be two vehicles because of the number of people we have in our party and the amount of luggage. It took time to divvy everything between the two vehicles and split the parties up. They wanted to shove Benny in with the luggage in one of the backseats and he ride without a seat belt. I’m thinking what planet did these people come from because given their previous driving they were lucky I was letting Benny in a car with an unknown driver at all, much less without a proper safety seat. Then they wanted to split me and Benny off in one car and the men in the other and Lev and the others said a definite “No!” on that.
Finally we get squared away. But get this, barely a mile down the road from that stop, one of those vehicles had a flat. Got that changed and fixed … with Lev and I doing the fixing because apparently the drivers had no clue how to change the tire since they were borrowed cars and they were little more than kids… and I’m saying that from my grand old age of twenty-one. We had to unload the luggage to get to the spare and Diego and Chan got their hands pinched when the hatch came slamming down all of a sudden or they would have helped as well. We finally got to the airport only to all but get swarmed by TSA security when we checked in. They wanted our papers and to go through every piece of luggage and equipment that we had. When they pulled out a knife to cut into the luggage I cried foul and wanted to know what the frick was going on as they were scaring Benny. Found out someone had called in a warning on us that we were transporting contraband. My, my, my … didn’t my beotch radar go on full alert. I so helpfully gave them Beaumont and Huntley’s names as the likely culprits of the “prank” since they’d just gotten fired from the project … that we were contracted with the US frellin’ Government to complete. After all, one good turn deserves another you know.
Since it was a private charter flight, we didn’t miss it though it was a heck of a scramble to get out to the plane and get everything loaded so we could keep our take off time. Diego tipped the baggage handlers good for their careful loading of the filming and photography equipment. We finally took off for Honolulu at 12:25 pm.
We were only in the air 49 minutes until touching down. The problem there was that we only had a one-hour layover because we were a little late taking off from Kona. Our pilot called ahead and we got a little help to transfer planes. We never left the tarmac and had to switch all our own luggage and equipment to the new private charter, and all the other yada yada, but it worked. Halleluiah.
We weren’t basket cases by then but not far from it. Even Chan the Calm was bouncing his knee like it was an Olympic sport. We took off at 2:20 pm on 11/24, flew 7 hrs and 45 minutes, but somehow lost an entire day because when we landed they told us it was 6:20 pm on 11/25. We totally missed Thanksgiving Day. Not that any of us had planned to really celebrate it but wow. How bizarre. There is a 20-hour time difference between Hawaii and Guam. We lost nearly an entire day on the calendar.
Thank goodness I packed some snack bars in my backpack, or we would have all been starving before we landed. And then getting through TSA on this end was its own lovely dealio. I am really glad I keep all of Benny’s paperwork with me at nearly all times because there were questions. Yeah right. I suspect another report, but it was soon taken care of when Benny nearly had another episode and Lev and I had to talk him down. That wasn’t good but I explained about the fight on the flight out of LA, then what had happened at Pearl, and then the mess in Kona and showed them Benny has a PTSD diagnosis. One of the TSA senior agents has a grandson with similar “issues” but for different reasons. They call his “anxiety,” but she understood what was going on better than some of the others.
On top of that they were questioning my identity. Why in the heck would they think that I was Samoan?! I mean I know I’ve gotten kinda dark and my hair has gotten more than a little curly but … Samoan? Really?! I don’t even come close to looking Polynesian in any other respect. The men snickered and told their own stories of misidentification. Diego’s wildest ones were Armenian and Greek. Chan said he gets looked at with suspicion nearly everywhere he goes because of all the crap that China has pulled the last couple of decades. I looked at Lev and he snickered.
“With a name like Levinson what do you think?”
I said, “Count me clueless. To me peoples is peoples. I look like my mother a bit but more like Dad and Grandfather Barry except for my skin tone … and apparently these blasted corkscrew curls. If I wasn’t worried that if I cut my hair short again I’d look like a demented poodle you know they’d be coming off. So what did people think you were?”
“I was in Europe and everyone kept asking if I was Swedish. Worse they would just start talking to me in Swedish or Norwegian.”
Well, they went on talking about all the weird things that have happened to them and I tried to explain to Benny that it wasn’t the big deal I was making it, that I was just being a drama llama because I was irritated because somehow they didn’t want to believe that I was his aunt.
“You ARE!”
“Yeppers Little Bear. No one can make me say otherwise. Help me find the driver that is supposed to be meeting us. Apparently the guys are so tired they are too loopy to do it. This way I can straighten my face up and be polite and not scare the poor person with the hangries.”
That had him snickering and I finally spotted someone and whistled for the guys. “Looks like we are going to have to hoof it. The driver is way over there.”
So we hauled all our luggage and equipment over only to discover that while we might be able to fit all our people, there was zero room for luggage. Well the driver called a buddy and after another hour we were finally on our way from the airport. Then it was ten minutes to the hotel. I’m not kidding. I swear we could have walked there faster. And another snafu awaited us. The reservation had been cancelled. Luckily they hadn’t given our suite to anyone, it is the US Thanksgiving holiday so the manager wasn’t around to do it. They were going to charge the production company a full day but nope. We cleared it up and they were very happy for it to be so because they would have lost at least a few days of fees and had to juggle rooms otherwise.
Whew, now we are in our rooms and I can shove the hamster – who actually proved useful a few times today – back into the brain cave it is safest to keep it in, and start powering down. On the other hand, I need to prep for the coming days. We are going to be doing a lot of hiking while we are here. Guam is really trying to re-establish its tourism that didn’t come back when the cruise industry fell apart after the decade long pandemic reactions in the 20s. Before my time … or before I really remember it … but Grandma Barry used to talk about the fun she and Grandfather used to have before things came crashing down and Grandfather’s health took a nosedive.
Nov 27th – War in the Pacific National Historical Park
Weather: 88F/75F
Oh my goodness Benny is a happy, happy boy. He earned two … count them two … ranger badges that most kids never even think of earning. Yes, that means that the War in the Pacific National Historical Park has a Junior Ranger program. They also have something called a Peskadot Reef Ranger program. The rangers at the park were appropriately impressed and then had a blast when they realized we were the “Aunt Gus and Little Bear” and said if I didn’t mind, they would post on the “Where’s Little Bear” forum thread from last year.
I laughed. “Go for it. And please, thank everyone for all the wonderful experiences that I’ve been able to give Little Bear, in no small thanks to their hard work. We just spent a couple of months in Alaska and now we are out in Polynesia and Micronesia.”
Blah Blah Blah Something Something that I’m not going to record because it makes me look like I have a fat head.
Then to try and do my part to make it easier on our crew I told them, “Yeah, these guys are really tops in their fields. Photography. Film. Sound. They aren’t hollyweird types at all. They want the park to be the story, not themselves or some made up character or drama. So, if you have something you think is a standout … especially maybe something visitors don’t really know about … tell them. That guy there … he’s Diego … is team leader and handles sound and film. Chan is sound and tech board. And Lev Hargis is the photographer … you might have seen some of his work on the State Parks of Florida documentary project.”
“You know, I think I do remember the name now that you mention it.”
I said, “The name but you won’t see any of these men in the documentary. They are strictly behind the scenes. Like I said, the project and the national parks is what is driving them.”
I turned back to the guys and blinked a couple of times, and we were off and running.
Once we were back and snug in our suite I started taking off the mask.
“What’s the phrase you use?” Chan said with a wry grin. “Slick as cow snot?
“Oh stop with your embarrassing compliments, true though they might be,” I la-de-da’d to all three men causing some tired chuckles. Our clocks are still off – 20-hour time difference will do that – but at least Benny and I didn’t have to haul around expensive and heavy film equipment despite me offering to help.
Giving it a think out to respond I finally said, “Look, I’ll be the first one to say I can be rough about the edges most of the time, but I was trained for making my way in unfriendly locales. And I’m willing to do the helpful when it gets my people through. Consider yourself some of my peoples. No skin off my nose to schmooze a little bit, at least under these circumstances. Those rangers wanted to be nice, but they also needed a reason not to feel butthurt for always getting the last of everything, including attention. So, I gave them some and spiffed up their egos. It didn’t hurt anything, and it smoothed the way.”
Chan gave me a considering look. “You do that with us?”
“Are you kidding? I couldn’t keep a straight face while doing it.” I shrugged. “I just treat you like I treated my guy friends in school. And ply you with coffee and tea in the mornings. Lots and lots of coffee and tea.”
Diego, who’d been listening said, “Leave the Coffee Goddess alone. I don’t know where she is finding it, but it keeps me happy.”
I inwardly winced. I’ve been using the per diem and stretching it until it nearly pops to make sure the guys get their strong and black, even if that meant cutting it with some of the cheaper stuff. In Hawaii coffee wasn’t cheap but it was easy to come by since it was grown on the islands. In Guam nearly everything is an import.
Most of what we did today involved the national historical park. And all you had to do was look at the brochure[1] to see most of it had to do with WW2. We started out at the visitor center, got the media permissions we needed, did the schmoozing, and got some tips how to get the most out of the park in the time we had there.
Next we headed to the Asan Ridge Trail using the self-guiding booklet[2] and map[3]. The trail wasn’t a long one but what it did have gave Lev and the others plenty of food to feed their photography needs. There were overlooks, view, native plants[4] with plenty of sign-thingies to tell about them and how they were used.
The other locations in the park were Agat Beach Unit[5], the Fonte Plateau Unit[6], and the Piti Guns Unit[7]. We spent most of our day at the national park but we also had a tour reserved for some off road adventuring.
It didn’t take long to get there. Diego has been to Guam numerous times on assignment so knew where everything was and even had some connections here. At the buggy place the guys each chose a single-rider ATV while Benny and I were together on a double-buggy. We went on “hidden trails” and on a specialized off road course to get some great views of the north coast of Guam. I know I am not doing the park or the buggy ride justice. I would have given a lot to have had a gap day before starting the Guam Assignment, but we have a lot packed into ten days. Losing an entire day hasn’t helped the jet lag at all. Some of the hiking we are going to do is going to be strenuous and I feel like we are starting behind the eightball already.
Well, there’s nothing I can do about it right now except go see if Lev has fallen asleep out in the sitting area. It has gotten really quiet. That means either they have all fallen asleep or they are up to something.
Resources:
Junior Ranger: https://www.nps.gov/wapa/learn/kidsyouth/upload/WAPA_Junior-Ranger_web.pdf
Peskadot Reef Ranger: https://www.nps.gov/wapa/learn/kidsyouth/upload/2021-Peskadot-Reef-Ranger-Registration-Packet.pdf
[1] War in the Pacific National Historical Park Brochure - War In The Pacific National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)
[2] Asan Ridge Trail Booklet - War In The Pacific National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)
[3] https://www.nps.gov/wapa/learn/nature/images/Asan-Beach-Trail-Ridge-Map.jpg
[4] Plants of Asan Ridge - War In The Pacific National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)
[5] Agat Beach Unit - Apaca and Ga'an Point - War In The Pacific National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)
[6] Fonte Plateau Unit - War In The Pacific National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)
[7] https://www.nps.gov/wapa/planyourvisit/fonte-plateau-unit.htmhttps://www.nps.gov/wapa/planyourvisit/piti-guns.htm
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Enjoyable, thank you.
Nov 28th – Hiking and Jungle Riverboat Adventure
This morning’s hike was the Nimitz Caves with an addition of Fonte Swim Hole. They consider it a medium to difficult hike and I agree, but more medium than difficult. We made five miles in five hours, and it was blistering hot and humid which was the difficult part. We explored two natural caves used by the Japanese soldiers during the Liberation of Guam, then took a short jungle path to another deep cave that included two features called “The Lemon Squeezer” and “The Sauna Room.” From there we went to Fonte Swim Hold to clean up and enjoy some small “cliffs” for jumping and swimming.
“Hey! At least let me get out of the way before you jump you monkey!”
Benny laughed. The boy is getting fearless. I don’t know if that is a good thing or not. He loves showing off for Lev, and to prove he isn’t a “baby” anymore. He is also getting to where he listens to Lev about certain things more than he listens to me. That’s not really a bad thing. I’m stupid and let it make me sad every so often, but I don’t feel jealous. I really don’t. I just feel … something or other; not quite sure what to call it. But I also knew this time was coming. He’s a boy. He needs a guy to help him become a man. While I’m different, and a lot of different things, I’m not a guy. I’m just never going to have that Y-chromosome. No matter how much I might want to be everything that Benny needs for all the different psychobabble and emotional reasons, I hope I at least have both feet in the land of science and biology, rather than fantasyland. Y-chromosomes need each other. Sorry, but that’s just true, or they manage to get really screwed up. I took on the responsibility for Benny, I need to be ready for all that means and not just all I might prefer it to mean.
I’m glad we started hiking early because it gave us a chance to fit this next activity in. We skipped the beach and joined a tour that introduced us to Guam's history and culture. They used a lot of humor to make their point so it was kid-friendly. We took a pontoon boat and cruised through the rainforests, along the Talofofo and Ugum rivers, learned about local flora and fauna, and visited an ancient Chamorro village to learn how old traditions are being kept alive.
Chamorro are to Guam what the Ancient Hawaiians are to the state of Hawaii. And just like in Hawaii they are an ethnic group alive today. I didn’t realize it but you can also find large communities of the Chamorro people living on the mainland US. Apparently Texas and Nevada have communities as do California (kinda a no brainer), Washington, Oregon. But the one that even had Lev looking surprised was the large community of them in Tennessee. They make up most of the Pacific Islanders that aren’t Hawaiian living on the Mainland.
Just like in Hawaii, the pre-colonial culture was a caste system with the Chamori being the ruling caste. It took Spain colonizing the Marianas Islands for the caste system to eventually go extinct. Further back the Chamorros migrated from the Philippines. And look at my bad self all educated and stuff. Basically I find it interesting because it was people like this … Micronesian and Polynesian … that there is a lot of sailing lore about. I forgot to mention that Lev gave me a Maui Fishhook necklace. I rarely take it off.
In addition to the jungle cruise, the tour fed us lunch. It was a BBQ Lunch Plate that was so good and I don’t think it was just because I was hungry. I had to check the ingredients and sure enough it was gluten free. Yum. Definitely want to try it on our own when we get to the River House.
Marinade:
1 cup soy sauce
1 cup vinegar
Optional Marinade Additions:
1 tablespoon garlic (powder or minced)
1 teaspoon onion powder (or ½ small onion, finely diced)
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon ginger (ground or freshly grated)
1 cup cola
Glaze:
⅓ cup vinegar
⅔ cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon corn starch
Add any of the other optional ingredients used in your marinade. Place all of the marinade ingredients in a large zip lock bag. Seal the bag then shake it up to mix the ingredients together. Add the chicken to the bag then re-seal. Marinate the chicken for several hours before grilling. Place the glaze ingredients in a small saucepan. bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Cook until the sauce thickens. Brush the glaze on the cooked chicken.
After the cruise we went back to the hotel but Diego, Chan, and Lev went to this Las Vegas style show. I kept Benny in the hotel as he needed some extra rest. Got too much sun today plus something he ate didn’t agree with him. Don’t know what it was, Lev didn’t react to anything. It may have just been the rich food on top of the heat.
Lev was a little worried. “You sure? I can stay with you.”
“Lev? Job. Remember?”
He sighed. “To be honest this sounds like something I better ride herd on Diego and Chan. They haven’t broken loose in a while and … maybe I better go to be on the safe side.”
“I doubt you’ll have that kind of problem with them, but Diego has been sliding with his diet off and on. And Chan is jonesing since he got that email from Huntley.”
“Yeah, she’s got some nerve. What Chan has ever seen in her …”
I snorted. “What do you think? He’s a pacifist, not asexual and comatose. He’ll stay away though ‘cause he’s been burnt once too often by her if I put it all together in the right order. But it only makes him want it with someone else. And if you call me Abuelita …”
“Ha!” he said before hurrying off to join the other two. I swear there are days I feel like a Den Mother.
As for me, I’m going to get some laundry done and go over some more paperwork that Judge Phelps’ former law clerk sent me. Apparently, the Judge’s back issues are getting worse and he’s in a lot of pain. He’s going through a new nerve therapy to try and give him some relief. There are accounts I never knew about because they required both Uncle Daniel and Dad to sign something to access them. Then it was to be Lawrence but apparently – and I never knew this – Lawrence was holding it over Uncle Daniel’s head until his and my portion of the estate was settled. Judge Phelps said that Uncle Daniel has been trying to contact me about it but that he didn’t want to go through the lawyer to do it and no one has given him my direct contact info and I’ve blocked all of them from the blog. Well, Sharon has tried but I keep blocking every new email address she tries to use. I said I wasn’t playing those games and I meant it. They can either contact me through the lawyer or not at all. I won’t be taken like that again.
So anyway, Uncle Daniel might be trying to talk me into accessing those funds, either to screw up the tax deed completion or for some other reason. The Judge says that I should not release those funds until the estate consequences are completed and then I can decide what to do without having to worry about it messing up the deed transfer. And he said, depending on what I decide, I can set any funds up for him in a trust of some type where he gets the interest but that the principle remains intact and then returns to the Barrymore Trust unless I dissolve it. Ah, my aching head. I know Grandfather Barry meant well but his Machiavellian attempts to get his sons to work together has left me with a mess to clean up.
I tried to talk to Lev about it but he gave me this deer-in-a-headlight look. Apparently he trusts me. I’m obviously mature beyond my years and have the ability to handle my own crap. I nearly threw a bowl of salad at him.
“Does that mean you don’t want to know, don’t want to help, or I am being stupid for even wanting to talk to you about it.”
“Whoa Gus, none of the above.”
“Then what?!”
“It means that if you want to know what I would do in your shoes I suppose I can tell you, but I don’t want to cause a situation down the road that I’ll have to take responsibility for … because I don’t want to see you get hurt. So in your shoes? I’d be so pizzed that not only would I do what your judge friend says … let your uncle suffer until it was too late for him to try and sneak attack and screw things up … I would then continue to keep those accounts locked up until you find out what kind of shape the property is in. If the problems are extensive or you find that there is some liens or whatever attached to the property then I would in turn lien those accounts. If I remember what happened after my uncle took over my father’s estate, he was able to do something that … oh I don’t know. This is what I don’t want to do, let my emotions color my … er … advice so that you make a decision that would have been better made with a cool head.”
“Lev …”
“Seriously Gus, I think your friend … that Judge Phelps … is right. Deal with getting the property stuff all straight. After that is all locked down, then you can decide whether to be nice about that other money. You can’t put it off forever, but it might be better to put it off until the other stuff is taken care of.”
I huffed. “I don’t want to deal with any of it. I just want Uncle Daniel and the rest of them gone. I keep getting these feelings they are going to screw things up for us … for Benny somehow.”
“They might try. People who have burned their bridges don’t always get that figured out right away. They figure they’ve been playing and winning the same way for so long that they just need to be persistent and they’ll keep right on getting what they want.”
“They can pound sand. All they’re doing is making me angry.”
“Don’t give them that kind of control.”
I tried to work the tension out of my neck. “Easier said than done. Guess you haven’t figured out I’ve got a bad temper.”
“You’ve got a control issue, not a frustration issue,” he said giving me a hug to take the sting out of his words. “And the biggest thing you try and control is yourself and what you call your issues. So you move through life a little different? That’s not a bad thing. But some people know how to push your buttons too well and that cousin of yours is one of them. She knows family is important to you. She just doesn’t understand that you have a definite thing with loyalty and honesty because that is something she’s all to willing to ignore, if she even understands it to start with. Let the judge and lawyer handle the title and deed stuff since they are on-site. After that you’ll … we’ll … hold all the cards and can build our defensive line as long and as tall as we need to. Then you can think with a clearer head what you want or need to do. You haven’t needed that money up to this point, and you have me now as well …”
“Oh now just wait …”
“Babe, I’m all in. I’m not Midas but I make a good living these days even if most of the world considers it nothing more than a hobby. And I haven’t spent a whole lot of the income ‘cause I haven’t needed to. Nearly all of my expenses are paid while I’m working and I work more than I don’t. The rest of it has been sitting and compounding right along with my version of Estate Soap Opera. We’ll have enough to take care of Benny and most anything … or anyone … else that comes along. And we’ll still be making money doing something and putting money back in. So that money in those accounts can just sit there and grow mold until you decide what you want done with them without any outside pressure. Especially from family that doesn’t act like family. Capiche?”
Deep breath. Another. Then another. Finally had my emotions under control so I wouldn’t freak him out with any waterworks.
“Thanks.”
“Hey now …”
“Don’t worry about it. I just keep discovering how really great it is not to be alone and for the reason I’m not alone to be such a great guy.”
He slowly smiled. “Gus, I live for these moments. I don’t know what I’d do if I ever lost you.”
“You’d survive. The same as me. Because that’s what we do … survive what life throws at us. Let’s just do what we can to make sure that we don’t lose each other. I’m … I’m really over learning how much it hurts to get left behind.” I sniffed and tried to take things a different direction. “So how did it go with Diego and Chan.”
“Not as bad as I was expecting. The show wasn’t bad. I think they weren’t looking for what was being offered if you know what I mean.”
“Yuck.”
“Some of them were high class but Chan seems to really be sad or … I don’t know what to be honest. I know he genuinely did … or maybe still does … care for Huntley. She was raised by her grandparents who were also LDS. He was there for her when they died. She took a crazy left turn around that time and I guess Chan just wishes she’d come back a little closer to center than she is right now.”
“And Diego?”
“Hard to say. He plays it close to the vest. He’s a lot more private than he used to be … or maybe it is just the people that I learned about his life from have retired from the bizz and he’s always this way but now there is no one around to … aw hell, don’t ask me. We’re friends but, we don’t hang out unless we are on the job together.”
“Sorry. I just thought …”
He gave me a hug and then we started folding down the bedspread in preparation for sleep. “Don’t get me wrong. I like them but this project has had us working more closely together for longer than we ever had. Usually we touch base a couple times a year or we cross paths in some way. But practically living with them for months on end? That’s different and I’m glad it has been good. Could have been a freakin’ disaster. Diego’s usually the lone wolf type, glad he found his manager gene.”
I had a thought and let it fall out of my mouth. “You think Bob or someone else is pushing for him to take the next step in evolution or something?”
He started to laugh and then got thoughtful. “You know that’s possible. Rumor was – right before the Florida Assignment – that they were talking about Diego taking a position in the Salt Lake City offices of the production company. I heard he turned them down because it would have meant moving away from his family. Diego is getting up there for field work.”
“What?!” I laughed. “He’s not that old.”
“Older than he looks for some of the gigs coming up. Not even Bob wants to be out in the field full time anymore. I bet if they gave him enough incentive Diego would at least give it more than a casual thought.”
“And you?”
“Naw. I’m still strictly a field photographer. Uh …”
“I don’t have a problem with that. I’m still just figuring out how that works with Benny and I.”
“We’ll work on that together. You don’t have to do all the figuring out all alone anymore Gus.”
And boy am I glad. I could do it. But I prefer the team we make. I prefer it a lot.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you 
Nov 29th – Mount Lamlam
Started the day off with one of, if not the, most famous hike in Guam. Supposedly best for sunrise and sunset but we weren’t making that climb or descent in the dark. Mount Lamlam is the highest peak on the island of Guam. If you think about where this island is placed, rising 37,820 feet above the floor of the Marianas Trench, then measuring from the bottom of sea level to the tip of this peak — Mount Lamlam is the tallest mountain in the world. And here I thought we’d found that on the Big Island of Hawaii. How about we split the difference and not fight about it? Because believe it or not, some people do.
The mountain is located near the village of Agat, in the south-west of the island. The trailhead was pretty easy to find. Every year the trail is used for a tradition by local Catholics of stationing large crosses upon the secondary peak. The path is well worn and there wasn’t any problem finding our way up the mountain. The parking for this hike is located off of Route 2 at the Cetti Bay Overlook. Once parked, we crossed the road and started up the trail next to the sign that says Mt. LamLam.
LamLam has an elevation of 1,332 ft. above the water line and is the tallest peak on Guam. We followed the well-marked trail 640 feet up, passing small crosses along the way that represent the Stations of the Cross (like on the Via De LaRosa in Jerusalem) and Diego said they are important markers during the annual procession up the mountain every Easter. He covered the event last time he was here and they take it very seriously.
As we crested the ridgeline there was a split in the trail. Going right would take us to the giant crosses atop Mount Jumullong. Jumullong is often confused for the top of LamLam, however it’s only the secondary peak. To get to the REAL peak, we headed left at the split, along the overgrown trail, through a small patch of jungle, and then scrambled up the limestone rocks. At the top was a collection of concrete platforms and an American flag.
“Strike a pose Babe.”
“What?”
Diego said, “Think patriotic thoughts. Since you insisted on hauling that bugle up here, the least you can do is give it a toot for us.”
I’d found a bugle that looked like it had recently been lost in the tall grass. I picked it up and cleaned it off. It was a little beat up but not bad. The mouthpiece wasn’t even damaged or dirty. I’m not one for imagination but it was like it had been waiting for me to rescue it.
I would have smarted off at Diego if Benny hadn’t asked me to send something to Lawrence. Oh that nearly broke me. I knew seeing all of the military personnel was affecting him but I hadn’t expected that. I couldn’t say no. I played The Last Post.
What I hadn’t expected is that the bugle call hadn’t just gone up, it had gone out and even all the way up on top of the peak I wound up with an unexpected audience.
“That went all the way to Dad. He heard it didn’t he Aunt Gus?”
“Yeah Buddy. You’re here aren’t you? He keeps an eye on your.”
“And he helped us to find Lev didn’t he?”
“Uh … yeah. And the Creator.”
Benny wasn’t sad, he was confident. “Yeah. The Creator is the coolest. He brought us Lev and Dad likes him. I know he does. Look at the sky. It looks happy.”
Whew. Was kinda hard to breathe through it. Benny is usually very private about his own emotions, especially this stuff. I looked over at Lev and then had to do a double take. He looked emotionally pounded. I wasn’t sure what to do but Benny went over to hold his hand when one of the other hikers came over and said, “Thanks.”
“Er … for?”
I saw him jiggle his wrist and there was a bracelet that had the Gold Star Family emblem on it, very similar to the one that Benny rarely takes off. “There’s a lot of us out here,” he said.
“Too damn many.”
It didn’t matter who he’d lost, it was a loss that was shared by the very nature of what the loss meant to the survivors.
I almost ditched the bugle on the way back down but somehow it didn’t seem the right thing to do. And for some reason it fits in my carry on and takes the space that hadn’t been there the day before somehow.
Rest of the day we spent getting some photos at a couple of beaches. The surf was too rough for swimming much less the snorkeling that we had planned. Maybe tomorrow. For tonight, now that Benny and Lev are asleep I think I’m just going to sit quietly and watch the stars for a while. My head is full of ghosts.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Very special. All my uncles were in WWII, Navy and Army. Dad was a trainer on a flat top. My oldest brother was in Vietnam. One of my step dads was a survivor of Iwo Jima. The last one did 2 tours in Vietnam he was CB, Seal and more, much more.
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Nov 30th – Tenago Falls and Sella Bay
Lev woke up with the same thing on his mind that he went to sleep with. Benny and what Benny had said.
“Do you believe that? What Benny said?”
I looked over and he looked troubled. “I do. The question is … do you?”
He sighed. “Yeah. Only I thought it was you guys finding me. I …”
“Lev, if there is one thing I know, Lawrence wouldn’t have a problem with you being in Benny’s life. Or mine.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah. I’m not sure of much on some days but of that? Yeah.”
He seemed to take confidence in my confidence and we managed to pull ourselves together by the time Benny got out of the bathroom. Neither Lev or I are much for being Drama Llamas so the day proceeded from there without another mention of the day before.
We started off simple, with a quick hike perfect for families. Tinago Falls, also referred to as Guam’s Garden of Eden, is the perfect place to bring a picnic and chill out for an afternoon. Parking for this hike is located at Inarajan Middle School and the trail begins next to the yellow fire hydrant.
We followed jeep paths most of the way there, veering right any time the trail split. It was about a 1.5 mile walk to the falls with little shade, so I’m glad I brought extra sunscreen because what we started with got sweated off. Near the end of the trail we crossed over a small stream that fed the first waterfall. Then shortly after the stream, we dropped right down a small, rocky hill with ropes tied for assistance because the rocks are slippery when wet.
Walking a few feet further through a bamboo grove, we reached another small hill with another rope that led down to the falls. It was quite a set up with huge, old trees rigged up with hammocks and swings to relax and play in their shade. The largest waterfall was upstream with a wide pool to cool off in. Downstream, lay another small waterfall for more adventurous hikers to jump off of.
We played around for over an hour then it was time to hike out and grab the vehicle. We were off to another water adventure.
Sella Bay is a medium level hike with a little bit of everything: Chamorro artifacts, Spanish architecture, desert, jungle, and beach. The parking area for Sella Bay is in Umatac. Once parked, we saw a set of wooden stairs to an overlook, and the trailhead directly to the right of them.
The hike wound downward for about 1.5 miles through desert-like areas on a well-marked trail. There were several splits in the trail that come back together again, so it didn’t matter which side you took. If you found yourself in the wrong spot, you’ll most likely meet back up with the main trail in no time. This hike wa pretty exposed most of the way, at least until we entered into a section of jungle toward the end. We followed the trail through the jungle and along the river until we got to an old Spanish bridge. We crossed over the bridge and headed straight for a short walk to an old Spanish oven for a short spur trail. Back at the main trail we continued down to the beach where had more play time.
Part of our playtime was to continue exploring by continuing on about a mile by continuing left down the beach until we reached an area known as Cetti Bay. It was really beautiful there with plenty of hermit crabs, seashells, and crazy palm trees to keep Benny and I entertained for as long as we hung out. We also discovered some good snorkeling spots in the bays. When the guys were ready to go we just reversed and went back the way we had come.
That was it for our day. The guys need the down time in the late afternoons and evenings to catch up with their editing and uploading. They are still finishing Hawaii and haven’t really started on Guam yet. They aren’t wigging though as they are still ahead of schedule.
Dec 1st – Lower Sigua Falls
You know how people say, “It’s about the journey, not the destination”? Well, that’s not always true. Take today’s hike for instance. It was a five-mile hike. We were walking for what seems like forever on exposed jeep trails, crossing through a small swamp, and balancing on a log over a stream. However, the destination was so worth it once we got there. Otherwise I would not have done it had I known going in. Especially not with Benny.
It started out trying to find a place to park outside the gate to this resort. I’m thinking what the heck and trying not to show my suspicions to our guide we picked up. He was a friend of Diego’s from his work here in Guam before. Diego was in high cotton over it. I did note that Chan wasn’t too happy and later found out he knew what we were in for and thought there would be a better explanation. Diego assumed the guide had clued us in while he was making a coffee run for everyone. Hmmm. Not sure I’m buying that explanation, but I’ll let it go … this time.
The trail started at a break in the low concrete wall with a short, steep hill. From there, we followed the jeep trails toward the old Sherman tank perched on a hill in the distance. Yeah, I said a Sherman tank. The thing is falling apart and, on its side, a remnant of WW2 that still remains as a reminder this island was fought over hard.
There are several trails that split off and come back together, so our guide suggested we pick the one that’s the least muddy. Really?! Doh. And then he goes into this story about how his friend lost his shoes in the mud a half-mile in and did the rest of the hike barefooted. Oh Lordy, Lordy and I’m wondering if this guy is real or if he is just making crap up to distract us from the nasty trail.
Once we got to the bottom of the hill with the tank, we turned right and crossed a small swamp to get to it. The guy kept asking, “Which trail you wanna take?” What was this, a “choose your own adventure” gig? Forget finding a route that kept our feet dry. Even if the trail started out that way, they all eventually tried to drown us. And it wasn’t really the wet that bothered me so much – after all the goal was to jump in a waterfall – it was the mud. I’m not girly-girl, I’ve trained in some truly crap locations, but I could have taken the guys out because if it was hard going for me, it was doubly so for Benny. There were a couple of places that I simply put him on my back rather than drag him through what was for me nearly waist high water.
Once we reached the tank, we took a downhill trail to the right then followed this trail over two stream crossings (one of them deep making the guys finally worry about something – their equipment) until it met a wider trail at a large boulder. No signs. Not trail markers. Only trusting our guide. And I wasn’t in a trusting mood by that point.
We continued passed the boulder, followed the trail through a field of wild orchids which I admit was very cool, until it met up with yet another jeep trail. Lovely. So now we are wet, muddy, and getting caked with red volcanic dirt on top of that.
We turned right, past an old rusted out car which is apparently a well-known landmark for this trail as there was a lookout point where the waterfall finally came into view. Well howdy doody, finally a goal worth achieving. We dropped down on the trail to our left and put on some gloves the guide had brought. Say again?! The gloves were because we were about to take on the final steep rope descent through the jungle. I looked at Lev and promised blood for not being warned about this. He finally woke up from “Professional Photographer Mode” and opened his mouth to say something when I turned away. Yeah, I was pizzed.
I switched my pack from back to front and had Benny ride piggy back after I secured him with a couple of straps I keep in the pack for just in case for whatever reason. Well it was that time. Good thing that I call a hundred push ups a good start because I needed my arm strength. Had I not been concerned about Benny’s safety this would have probably been my favorite part of the hike. It was cool seeing the water of the waterfall peeking through the palms on the way down. And Benny thought it was a completely and totally cool adventure. I know he did because he nearly made me deaf telling me while I was playing Jungle Jane. I also had to help get a couple pieces of Chan’s equipment down by going back up and rescuing it in mid-descent.
Once down it was time to “play” by jumping off the ledges into the water and just generally lounging around. Our guide told me to “relax” that the water is deep enough all year round and that it would give me some time to prepare for the long trek back up through the jungle and along the same red dirt trails we came in on. Diego noted the look in my eyes and got his friend out of there. And Chan must have said something because it wasn’t long after that Diego came over to me to say he’d forgotten about the rope section. He actually wanted to know whether Osito (Little Bear in Spanish) was going to be okay climbing out.
I looked at him like he was crazy. “You think of that now? What? You think I’m just going to leave him here if he isn’t? I packed him down, so I’ll pack him up. But you guys better hope you are going to be okay climbing out because you are on your own for your equipment.”
And where was Lev? Playing with Benny and giving me time to cool off before he started taking pictures. “Er Babe … I mean Gus …”
“Just take Benny for a sec so I can put a face on.”
“Uh …”
“We’re here to do the job. But I better have more warning next time. I would have rigged something more secure for Benny to ride down in than what I had to put together at the last second.”
“So …”
“So, don’t push. I’ll put on the happy, happy. Just give me a moment.”
“Gus, seriously, I didn’t know.”
“Fine. But now you do. I should have asked for details instead of making an assumption. That’s not your fault.”
“Then why does it feel like it?”
“Guilt? Whatever motivates you. Just try and make sure if I’m so stupid as to not ask that you do.”
“Gus … Babe …”
I had to walk away and let the steam dissipate. Like I told Lev, I was angry at myself for being stupid and assuming. That won’t be happening again. We have a hike tomorrow that we discussed tonight. It is going to be a strenuous one. Hopefully we’ve got everything covered.
Dec 2nd – Hiking and Falls
Okay. Today was just nuts. I’m wishing that I had known just how difficult “very hard” was going to be. We discussed it. I even looked at pictures online. But none of that really prepared us. We were all challenged more than we expected.
The Invasion Hike retraced the trail of the US 3rd Marines from Asan Beach up the hills and cliffs to Nimitz Hill and the Asan Bay Overlook Memorial. Yeezus and those guys would have been loaded down with battle gear on top of it. Freakin’ Marines.
We then hiked the open ridge down to Tony’s Falls for jumping and swimming. I should have just insisted on the direct hike to the falls which is more in line with novice hikers and children. I’m not even up to describing anything. I got banged around a bit. Nothing bad but I’m going to be sore tomorrow.
Benny crashed and burned so early tonight that he worried me. Yesterday combined with today was more than just a bit much. And Diego has done the same thing. No more “very hard” hikes for either one of them. We came back to the hotel after the hike and the guys worked on submissions to load up. I took Benny to the pool but all he wanted to do was sit in the “sprinklers” and drink sports drink.
When he started to fall asleep in the pool, I took him back up to the room, with no complaints and he’s usually a fish and reluctant to exit, and tried to get him something to eat. Nope, only wanted a smoothie. I was able to pull that off by going down to the bar and begging a favor and leaving a big tip. Benny fell asleep and didn’t want to wake up for dinner.
That was it. I walked into one of their confabs and told them, “Okay guys, I hope you got some ferocious film today because I won’t be doing this to Benny again. A medium difficulty hike yes, but no way am I going to take him on another one of these treks from hell with ropes, stairs, scrambling, and all the rest. I’m sorry, just can’t do it.”
Before Lev could say anything Diego said, “Osito ain’t the only one. I’m done guys. So’s my gut. Regular hike for the views, sure. But …”
I let them hash it out. We were all hungry but not for much more than fruit and salad which I went out and got so no one else would have to leave the room. Lev kept an eye on Benny. The walk did not help the pulled muscle in my arm. I basically carried Benny on a couple of the climbs, same as yesterday. Nope, not doing that one again. Ever. I’m as adventurous as the next Gus but this did nothing for me.
I’m trying to wait out Lev’s snoring. And Benny’s. I don’t think either one of them have ever been this loud. If I had a can of caffeine water I would have already downed it. I’m beat and need to sleep.
Dec 3rd – Hiking and a Swimming Hole and Bob Being Bob
Today was much better but we were all sore. I gave Benny some liquid acetaminophen, but he was scary determined this morning to prove he could do “it.” Thankfully today’s hike wasn’t bad at all. We started out with a visit to the historic site of the US Navy radio station and “Operation Magic” that is being taken over by the thick jungle. Then we hiked to the 1910 brick dam, climbed to an excellent lookout, and explored the valley further downstream. To cool off we played in some waterfalls and pools along the trail.
Weird call from Bob today. He called my personal line which just make it more strange.
“You alone?” he asked after I picked up.
“On the balcony alone. Benny is playing and the guys are in the other room prepping stuff for you.”
“Guess that’ll have to do and I’m asking you to keep some of this in confidence. And yeah, I know you’ll eventually talk to Hargis about it. Just give it overnight for me.”
“And just letting you know, you’re pushing my freak out buttons … but I won’t freak. So spill whatever the problem is.”
“Good. Look, I know you are managing the per diem stuff. Or were.”
“Mostly am. Just easier if I take the responsibility since the guys have a lot on their shoulders already. They’re film. I’m logistics.”
“Sounds about like it was in Alaska. Keep doing that but … look … there’s been some noise stateside and I don’t know how much is making it to the news where you are at.”
“What kind of … noise?”
There was a pause then he said, “Thanksgiving wasn’t a good time for people. They’re talking another bad Flu and Covid season. Economy isn’t doing well. Biggest kicker is people aren’t happy with the election outcome. A big hack was discovered in the counting procedure. Looks like it came from outside. No one is trusting anything. Both sides have withdrawn their acceptance of the results. Recounts are scheduled but the compromises look like they are spreading in scope and now we don’t know if the results can be trusted from any of the precincts. And since the company in charge of the programming has been used in many important elections for the last few decades, that is calling a lot of those results into question as well and not everyone is … comfortable with waiting for proof. So far, no open riots and both sides of the aisle promise a full accounting and a complete recount so there can be full confidence this time. But at the same time, word is that there is some panicking going on in certain state voting commissions. And despite what the Whitehouse Press Corp is trying to portray, it looks like both parties are pretty shook up.”
“If they didn’t plan it.”
“I hear you Ms. Cynical, and that’s being suggested as well. But I’m older than you Gus. I remember the mess when this happened before you were born. There were a lot of invalid ballots counted even if it didn’t change the outcome. But to have that much fraud shook the entire system up. I don’t know if it was luck or not that no one really had the appetite for the civil upheaval it could have caused. The only thing most people wound up agreeing with is that it wasn’t handled the right way like it should have so nothing could really be trusted by anyone, no one could be trusted by anyone. Hell it should never have happened. And every election since, the suspicions have only grown. This time it looks like enough irrefutable proof has been found it can’t be denied by anyone … and like I said, it came from outside the States. And this time that’s not bombastic, fake news created by any man, woman, or party.”
Trying to work my way through it I said, “Okay, I’ve never lived without this being in the news cycle, but you seem to be saying this is more and worse.”
“Correct on both counts. We just don’t know where this is going, if any place. It could be swept under the rug or handled behind the green screen the same as every time before. My wife just got me to thinking. You are my only team not Stateside, and you won’t be back until maybe after the holidays. It makes you vulnerable. It might not be a bad idea for you to try and … let’s just say you might want to make sure you have your bases covered and I’ll stay on top of travel options on this end. You understand what I’m saying?”
Putting it in a nutshell I answered, “Yeah, this might be something, it might be nothing. I’m not sure how much we can do given how things are around here … and we’re in a hotel room without a kitchen … but I have a hot plate and a kettle … and a little hibachi on the balcony … so I’ll try and figure out something just in case. And for some reason you don’t want me to make it obvious what I’m doing, either because you don’t want to seem crazy, or you don’t want the guys to panic. And since I’ve never seen the guys panic, you just don’t want to seem crazy.”
“Let’s just say I’ve been accused of crying wolf a couple of times in the past but that wasn’t my intention.”
I shrugged but he couldn’t see me. “So people don’t get ‘better safe than sorry’ and that warnings don’t come in polished gold guarantees, just with good intentions.” I saw Lev and the other two come in and I waived at Lev but with a hand signal that said I’d be in in just a minute. “The guys just got back. I’ll do what I can Bob. But if the back of your neck starts itching, pay attention and keep me up?”
“Will do.”
I let him ring off on his end but held onto mine to give me time to clean my face up. I understood what Bob was saying. And I’m good at that kind of thing, keeping stuff close to the vest while still addressing it. That’s what I was trained for and despite what I’ve allowed Lev to become in my life I can and will do what is necessary without a lot of outward signs that I was doing it. I’m just wondering why it took so long for those skills and training to suddenly become so important in my daily life.
Lev came onto the balcony when he saw I’d hung up. “Everything okay?”
I shrugged. “Just Bob being Bob.”
I heard Chan groan. “Not again.”
“Not again what?” I asked when the other two obviously knew what Chan was referring to.
It was Diego that answered. “Bob is a great manager, but he tends to … play abuelo.”
“It is his job to count the pennies and make sure we are keeping up with the accounting.”
Chan looked surprised. “He wasn’t playing Doom Seeker?”
“I don’t even know what that means.”
“It means if we’re lucky Bob’s wife will hide the TV Remote and we won’t have to hear another round of the sky is falling,” Chan chuckled derisively, definitely hitting a nerve with me.
Diego must have sensed it. “What’s wrong Chica.”
“I … don’t like the attack on the Chain of Command. I wouldn’t stand here and let someone do it to you.”
He blinked and shut his mouth on whatever he was going to say and then nodded, “Yeah, maybe we are being a little rough on the guy.” Chan was going to make another crack but I saw Diego nix it with a look.
To make a point but also throw them off the scent I said, “It is Bob’s job to make sure there are no hiccups in the production timeline. I get the sense he gets chewed on a lot but doesn’t let it roll downhill too much. It makes him seem to be wound a little tight maybe though I don’t see it that way.”
“No. Bob’s cool. So when he does start with the … the world is about to blow up shit … it can create problems.”
“Has he ever been right?”
“No … well, maybe a couple of times on small crap. But he’s also cost us time and money … and one time he cost me a contract which was big bucks. Let me know if he starts up with that shit. We don’t need you and the kid to get freaked out over nothing and ruin filming,” he said walking out of the room and taking Chan with him. I was real tempted to give him a one-finger salute but Benny was watching even if he did have Lev’s sound blocking headset on.
Lev hadn’t said a word and walked with me into the bathroom. “Hey, little personal space.”
“After you tell me what you didn’t tell Diego,” he said.
Rather than lie I said, “I’ve gotten bad at this.”
“Hardly. Just glad I know you as well as I do. Diego and Chan bought it hook, line, and sinker.”
I sighed. “Bob wanted me to give it overnight, but I’ll tell you now.” I explained what Bob had said.
Lev looked thoughtful. “Diego isn’t wrong. Bob’s called a few things wrong. He’s never cost me money, but he has a few other people besides Diego and Chan. Looked more than a little foolish a few times.”
“This sound different from those other times?”
“Earthquakes, hurricanes, fires … that’s normally what he is on about. This sounds more like he’s asking you … uh … to be prudent. You think you can pull it off without affecting anything else?”
I shrugged. “A run to the grocery store can’t hurt. Having four or five days of emergency rations isn’t going to hurt anything, not even the budget. And depending on what it is we can send it to the drop point before we head to Saipan. First day in Saipan I can do the same thing since we are only going to be there three days. We’ve been leaning a little heavy into take out and it has been using the per diem a faster than I expected. I can explain it to Diego and Chan that way … getting the biggest bang for their buck. Assuming they ask.”
“Yeah, that’s assuming. Sometimes those turds don’t act like they know where their food comes from.”
“They getting on your nerves or something?”
“Something. They won’t shut up about the Caribbean Assignment … that we still don’t know. Did Bob say anything about that?”
“Not … directly. But he did say … look this may just be an assumption on my part. He said we were the only team not stateside, and we likely wouldn’t be back until after the holidays.”
Lev leaned against the sink before turning around and splashing his face with water. “Keep that bit to yourself. And … the other stuff too. Uh … please,” he said checking his attitude.
“Relax Admiral,” I told him scratching his shoulder with nails that I couldn’t decide whether to trim down or learn to polish.
“Thanks,” he said. “You know that …” He was still acting a little sensitive-guilty after the two hard days of hiking that hacked me off regarding Benny’s safety.
“I said relax and I meant it. I know you aren’t trying to push me around or be ‘the man’ at my expense. But … look, maybe we should spend some of my time getting things to send to your drop point.”
“Our drop point and I was just thinking of that today when I saw you make a face at some of the prices at that food truck.”
“I need to watch how obvious I am. I realize that most of the issue is that they ship everything in around here.”
“There’s bound to be some stuff that is normal here and a luxury in the States. I’ll help with that as well.”
“Assuming there is anything to be had. I don’t relish taking from the locals.”
“You aren’t. We aren’t. We’ll leave their imports alone and stick with what is common around here.”
Plan made Lev went back to work editing, and I went to tell Benny it was time to hit the hay.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you so much. About time she put her foot down especially with the eating out constantly and the hikes. lol.
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Dec 4th: San Carlos Falls
Another “medium” hike today, this was to a scenic area with a series of waterfalls and “cascades” in the southeast of the island. Lots of those places on Guam. This one was definitely a little more chill than any of our other hikes and there were other kids on the hike with us; some locals and some with their family who were vacationing on the island.
The first third of the 3.75-mile hike followed a few paved and dirt access roads before we hit the the main trail. First, from the parking area of the trail that really wasn’t the trailhead yet, we took the dirt road to our left that split off of the road. We followed that until we reached a cleared power line. From there we followed the lines left and then right until we hit a second paved road. Yep. Made me wonder why we hadn’t just driven there but whatever. We next turned left and followed that road until we hit the second transmission tower.
Whew, let the boonie stomping begin. And what the heck is boonie stomping? That’s what they call hiking in Guam. I have no idea why. I’ve been hearing the term since we arrived and literally did not figure it out until yesterday and only because I overheard a guide explaining to his group. Geez.
And for these crazy directions? That’s how you get around in Guam. By landmarks. Few of the trails have markings, or at least none that most people from the States would recognize. It is all go to this place, follow that road until you see a certain something, next you do whatever. Or you go with someone that has been there before.
At the tower, we followed the trail into the grasslands, along the ridge, and down into the edge of the jungle. Here we found the first set of ropes to help with the steep descent to the river.
Okay, I know I said this was an easy chill hike. It was despite some of the ropes and ladders nonsense. Hiking in Guam is challenging, even on some of the “easy” trails. It is just the way the geography is around here. That’s also why there are so many streams and waterfalls to play in.
Once we reached the river, we continued downstream (right) until we reached the top of San Carlos falls. There was a lady up there that was spooked by the heights. Hmmm. I carefully peeked over the edge. It was slick so I was careful – and upset Diego’s delicate constitution – but then I asked for a camera. I got a good shot that Lev made great by playing with it tonight. It was straight down the falls and into the pool below.
To get down we continued left on the next steep, rope assisted trail and it led us to the bottom of the waterfall. I took Benny down and then went up and helped the “frozen” lady to get down by telling her to tie a bandana across her eyes and hang on. The ropes were not nearly as bad as some of the others we’ve used. It was that the rock trail was slick. She looked up and said, “I did that?!”
Trying hard to avoid the snark I told her, “Yep. It is just a matter of following the rules and not screwing around. Just let your guide help you get back up. He would have done the same thing I did.”
The guide – a guy from the base – gave me a wink and then took them off to the swimming hole. We opted to “admire the view” and let their group get ahead of us so we could take more pictures and film. Benny and I also got wet in the cascade before we decided to continue on to the swimming hole ourselves.
We headed downstream until we hit the junction of two rivers and followed the right hand river upstream and around the bend to the swimming hole. There was a much shorter waterfall that fed into the pool. It was much better for Benny to jump from than the other ledges we’d seen. I managed to keep our picnic lunch dry and after the guys had taken their fill of film we ate and then I helped Benny work on his backstroke.
Eventually it was time to leave so we crossed over the top of the short waterfall and found the next rope trail that brought us up and connected us with the trail we came in on. And from there we headed back to the hotel via a grocer, dropping Benny and I off since it was in walking distance from where we were staying, and I picked up stuff to make kabobs on the hibatchi as well as some rice and seasoning packets from the deli to go with it.
Everyone was satisfied, even the hamster. The guys were getting work done. Per diem was stretching further. Good eats for everyone’s diet.
Our time here on Guam is turning out to be less frenetic than what’s come before except for the two insane hiking days that I hope we all learned our lesson from. That’s not a bad thing. If nothing else it is giving the guys more time for editing and submission. Chan did mention tonight that it is taking longer on the upload side. He put it down to slow or out of date connections on the island. I checked with some of my sources now I had an idea of what and who to ask. Chan’s guess was wrong.
When the US went to a primarily digital currency they upgraded the digital infrastructure of the Mainland and of their territories. Guam, because of the US military presence, was even more “upgraded.” Townzen was the one to tell me that a lot of stuff was being monitored and that more than likely the production company was on the radar since they were receiving federal funds for this project. I didn’t completely understand the tech he was spewing but he dumbed it down and told me to think of it like the five-second-delay the news sometimes used for live broadcasts so they could catch anything inappropriate before airing it. That gave me something to think about on top of everything else.
Took a run to a grocery store. Got the location recommendation from the concierge this morning when I explained that I wanted Benny to see how real families lived on Guam. It wasn’t a lie. It just wasn’t the entire truth.
Lemon powder (citric acid) in cans
Achote seeds for making “red rice” in a similar fashion to how “yellow rice” is made in Florida
Bottled black tea that the men can drink in place of coffee on hot days
Navy Biscuits
Whole black peppercorns
Whole white peppercorns
Chocolate candy made in Guam
Coconut candy made in Guam
Honey from Rota
Coconut Jam
Canned coconut milk
Coconut cream powder
Coconut cooking oil
Coconut oil soap
Jujube Jam
Dried jujubes
Jujube Rice Wine
Jujube wine
Coconut chips
Banana chips
Dried Soursop
Dried Sugar Apple
Dried Longan
Then I found a unicorn. Okay, not really but it felt like it. Gluten free banana donut mix.
I got to the shipping store in plenty of time but was a while packing things up. They bought the fib that I was sending a “care package” back to the states for someone who missed “home.” As we were leaving, I was trying to figure out how to explain the lie to Benny when he startled me.
“It’s okay Aunt Gus. Lev already explained.”
“He … did?”
“Yeah. He said if I had to be upset, to be upset at him because you are rearranging the facts to throw people off the scent and out of our business.”
“Oh Benny. Don’t be upset with Lev. I’m old enough to be accountable for my own choices.”
“Are you protecting us?”
“I’m trying to. I just would rather not lie about it. But I didn’t think of you being with me while I was doing it. I’m sorry.”
He shook his head. “You are protecting us. Lev said so. Are … are we in danger?”
“No Little Bear. This is about keeping us out of danger.”
“Is it something I’ll understand when I get older?”
“I think so.”
“Okay.”
“You sure?”
“You are protecting us and Lev is trying to protect you so I won’t be mad at you. I’m not. And I’m not mad at Lev. I don’t like people getting in our business and maybe making danger.”
Sigh. I’m going to need to be more careful. These are not the kind of lessons and examples I should be setting. Bad auntie.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Yep, good auntie. Thank you Kathy.
Dec 5th: Pagat Cave and Cliffs
A cave. Yep, a cave. I’ve mentioned it before but even though Guam is a tiny island, the terrain is vastly different from one end to the other! The trailhead we took was on the north end of the island this time. It was marked with a sign and a few large boulders. It was a 1.2-mile trail that descended down the ridge, through a limestone forest, before reaching a large sinkhole. That’s where Pagat Cave’s cool, fresh water was about to rejuvenate us.
There were two large caverns, and as we were told, the water level depends on the time of year and amount of rainfall. We weren’t the only group hiking and two of them had professional guides so we sorta followed their lead after Diego introduced himself and explained things.
We turned on our headlamps and stepped down into the water to make our way through the first room. From there we entered the hallway to the next room. That was the only part close to a traditional cave squeeze. Once we were through, we faced a large cavern with a high ceiling and crystal clear pool. Benny and I looked at each over and pulling on our snorkeling gear. I “borrowed” a dive light that someone had left behind and it was a good thing I did. It was freakin’ dark. The other two groups were jumping from the rocks into the water; yes the water was deep enough. What I didn’t like was another group came in after us and brought a cooler of beer and some food. That kind of took my fun away because the hamster turned Safety Patrol. Dumb, dumb, dumb. But one of the guides said it is common for people to do it. I say it may be common, that doesn’t make it smart.
Once we’d had our fill of fun, or rather fill of the crowds draining our fun, we exited the cave and took a sharp left up out of the sinkhole onto the marked trail. That piece of the trail took us by some Chamorro artifacts like latte stones and grinding stones. Just like in Hawaii we showed respect of the ancients by not touching their stuff. No, I’m not superstitious, I just think it is rude to destroy something that could be important to someone else.
We continued on to the cliffs where we got a great view of blue water and crashing waves. These cliffs are no place to be jumping into the water however. I found out the tides here are crazy rough and boats don’t even like to come in close to the area.
One last note about this trail. Watch out for monitor lizards.
No, that wasn’t a joke. I got used to big “lizards” in the form of iguanas in south Florida. I even had a few fall on me from out of the trees when it got so cold they went into a form of hibernation. Some of those iguanas got pretty big, no lie. But I gotta say I did not appreciate Diego’s laughter when I ran across my first monitor. Thing was at least three feet long and made me think dinosaur more than lizard. Daaang!
And for once it wasn’t the Europeans that brought an invasive species to a new land. According to multiple old ship logs they’ve been in Guam since before the 1500s. They aren’t really called monitors by the locals but by their Chamorro name “hilitai.” I don’t care what you call them, they’re big. Let me repeat Daaang!
“Can you eat them Aunt Gus?” Benny asked curiously.
“You that hungry Osito?” Diego asked with a laugh.
“Nah. Just Aunt Gus took a dare from my Uncle Groucho to catch and cook an iguana in Key West. I remember. It kinda tasted like chicken.”
Then it was my turn to laugh at the surprised look on Diego’s face. I'm still laughing just remembering it.
Dec 6th: Tanguisson Beach to Shark’s Cove
Last real day in Guam. Lev and I need to talk about what comes next, after Saipan, but there isn’t really time. This may have to wait until we get back to the States because anything we decide here could be adversely affected by what we find when we return. As for today we went to a beach because we didn’t want to get too tired.
Tanguisson Beach is a favorite for both tourists and locals here on Guam. To get to the parking area we had to drive past a sewage treatment plant (totally not appetizing) then down the hill to the beach. Couple of ways to get to where we were going … down a path or through a jungle. We took the path that went to the mushroom shaped rocks (or that’s what everyone said they looked like) that you see in all the postcards. From there we continued walking along the beach, wading through a little water when the large rocks diverted us off the beach. I’m glad we opted to wear our water shoes than flipflops. Everyone’s shoes are getting raggedy but there is not much I can do about that, especially after all the water and mud we’ve had on trails in Guam.
We walked about a mile further down the beach and through a short portion of jungle and we finally found the cove we’d been searching for. Shark’s cove is the third beach over and the guy that had given Diego directions said we’d know it by the bright, electric blue patch of water in the middle of the bay and the large rocks and cliff edge at the end. The directions were good.
It was a near-perfect spot to sunbathe on the white sand, cool off in the water, and admire the hundreds of King Crow butterflies riding the breeze. I said near-perfect. We started first thing in the morning. As the day warmed the crowds got – well not obnoxious exactly but they got a little unruly for sure. The guys eventually ran out of patience trying to get film that didn’t include way too many people in the foreground and we cut out to go eat our picnic lunch in peace and then to head back to the hotel to clean up and pack up.
We had the time so I did the last of everyone’s laundry and made one more run (this time with Lev as well as Benny) to pick up a few more items to send to his … our … drop point. Diego seems like something is off. He made some really sarcastic comments about Lev needed to ride herd on me about the spending which was why he had to go with me instead of working on editing. I have no idea what is going on. Maybe his glucose? I found him drinking beer … no idea where he got it because I didn’t buy it … and I can just imagine what those carbs did to his system.
Lev says to ignore him. Fine. I’ll put him on ignore. He’s acting like his butt cheeks are chapped. We … I … don’t need that kind of attitude thrown at me.
Dec 7th: Pearl Harbor Day
Change in plans, thank goodness we had built in some flexibility to the schedule. We forgot something. Today is Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. It is no longer a true federal holiday, but in many places they still have remembrance activities and that includes here on Guam and it gets treated the exact same as a federal holiday.
Hotel couldn’t give us the room for one more day. Too many people flying in for the Christmas holidays. That means sleeping at the airport. Sorta. If you can call what we are doing sleeping. We are taking turns on watch. At least the airport didn’t kick us out. The rules are at least one in your party must remain awake at all times.
The other news I can report is that it has finally been finalized. Our team … Diego, Chan, Lev, Benny, & I … have secured the St. Croix and US Virgin Islands assignment. Mr. Director and Mr. Producer don’t want to have to transition to new people since they know and like what we are giving them. And, while each documentary episode stands on its own, all of them are also being packaged as a series. They want to maintain the flow or whatever you want to call it, rather than it being obvious it was filmed by different people with varying degrees of talent. Not to mention, Benny and I aren’t central characters, but we do make for a tie in as we move from location to location.
Time for me to wake up Lev for him to take his turn. I’m assuming I’ll have to wake him up. He’s like me and can be a very light sleeper. Yep. I was correct. He’s already sitting up. Time to get some rest so I’m not so irritated at a certain someone that he starts looking like Gus the Magic Monitor's next meal.
Dec 8th: Well, we got delayed
We were supposed to fly out first thing this morning. Didn’t happen that way. First, we got word that it would be noon before we were able to fly out. Thunderstorms. Then we were told our pilot was a little under the weather from today’s festival – Santa Marian Kamalen, the patron saint of the island – that they were looking for another pilot. It wasn’t until late in the afternoon that we were told if we could be at the airport in an hour that our flight could take off.
“We’re AT the airport. And have been. All. Day.”
Diego was hangry. Can’t blame him.
Forty-one minutes after takeoff we were landing in Saipan. Problem? We had no driver/guide as they had gone home after finding out our original flight had been cancelled. Someone at the airport knew the people who ran the Hotel Americano where we were registered for the duration, and they sent a van to pick us up. Turns out the mother of our driver works at the hotel and just called him up and sent him to the airport. Toto we aren’t in Kansas.
Diego tipped him extra to stop and let us grab something to eat. He said better to tell his mom who would make sure something was ready when we got there. It was mostly a fruit platter with a few other things in there, but I asked if I could tell her thank you in person.
“I really appreciate this. My nephew can eat everything on the platter you sent up. Thank you.”
“Special diet?”
“Benny – my nephew – and my … boyfriend … are both gluten-sensitive.”
We went over a few things, and I didn’t have a single complaint about her choices and I told Diego when I got to the room that he’d be able to eat everything as well and when we went out I even had directions to a grocery where I could pick up the ingredients to make the homemade sports drink. He tried to get angry for a quarter of a second then sighed and said in a sing-song voice, “Thank you Abuelita.”
I threw a pillow at him which he wasn’t fast enough to duck and it had the others laughing. The guys set up and started going over their equipment for the shoot tomorrow which is at the American Memorial Park. Benny stayed with Lev – he was tired from trying to be good all day – and I went to a local grocer just down the road.
What I discovered is that it was a lot easier shopping in Saipan than in Guam because a little over 40% of the population is Filipino and they seem to have the import and local food business much more organized.
Guayabano
Philippine Lemon (aka Calamondin, which I was familiar with in Florida)
Lychee juice
Mango juice
Coconut juice/water
Sugar Palm in heavy syrup
Canned yellow jack fruit
Chicharons (Diego took three bags of them really hacking me off after him saying that he didn’t want any snacks, so he hadn’t put in any money. I know they only have one or two carbs per bag but c’mon … three of the bags after claiming … ? And you don’t even pay for them? Whatever. Not happy. But if it keeps him from being hangry then I’ll deal. But still, could do without that kind of jerkitude.)
I must have look traumatized when I came back which I guess is why Diego thought he could get away with it. It didn’t help that by the time that Lev and the others were finished looking at the pictures I’d taken of things like “Canned Black Grass Jelly” and “Argentina Liver Spread” they were howling and starting to recount some of their more memorable food experiences while they travelled. Humph, though the stories were kinda funny. That’s when Diego grabbed the three bags of Chicharons … otherwise known in my neck of the woods as pork rinds. I had purchased them specifically for Benny and Lev. I grabbed the remaining two bags and took them to our room and was trying to figure a way to put them in my backpack without them turning to crumbs when Benny follows me in trying to see what all I had purchased.
Benny asked quietly, “You didn’t get us any of that black grass stuff?”
“Uh nope. Big on the nope.”
He looked very relieved. “Whew. Good.”
“Little Bear not even I am so heartless I’d make you try that stuff,” I told him with a silly grin.
He giggled and helped me put away (“hide”) some of the stuff that Diego hadn’t seen like the purple yam jam and the papaya pickles. Benny helped me to pack stuff up and I need to find a shipping store so I can send it out. I already have the box and packing materials, most of it now used. There was no one at the concierge desk when I came back so maybe I’ll ask the guide tomorrow for the address of the closest one.
For now it is time to hit the hay. Guam and Saipan are in the same time zone so we don’t have that to deal with, but we are all tired. And I got some marching orders from Bob. I’ll officially be in charge of the per diem when we hit the Caribbean. All the guys said that was a new one on them, usually everyone gets their own. Apparently bookkeeping is much happier with the way we’ve been doing it, no requests for extra money from our group.
“Just like we’ve been doing it, I’ll save as much money as I can. Any extra specials you want is either on you or will be deducted. Everyone still fine with that?”
Chan waited for Diego to answer. “Keep saving the money Chica and I am. Usually they don’t give us enough and we have to take it out of other places.”
“That’s because you guys don’t go through a case of beer or soda a night anymore. And yeah, Lev told me how things usually work. And yeah, I know you and Chan aren’t supposed to and/or choose not to drink much if at all. But you guys were still throwing in with the others for nightly junk food feasts while you worked and edited on the assignment. If you have to pay for it cash out of pocket you would have realized how much was being spent, but instead you cash app’d or apple pay’d it to each other. Me? I keep a running balance at all times, and you can see it because I have it on a cloud server in a cash register that you have access to … and I know you’re looking because it tells me when you log in.”
“Damn Girl, don’t you trust us?” Chan asked like I was a little OCD … which I am.
“I want you to see you can trust me. It is why I upload the receipts for you to look up and you aren’t just taking my word for it.”
That’s when Lev asked, “Anyone giving you problems?”
“Don’t get protective,” I said with a smile to let him know I actually didn’t mind. “Bob said there has been trouble recently with people complaining about money. I don’t want that to be us. So, I make sure that all the dollar signs and percentage points are transparent.”
Diego said, “Let Abuelita do her thing. It makes it faster, easier … and cheaper.”
He changed the subject like it was closed but Lev asked me again as we were changing for bed. “You sure no one is giving you are hard time?”
“By no one you mean Diego and Chan? Not … well probably not intentionally. Food cost more in Guam and looks like it might here in Saipan as well. They were asking why.”
“Numbnuts should know why. This isn’t exactly their first assignment.”
“Relax Admiral. We’re in a condo so hopefully the kitchenette will let me save some pennies here and there.”
He was silent and I could tell something was still on his mind. Finally he spit it out. “You don’t feel pressured to do the whole cooking and cleaning thing because of the stuff that Diego says do you?”
“You mean because he is a raging chauvinist testosterone poisoned pig? No. If you want to know the truth?” At his serious nod I said, “This way I know absolutely for sure that you and Benny are getting the right kind of foods and that money isn’t being wasted.” I chuckled and then said, “It’s my way of staying in control without anyone realizing I’m in control.”
I invited him by look to join in the humor but he was still so serious. Then he asked, “You promise? You aren’t being forced?”
I shrugged, trying to be honest. “I don’t think anyone can force me into anything. I’ll do something when I’m darn good and ready. And that includes whatever it takes to do my share with the family we make. Diego and Chan are just reaping the rewards of the tactics I use to take care of Benny.”
“And me.”
“And you Admiral.”
He finally relaxed. I don’t know exactly what is on his mind, but I’ll see if I can’t figure out some way to figure it out.
Dec 9th: American War Memorial (Part 1)
I’m not sure what to make of our morning explorations at the American War Memorial. It is why we are here. I thought. But apparently we are here to look at the entire Northern Marianas Islands while sticking primarily to Saipan.
The way I am understanding it is that Saipan used to be a “major” tourist destination. In the 1980s and 90s the tourism from Japan began to tapper off. Then came in the Chinese and Koreans but they didn’t spend money anything like the Japanese tourists did. Then the tourism industry was racked by storms and then the pandemic of the 20’s nearly killed the island’s economy off the way it did much of the rest of the world. And while the world recovered, Saipan did not. Even years later they are still struggling, and the US government wants them to become more self-sufficient. There is some resistance to that as too many people have become willingly dependent on US federal assistance, but this administration seems determined to get their economy back up and running even if that requires painful physical and financial therapy to force it on them. I didn’t have a lot of time to contemplate today’s issues because our guide was so busy keeping us in the past.
At 0840 on June 15, 1944, initial waves of the 2nd and 4th U.S. Marine Divisions stormed onto a narrow beachhead on Saipan. The enemy guns were ranged-in on the beaches and shells rained down with deadly effect. Marine units, supported by Naval and Army Air Corps bombardment, and joined by the U.S. Army's 27th Infantry Division, waged savage warfare. For most of the soldiers, seamen, and airmen it was yet another invasion. For many it would be their last. For the world it was the beginning of the end of the Pacific War.
Even people of my generation are taught that the Marianas Campaign of World War II was the most decisive battle of the Pacific Theater. With Saipan secured on July 9th, U.S. Forces were able to cut off vital Japanese supply and communication lines, and American B-29 bombers moved within range of the Japanese homeland. The end of the war with Japan followed 14 months later.
We were all over Saipan today. From Marpi to Mt. Tapotchao to Aslito Airfield, the American Memorial Park maintains 12 waysides to mark the location of historical events that took place on the island in 1944. Benny and I got a kick out of me calling them “sign thingies” the way we used to but when we explained what we were laughing at, only Lev grinned. The sign-thingies (so there you grouchy people) describe events such as the maneuvers of both American and Japanese troops, points of interest such as artifacts and architectural remnants, and the location of camps.
# # # # #
This morning’s sightseeing was done via a downhill bike ride that took us to three major sites on the island: Suicide Cliff, Last Command Post, and Bird Island. Based on what I was seeing, I wasn’t sure how the guys were going to come up with enough for an entire episode on the American War Memorial park, but the afternoon was for other things.
We spent the remainder of the day hiking. The first one was called “Old Man By the Sea.” It is a “family-friendly hike” suitable for a wide range of ages and experience levels. Quote, unquote. It ended at a secluded location with an easily-identifiable landmark. Yep, Saipan directions are primarily via landmark the same as Guam. Getting mail to the right people must be fun for the postal service.
I estimate the hike itself can take as little as fifteen minutes or as long as forty-five, depending on how comfortable a hiker is with the rocks, vines, and twisted trees. Parts of the trail were difficult, but the ropes to helped along the way. Although we reached a beach at the end of the trail, it’s not ideal for snorkeling. Benny and I were a little disappointed but better safe than sorry.
Compared to our other hikes, this wasn’t a long one but the whole jungle vibe was fun. I tried explaining Tarzan to Benny and he got it up to where I told him about the chimpanzee named Cheetah. At that point he thought I was yanking his chain. I guess I’ll have to find an old vid online to prove I’m not as crazy as I may sound. When the guys all took a turn at trying the Tarzan Jungle Call he gave them all a look that said they needed a check up from the neck up.
We moved from a rock to an island on our next activity. Forbidden Island got its name because it was, once upon at a time, a CIA training location. All kidding aside, that’s really what it was. Because of that, many consider it to be one of the island’s “Must-See” destinations. But in my opinion the real adventure is getting there. It is not the easiest hike I’ve ever been on. A word of warning would have been nice, but I guess a lot of islanders just take it for granted. The guys thought I was going to be upset but, not really. Not when they were as surprised as I was. At least the guy that took us there told us to bring our hiking shoes and not just sandals or flip flops. He just didn’t say why.
The Forbidden Island Hike is tough and pretty much straight downhill (which means coming back is almost straight uphill) and ropes were needed in some places. There was one section that you almost had to do one or two repel-type jumps to get down. Not easy, and I insisted on Benny riding down piggyback, same as Guam, but I liked the physical challenge of it.
Our guide timed it so we would arrive at low tide so we could cross over to the actual Forbidden Island. When we reached the bottom, we snorkeled a bit but not much as despite it being in a protected reef area, and having a blast with all of the tropical fish, the current was pretty strong. Chan wasn’t interested at all, preferring to work with the drone. Diego got waist deep and decided he didn’t mind getting wet but he didn’t want to snorkel. Lev is a strong swimmer but even he was done after thirty minutes. I convinced Benny to get out with him and I took a solo dive to get some pictures of the fish without a lot of bubbles in the way. But even once was enough for me, especially after being tumbled by one wave almost into some jagged rocks underwater.
The guide also took us to a section nearby called “Hidden Forbidden,” which is a hidden alcove that is a little bit like a treasure to open. It’s almost like you are caving/spelunking to get down into this area. When you get in, you see there is a completely clear pool of cold water which he said was rare here because most of the water is lukewarm bathwater temperature and it is because it gets almost no sunlight.
As a side note the guide tried to have some fun at our expense. Apparently the locals are fond of telling children and tourists that you must stay quiet at Forbidden Island or the waves will get larger and rumor has it that you should beseech the jungle to provide you safe journey on the hike when you start. He’s lucky I didn’t punch him because Benny hardly made any noise from that point until we got back to the 4x4. It is one of the reasons why I had him get out of the water with Lev. He was too distracted to really be paying attention to his water safety rules. Oh that guy is so lucky that Benny shook it off. If we have him again, I’m going to dig up some kind of paybacks. I don’t know what yet, but it wasn’t the joke he made it out to be.
Lev said he knew something was going on but hadn’t known what as he hadn’t been there to hear the “legend.” He’d been taking pictures of some coral and cowrie shells for possible filler. I didn’t want to make too much of it but he’s just seven years old even if he has had more adventure than many adults ten times his age.
At least the day closed on a good note. We went snorkeling in the Blue Grotto, another one of those “must do’s” in the tourist glam mags. The Blue Grotto is a cavern that is connected to the ocean by a series of tunnels. The clear blue water provides stunning visibility and is a favorite place for sea turtles to come and hang out and rest.
There were no facilities at the grotto, the only things there besides people was a solar-powered emergency phone and a well-paved road. You access the dive site by going down 100 steps into a natural, well-lit cave. Not artificial lighting at all so you are depending on the weather for how well-lit the diver area is.
From the bottom of the staircase, you step over a narrow but fast stream onto a large, rock that once teetered but has since been secured for the purpose of public safety. Take a giant step off and you are in fifteen-feet deep water facing a 60' deep cavern with 3 separate, naturally lit underwater exits.
If you want to use the exits, it is best to have dive gear unless you are an experienced free diver. I’ve done my fair share starting back in high school, but I haven’t kept it up to any great extent. I did a little when we snorkeled in Hawaii, even letting Benny try a little, but I nixed him swimming in those tunnels. The small bit I did was a little disorienting on the last one. I did get underwater film of a few barracudas, one white tip shark, a few rays, and some other underwater animals, including the sea turtles.
My air conservation was good enough that I swam to the “Bat Cave", a cave entirely underwater & as large as The Grotto. I saw bubble corals, glowing-eyed cave fishes, pink lace cave corals, and then swam out right after seeing two more sharks. I wasn’t scared but no way was I prepared to deal with them without a bang stick which some of the other divers did have. As it was, I surfaced and had to help Diego with a couple of college kids that had swam out of the tunnels and then tried to do the stupid of snorkeling back in. Only very foolish people try that, as re-entry is nearly impossible due to waves and currents. They got lucky and all they did was get banged around. Our guide says a couple of people drown every year trying their luck. When the signs say don’t try it, then don’t try it. It’s for a reason not just to tempt you more.
That pretty much brought our tours to a close. We were back in the suite before I thought to turn the underwater film I’d taken over to Lev who then showed it to Diego. He looked at me and said, “Listen Chica Loca, is that what I think it is?” he asked pointing to the two White Tips from the “Bat Cave”.
“Yes. And that’s why I exited when I did. I’ve swam with sharks plenty of times in Florida, but I don’t make a habit of doing it on purpose.”
He just looked at me, rolled his eyes, and muttered something in Spanish about being too stupid to live. He forgot both Benny and I are fluent until Benny looked at him with the Barrymore laser beams.
I wasn’t feeling too kindly myself. Lev hasn’t picked Spanish up yet. He speaks Spanglish but mostly in self-defense and Diego was spitting it out pretty fast. I don’t make a habit of using Spanish in mixed company just because it is rude. I looked at Benny and asked him calmly, “Go in the bedroom for a minute please. I’ll be there in a sec.”
His fists were already balled up in anger but he did as I asked. I turned to Diego and said, “You got a problem with me, you speak to me privately. I’ve overlooked your cursing and everything else in front of my nephew, gave you some respect as you’ve earned it. What you just did, what you said, was uncalled for.”
“Gus?” Lev said.
“Let me deal with this. I get he can boss us, I don’t have a problem with a chain of command. But I won’t be a chew toy and cursed in Spanish in front of Benny. He’s seven, not seventeen. He don’t need this grief to confuse him.”
“What the hell did you say?” Lev asked Diego.
Diego looked daggers at me, “You trying to cause problems with the team?”
I told him, “You want the respect of being boss all the time, then you earn the respect of being boss all the time. That doesn’t include …”
“Fine!” he snapped before it had to go further. “I forgot the kid could understand what I was saying.”
“But you knew I would understand you.”
He didn’t deny it.
“Diego, I would never intentionally put Benny at risk.”
“You always talkin’ about the kid. What about Lev?”
“I respect and trust Lev more than any other person I’ve known as an adult, and just as much as I did the family that raised me. Don’t even try and get between us because that will cause a fight I guarantee you will not win.”
“Babe? Babe. Calm down. It’s none of his business one way or the other. Look at me …”
I stuffed my excess of Barrymore in the box, drew a deep breath, and then did that very thing surprising the other two in the room.
Dec 9th: American War Memorial (Part 2)
“Gus, what did he say?”
“Called me a couple of rude names for a female and then said I was too stupid to live. The first two Benny wouldn’t have understood, the last he did. You know what that could trigger.”
Lev’s head snapped around but before he had to snarl whatever was about to come out Diego through up his hands and said, “Stop! Just … stop. I made a mistake. I admit it. She …” He shook his head. “My ex used to do stupid shit like this. Always looking for a thrill.”
“I thought she couldn’t handle life in the States and took your kids back across the border,” I said.
“That part came after the judge took her license and remanded her to a detox center and some parenting classes. She was hanging with a wild crowd that used to do crazy shit for the thrill of it. Got the kids hurt a couple of times. The last time is when the cops got called because it created an argument she knew she wasn’t going to win and she said I was threatening her. Neighbor across the street was a cop, we’d met while I was an EMT, he backed me up about what she’d been doing. When the judge found out about the people she’d been hanging with he said he could throw the book at her or she could go into treatment. She was in treatment two weeks, walked out of the facility, took our kids, and ran.”
I was still fighting my own anger and then to be compared to that, all but accused of … nah. I managed to keep my mouth shut and Lev handled it better than I would have.
“Dude, one of the first things I noticed about Gus is that she is all about the Benny. She … look, there is nothing she wouldn’t do for him, nothing she won’t try to protect him from. And you know it too. So this is about something else.”
“My daughter called me.”
“Yeah. Last week. For your birthday.”
“Nah. She’d called for my birthday a couple of days before that. She … she was letting me know … her mother … died. I haven’t seen the woman in thirty years and the girl has to tell me her mamma died. She was cryin’ and … and I didn’t know what to say except that I was sorry that it made her sad. She wasn’t sad though. She was mad. And tryin’ not to be mad at me and telling me I better be careful and not playin’ stupid games I was too old for.”
Crap, I could hear it coming.
Lev guessed good. “She drowned.”
His head came up and he was shocked.
“How you know?”
“Good guess. You know Gus would never put Benny in danger. So you say. You know damn good and well Gus and I have worked things out and respect each other and if you don’t you should. So that leaves Gus personally. I know you’ve had a few problems with her, and she’s said she can live with it since she don’t exactly think you’re St. Francis yourself. That left something about today in particular. You may not think I’m that smart, but I ain’t that dumb either.”
“Lev …”
“Diego, you looked after me when I was the new kid on the block. Have confidence that you taught me enough. And not just about this business we’re in. But now here’s a lesson for you. Stop making the same damn, dumb mistakes with women you made when you were the kid. I’m sorry you’re hurting Man, but Gus isn’t your ex. She’s nothing like your ex. Stop making her a target because your ex isn’t here.”
Diego stomped over to the balcony sliders and I could practically see the steam rolling off of him. Then in a blink it was just over. I’ve never seen someone get over being that angry that fast. He turned to me and said, “Lev’s right. You ain’t my ex and I shouldn’t have … whatever the hell. I … apologize.” My mouth must have been hanging open because he laughed. “Yeah, yeah. The pigs are flyin’ during a blizzard in hell.” He seemed a lot calmer, like whatever it had been had been bled off fast. “Even dead that woman can drive me crazy. Damn mujer borracha, out partying on a boat with guys half her age. Took a dare to swim from the boat to the shore. Took ‘em two days to find her … and what they found wasn’t pretty. I always knew she’d come to a bad end. But damn … I … I wish …”
“People make choices,” Lev said walking over and putting his hand on Diego’s shoulder. “I’m sorry hers hurt you and your kids. Don’t let her choices influence you to make ones that you’ll regret. Gus is the opposite of your ex.”
“Or maybe she is who Paola could have been had she … had she given a shit about her kids … about me.” He shook his head. “I need some air. Let’s … let’s take a break tonight. Pick back up tomorrow.” Lev nodded.
On his way out Diego stopped and looked at me. “We good?”
I just nodded because I didn’t trust my mouth not to add some unnecessary syllables.
He turned and walked out, and Chan told Lev quietly he’d go with him but if they weren’t back before midnight to call in case he needed some back up.
After the door closed a second time I headed for the bedroom to deal with Benny. Lev stopped me. “He was peaking under the door. He knows things are chill and heard Diego apologize.”
“Let me hear that from him and I’ll be back.”
Yep. Big Eared Benny. I did the same thing as a kid so I’m trying to be careful not to be a hypocrite, but I also tried to warn him he wouldn’t always hear nice things. We worked it out and Benny is going to be okay with Diego “as long as he doesn’t act mean again.” End quote. The kid is a Barrymore.
Coming back to Lev I said, “No lectures, please.”
“You don’t deserve one. Diego is who was out of line.”
I sighed. “This is a job. I’ve let it become … more. But a job is all this really is and all they really are is people that I work with. But so do you. I … I need to be …”
“You are just fine Gus. Stop being willing to be the only one with issues and therefore the only one that has to give.”
“Uh … you’re mad.”
“Not at you.”
“Lev, it’s okay to be mad at me. I …”
“Don’t. I feel like an ass enough as it is. I could …” He took my hand and pulled me out to walk with him on the balcony. The bedroom we all slept in didn’t have a balcony access and the window was on the other side which meant Lev didn’t want Benny hearing what he was going to say.
“I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry?” I asked in confusion. “Why?”
“I wanna beat the crap out of Diego for what he said.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah. Oh.” He was so stressed he was twisting this way and that the way he used to when he stomach was upset back in Florida. “Babe, no one … no one … talks to you or about you that way. Had we been in the States …” He shook his head. “What you gotta think of me.”
“Oh Lev … don’t. Please,” I told him, feeling bad for somehow making him think I thought less of him somehow.
“You’re right. This is a job. We work with them. That’s …”
Trying to forestall any worse I said, “You’ve known Diego a long time. It sounds like maybe you feel like you owe him. I’m willing to let it go. Sounds like he’s been chewing on a crap sandwich for almost a week. I for one didn’t notice it. Did you?”
“Last couple of days I’ve wondered, felt something was going on. Thought it was just the end of the assignment and the zero downtime. Sit with me?”
I did and he continued. “I do owe Diego. I don’t owe him maybe what he thinks I do sometimes. He was a father-figure when I needed one. He’s pulled me out of some crazy crap a few times. He’s taken a bottle away from me when it might have been the bottle that kept me looking for the next bottle for the rest of my life. We aren’t close like that anymore, I don’t need him like that anymore, but I do still respect him. I think Chan is his latest project like that. Chan really doesn’t do well in the field. He’d be better off in the Production offices.”
“Chan is good.”
“He is. He’d be better in a more stable setting. It is why Bob teamed him with Diego. And Diego really could be a good project manager if he’d just stop feeling like he needs to prove himself.”
“His ex really poked holes in him,” I said on a guess.
“Yeah. You wouldn’t know it most of the time. He needs to let himself settle down, find a place, stay put. Maybe … aw hell, I’m too big to play Cupid. Are you okay?”
“Me? Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“’Cause Diego was a jackass. And I wasn’t far behind.”
“Stop. I don’t expect you or anyone else to fight my battles. Frankly I’m glad you stopped the one from happening I was working on by getting to the root of the issue. You fixed things when I was more about … breaking things. You’re the better person.”
“Gus …”
“I’m serious Lev. I’ve known it for a while now. Definitely since before Pearl Harbor. I can trust you. You’ve got my back, not just Benny’s. And no, I don’t think you planting Diego with a left hook would prove it just because the guy has a mouth. I think more of you for not doing it. You protected Benny and I … by protecting our job. We’re in freaking Saipan. I can’t exactly get us in the van and drive off into the sunset flipping everyone the middle finger. Little wet where a road needs to be.”
He snorted but there was humor in it. “You’re something else.”
“Can you live with that Lev?”
“Absolutely.”
“Good. ‘Cause … I need you. You balance me the way Dad and Lawrence tried. Grandfather always … he wanted me to be able to stand on my own. He thought, I know for a fact he thought, that I was likely to end up alone because I was that rare bird … a female with all the Barrymore traits balled up in one person.”
“He …”
“Even Dad thought so. Benny doesn’t fall far from the tree when it comes to bad habits and listening in when he shouldn’t. I used to listen to Dad and Grandfather talking about me. Dad never trusted anyone but my grandparents to look after me when he wasn’t around. I could be wild … was wild most of the time. Dad and him used to get together and … discuss … how I acted and new strategies of how to maybe redirect some of what Grandfather used to call my energies and attention. Dad was just grateful that someone besides him wasn’t looking to put me on meds or lock me in some program some place to break my will.”
“Gus …”
“You want to know me? It includes that kind of stuff. You see the person that I am now, but the reason I am who I am now is in big part because of who I was as a kid. One time Grandma Barry caught me listening to them. She was very upset. In the end she decided not to tell them that I’d been listening into their private conversations but only if I promised to listen to her explain what I was hearing. She said that Dad and Grandfather loved me very much. Grandfather because I was a real Barrymore and that made him happy. Dad because I was part of my mother, the woman that he’d lost. Grandfather was happy that I was all Barrymore, he just wanted to make sure that I was a healthy version of what that meant … not wild and out of control like some of the Barrymores have been over the generations. Dad loved me … but he was also scared for me. He needed Grandfather to be honest with him and help him to raise me to be the best Barrymore I could be because he knew he couldn’t do it alone. He just didn’t want anyone else to know he was scared for me because they might wonder if he was scared of me.”
Lev wanted to say something but couldn’t quite find the words.
“I’m fine with that Lev. I’m not scarred or anything. To be honest I’m glad I know. For whatever reason when Grandma Barry explained it to me … it … it clicked … and motivated me to try in a way I wasn’t trying. Grandfather Barry helped me to understand Dad. Grandma Barry helped me to take that understanding to the next level and add Grandfather’s motivations to it. It finally closed the gap between what I felt for the select few in my life and what I realized it meant that they cared for me in the same way. It gave me a bigger understanding of responsibility and loyalty. It was the summer after I turned eleven. I’d already started putting two and two together better. Grandfather knew how to reach me, the language to use, better than Dad did. Dad loved me without question, but he didn’t always understand me. But neither man would have ever imagined the me I am today. And I don’t think even Grandma Barry would have thought I’d find someone like you.”
“Babe, I am just as amazed. But it is because of how crazy much I love you. You are exactly … exactly … what I need and who I need. I need you to be as strong as you are. I just feel like I missed the boat this time … even though I know why I didn’t beat the crap out of Diego it still don’t make me happy.”
“Don’t tell Diego but if it had come to a fight, you would have won. Diego is getting a paunch, and doesn’t have your staying power. He’ll leave equipment behind, but you are like a dang pack mule with all that heavy camera equipment. You’re strong … Diego isn’t weak but … his age is beginning to tell on him. And he fights a healthy diet too much which is only going to make him weaker over time.”
Lev tried not to smile but there was a small one when he asked, “You think I would have won?”
“Diego might have gotten a couple of lucky moves in but yeah, you would have outlasted him and probably outgunned him up front. You are taller, leaner, have a longer reach. You just wouldn’t have wanted to hurt him so you would have held back until you wanted to end it.”
“Well, Diego did teach me to fight some in the beginning.”
“But he hasn’t taught you all you know, and he doesn’t give you enough credit.”
Lev shook his head. “Okay … this isn’t about me.”
“Not about me either.” A little worried, I asked, “Diego isn’t really going to get trashed is he? He’s already not watching his glucose.”
“I doubt it. Not with Chan there. Hey, change in subject if you’re ready.”
“Might as well, I’m not into being a Drama Llama.”
“No, it isn’t my favorite either,” he agreed. “Since we’ve got the night off, how about you and Benny letting me take you to dinner. There’s this place called The Shack. Real old place. They used to only be open for breakfast and lunch but someone there at the Grotto was saying how they’re open for dinner during the week now.”
“You sure you don’t want me to run and get something so you can relax?”
“Nah. We haven’t had much privacy lately, let’s just get Benny and take advantage while we have some.”
And that’s what we did. Diego and Chan came back not long after we got in. Everything was so normal my teeth hurt. Hopefully it stays that way.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
I thank you.Dh is listening to the Bee Gee's, "I'm going nowhere, somebody help me" lol Stayin Alive.
Dec 10th: Saipan and Amelia Earhart
You might be wondering what Saipan and Amelia Earhart have to do with one another. Surprisingly possibly a lot. We covered that with the tour guide we had today. Not the same one we had yesterday. Today’s guide was older than Diego and just this side of crazy which meant he was completely cool.
First part of the day we managed to see practically see ALL of Saipan worth seeing. Ther was history, culture, scenic beauty, and much more. And not just the touristy spots either.
As far as the Amelia Earhart stuff. There is proof that the woman - presumed lost at sea on July 2, 1937 – was detained on the island of Saipan by the Japanese military which controlled the island at that time. Yeah, there are scoffers sure. The proof isn’t irrefutable. But it is pretty compelling [1]. Then there are the bones that were found in a different location [2]. DNA has never proven for sure that the bones belonged to Earhart. I found out more about the woman than I even knew existed and people are still trying to untangle what happened to her and her co-pilot. Heck, they don’t know for sure what happened to her plane either. Lots of conspiracy theories and any or most of them could be the truth.
Another place we went was Suicide Cliff. Rising over 800 feet, Suicide Cliff juts out over the relatively flat plains of Marpi. This site is where many Japanese civilians and soldiers jumped off the high cliffs rather than surrender to the American forces in the last days of the battle for Saipan. Memorials to the deceased dot the cliff’s edge. Unobstructed views of the northern tip of the island, an abandoned WWII airfield, and Banzai Cliff, can be seen from the lookout points. Suicide Cliff has also served as a launchpad for hang-glider competitions and as an access-point to the “Banadero Trail,” a hiking path that leads to the Last Command Post.
Speaking of Banzai Cliff, it’s an indentation off the coastline between Puntan Sabaneta to the west and Puntan Lagua Kattan to the east. The cliff sits almost a hundred feet high on an area called Banaderu, a Chamorro word for muddy or wet place. During the final days of World War II, hundreds of Japanese and Okinawan civilians, rather than face capture, jumped off the high sea cliffs, due in no small part to Japanese propaganda that described enemy troops as beasts. Soon after, this stretch of shoreline became known as Banzai Cliff, a designation that is still used today.
The Last Command Post trail leads to a reinforced cave constructed by the Japanese military in early 1944 and served as a component of Japan’s World War II defensive fortification system from attack by American forces. Although the island was declared secured on 9 July 1944, sporadic fighting continued for weeks. The actual last command post of Lt. General Yoshitsugu Saito was that cave, in a valley behind San Roque Village, from which Saito issued a final all-out counterattack before committing suicide on July 7, 1944. Several guns and other military equipment are on display in front of the Last Command Post, but they aren’t original to the location.
Another cave, this one called Kalabera, is considered one of the great wonders on Saipan. It is an important cultural and historical site that takes its name from the Chamorro and Spanish word meaning “skull.” The walls were decorated with pictographs or rock art drawn by ancient Chamorro artists hundreds or maybe even thousands of years ago. Anthropologists and archaeologists have lots of theories but no conclusive evidence. The cave was also used as a burial site, signaling the powerful meaning the place held for the ancient people of The Marianas. The reason why is called “Kalabera” is because the inner formations of the cave resemble a skull. There are still some remaining artifacts in the cave but they are in protected displays.
Another place we stopped was Isley Field, named after Lieutenant Commander Robert Henry Isely. He was one of the first fatalities of the WWII Battle of Saipan. The “field” was a Japanese military airfield that was operational by 1941. Its single runway serviced both fighter and bomber aircrafts making it an important and strategic location. For much of the war in the Pacific, the Naval Airfield served as a staging area for Japanese aircrafts to other parts of the Pacific. The situation reversed itself by June 1944 as the airfield became a target for American carriers that attacked the airfield in advance of the American invasion of Saipan. Thousands of marines and soldiers came ashore to take the island away from Japan. Isely Airfield fell to the 27th Army Division on June 18th and they immediately began repairs for use by American planes. The operational objective for the Battle of Saipan was to establish an airfield from which the B29 bombers could be launched against Japan. In 1975, Isely Field became the Saipan International Airport.
Last stop of the day was Bird Island, also known as Isleta’n Maigo Fahang. The island is in a bay in Saipan’s northeastern coast. It is tiny and rugged. A narrow stretch of shallow lagoon and a lovely white sand beach surround it. During the Japanese administration, the island was known as tsukimi or “moon viewing island.” Why? For hundreds of birds that nest there and because the Japanese are known to have weird parties where they stare at stuff and write poetry like haiku. That would drive me bonkers, so I prefer to think of it as the marine sanctuary that it is, where fishing is strictly prohibited. It is also one of the three areas on Saipan with volcanic deposits.
That’s where today’s hike was, Bird Island. The hike itself wasn’t difficult, but it was special. The day was sunny and the tide was low while we were there.
Oh yea, by the way, Lev proposed and we are getting married tomorrow!
[1] Amelia Earhart Mystery: Lost Pilot Captured And Killed
[2] https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/15/us/amelia-earhart-bones-dna-testing-scn-trnd/index.html
