EL PASO

WELL, I TOLD YOU I WOULD TELL YOU WHO THE NEW ADDITION WAS GOING TO BE. YOU WILL HAVE TO WAIT TO FIND OUT, JUST AS I DID! ON WE GO. THE MATERNITY BLOUSE THAT MARTIN BOUGHT ME FOR MY BIRTHDAY WAS AN ICE BLUE COLOR, (I WONDER IF HE WAS DROPPING A HINT?) AND VERY "MAMA-ISH". I WAS SO PROUD TO BE WEARING IT, AND LOOKED FORWARD TO THE DAY THAT MY TUMMY WOULD BE STICKING OUT AND EVERYONE WOULD OOOH AND AHHH OVER MY PENDING DELIVERY. REMEMBER HAVING JESSICA? SAME THING. I JUST NEVER GOT VERY BIG WITH THIS ONE EITHER. AT NIGHT I WOULD LAY AND WAIT TO FEEL LITTLE FLUTTERS SO I WOULD KNOW THAT IT WOULD BE ALRIGHT. THE FUNNY THING IS, I COULDN'T SHAKE THE FEELING THAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE TWINS. BACK THEN, ULTRASOUND WAS NOT VERY GOOD, AND THEY DIDN'T DO ONE UNLESS YOU WERE HAVING A PROBLEM. WHILE I AWAITED THE ARRIVAL, (STILL FAR IN THE FUTURE) LIFE WENT ON AS IT DOES FOR A YOUNG FAMILY. WE WERE ABLE TO BUY A CAR, USED OF COURSE, AND THEN SOME FURNITURE, ALSO SECOND HAND. WE BOUGHT A BEDROOM SET, MADE OF SOLID WOOD, MIRROR, BED, DRESSER AND END TABLES FOR 200.00. IT WAS A FOUR POSTER BED, AND I THOUGHT IT INCREDIBLY ROMANTIC. IT WAS PROBABLY 60 YEARS OLD, BUT THEN, IT WAS MINE AND I DIDN'T CARE ABOUT THE AGE. THEN, TO OUR GREAT JOY, A HOUSE OPENED UP ON BASE. IT WAS A TINY LITTLE THING, HONESTLY, ONLY 600 SQUARE FEET, AND WAS A TWO BEDROOM HOUSE. THE BEDROOMS WERE SO SMALL, THAT WHEN YOU OPENED THE DOORS, YOU HAD TO CRAWL ACROSS THE BED TO GET TO ANYTHING ELSE IN THE ROOM. SO, I HAD TWO BEDROOMS EACH 8X10 FEET, A LIVING ROOM THAT WAS 10X 12 AND A KITCHEN/BATHROOM THAT TOOK UP THE REST. THE KITCHEN HAD ONLY ONE CABINET, AND IT HUNG DIRECTLY OVER THE TABLE. THE REST OF THE TINY SPACE HELD THE REFRIGERATOR AND STOVE. YOU COULDN'T GET OUT THE BACK DOOR IF THE FRIDGE WAS OPEN, AND YOUR COULDN'T OPEN THE STOVE OR FRIDGE IF YOU WERE SITTING AT THE TABLE. THE TABLE WAS A TABLE FOR TWO, AND ONLY HAD TWO CHAIRS. BUT IT WAS OUR FIRST HOUSE, AND WE LOVED IT. THERE WERE SOME PROBLEMS OF COURSE, ONE DAY MARTIN JUMPED UP FROM THE TABLE, BASHED HIS HEAD ON THE CABINET AND IT WAS TORN OFF THE WALL, BREAKING ALL OUR DISHES. OH, I FORGOT! I ACTUALLY HAD A WASHING MACHINE, IT WAS TURQUOISE AND STUFFED IN THE CORNER. WE FOUND IT ON THE STREET, AND BROUGHT IT HOME. IT WORKED GREAT IF YOU DIDN'T MIND ADVANCING EACH CYCLE MANUALLY, AND I LEARNED TO TIME IT JUST RIGHT. I WAS THE ENVY OF MY FRIENDS, THEY DIDN'T HAVE A WASHER! OF THE FOUR OF US WHO WERE FRIENDS ON THE STREET, ONLY ONE HAD A PHONE. SHE WOULD GRACIOUSLY ALLOW US TO USE HER PHONE, AND I WOULD ALLOW HER TO USE THE WASHER. OF COURSE THIS DID NOT ALLOW FOR LONG CONVERSATIONS, AS HER HOUSE WAS 4 HOUSES DOWN. WE JUST COULD NOT AFFORD A PHONE, SO WE WERE GLAD FOR HERS.. AT NIGHT, AFTER WE GOT JESSICA TO SLEEP, WE WOULD LIE TOGETHER AND TALK OF ALL OUR BLESSINGS AND THE FUTURE TO COME. GOOD GRIEF, WE WERE SO POOR AND WE HAD NO IDEA! THERE WAS A STORE CLOSE BY THAT WOULD DISCOUNT MEAT THAT WAS GOING OUT OF DATE. THEY WOULD SELL IT IN A STACK OF PACKAGES FOR INCREDIBLY LOW PRICES. MANY WAS THE NIGHT THAT MARTIN HAD CHICKEN FRIED STEAK, POT ROAST AND OTHER MEAT DISHES THAT WERE SUCH A LUXURY TO US BECAUSE OF THIS BLESSING. IT REMINDS ME OF THE MEAT WE HAD IN OKINAWA, WHICH CAME FROM NEW ZELAND. I GUESS THOSE COWS OVER THERE WERE DINOSAUR COWS, I NEVER SAW SUCH HUGE SLABS OF BEEF IN MY WHOLE LIFE! NO KIDDING, THE CENTER BONE OF A ROUND STEAK COULD MEASURE 5 INCHES ACROSS! THE ROUND STEAK ITSELF WAS ABOUT 18 INCHES ACROSS, AND TOUGH AS A GRAND CANYON MULE! NO FRIED STEAK HERE, YOU HAD TO SIMMER THAT STUFF ALL DAY TO MAKE IT EDIBLE, BUT SINCE IT COST ONLY ABOUT .25 A POUND, I WASN'T COMPLAINING. IN THE BACK YARD OF OUR LITTLE EL PASO HOUSE, MARTIN PLANTED SOME TOMATOES AND SQUASH, AND WE HAD A LITTLE GARDEN. HE ALSO BOUGHT ME A USED SEWING MACHINE AND I WAS IN HOG HEAVEN. I MADE JESSICA'S LITTLE CLOTHES, BLOUSES FOR ME AND CLOTHES FOR THE NEW BABY. I HAD TO MAKE YELLOW OR MINT GREEN, BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE. ONE DAY, IN A DISCOUNT STORE, I FOUND SOME MATERIAL FOR .50 A YARD THAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE PRETTY IN OUR ROOM. I WAS ABLE TO BUY 20 YARDS, AND HOPED MARTIN WOULD NOT HAVE A FIT BECAUSE I HAD SPENT THAT MUCH MONEY. I WORKED DAY AND NIGHT WHEN HE WAS NOT THERE, TO SURPRISE HIM WITH A NEW QUILT, PILLOW COVERS AND DRAPES FOR OUR ROOM. LOOKING BACK, THE FABRIC WAS HIDEOUS, BUT IN THE 70'S MOST FABRIC WAS. (REMEMBER THE ORANGE KITCHEN IN THE BRADY BUNCHES' HOUSE?) I FINISHED, AND WITH GREAT ANTICIPATION, BEGAN TO DECORATE. I HAD TO HANG THE CURTAINS WITH COAT HANGERS THAT I TOOK APART AND STRAIGHTENED, AND HAD ONLY ENOUGH FABRIC LEFT TO MAKE A DUST RUFFLE ON THE FRONT OF THE BED. NO PROBLEM HERE, YOU COULDN'T SEE THE SIDES ANYWAY. THE QUILT WAS REALLY FLUFFY AND WARM, AND THE PILLOW COVERS ADDED SUCH A NICE TOUCH. FINALLY I WAS READY TO SHOW OFF THE NEW ROOM TO MARTIN. I TOLD HIM TO CLOSE HIS EYES, AND THEN, SURPRISE! LOOK WHAT I DID! HIS JAW DROPPED WHEN HE SAW IT, AND HE LOOKED, WELL, I CANNOT REALLY DESCRIBE HIS LOOK, BUT HE RECOVERED QUICKLY AND GAVE ME A KISS AND A HUG. "YOU REALLY WORKED HARD ON THIS FOR ME, DIDN'T YOU?" HE SAID. I WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH MYSELF, THAT I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW UGLY THE FABRIC WAS. HE WAS SO SWEET TO HIDE HIS REAL FEELINGS, AND I DIDN'T REALIZE UNTIL MANY YEARS LATER WHEN LOOKING AT A PICTURE OF THAT ROOM THAT THE PATTERN OF THE FABRIC COULD HAVE MADE A PERSON NAUSEOUS IF THEY LOOKED AT IT FOR TOO LONG! IT WAS NOT UNTIL THEN THAT MARTIN TOLD ME HOW SHOCKED HE WAS AT THE COLOR AND PATTERN OF THE FABRIC, BUT HE WOULD NEVER HAVE HURT MY FEELINGS BECAUSE HE UNDERSTOOD HOW MUCH I WAS TRYING TO SAVE MONEY WHILE STILL MAKING A NICE HOME FOR HIM. (WHAT A GUY)! SUMMER GAVE WAY TO FALL, AND JESSICA HAD HER FIRST REAL HALLOWEEN. SHE COULD SAY TRICK OR TREAT, AND COULD WALK DOOR TO DOOR. THEN, IT WAS THANKSGIVING, AND SEVERAL OF THE FAMILIES GOT TOGETHER FOR THE MEAL. FINALLY, IT WAS CHRISTMAS. WE GOT A SURPRISE LETTER THAT MARTIN'S DAD AND LOLA WERE COMING TO SPEND CHRISTMAS WITH US. I WAS A WRECK KNOWING THAT WE HAD SO LITTLE AND COULD NOT REALLY HAVE A BLOW-OUT CELEBRATION. NOT TO MENTION, I WAS ALMOST 8 MONTHS PREGNANT AND GETTING TIRED MORE EASILY. I TOLD MARTIN ABOUT MY CONCERNS, AND HE SAID THAT WE WOULD HAVE A NICE CHRISTMAS THE BEST THAT WE COULD. AND WE DID. IT WAS NICE TO HAVE FAMILY AROUND US AT LAST, AND I TRIED TO BE A GOOD HOSTESS, BUT WE HAD TO STUFF THEM IN JESSICA'S ROOM AND WERE VERY CROWDED. THE CLOSE QUARTERS MADE FOR A DIFFICULT VISIT, BUT THE GIFTS WERE NICE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE HAD THE CHURCH, AND THAT GAVE US SUCH MEANING TO THE SEASON. EVEN THOUGH IT HAD BEGUN TO BE VERY COLD AND EVEN SNOWED, THE TOMATO VINES WERE STILL PRODUCING. WE DID HAVE FRESH TOMATOES FOR CHRISTMAS DINNER-AND A VERY SMALL TURKEY. I REMEMBER THAT CHRISTMAS SO CLEARLY- OTHER CHRISTMAS SEASONS HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN, BUT THAT ONE WAS REALLY SPECIAL FOR SOME REASON. THE BABY WAS DUE ON FEBRUARY 7TH. I FINALLY GOT A SMALL TUMMY, AND SOMEONE AT CHURCH ASKED ME WHEN THE BABY WAS DUE, BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO GIVE ME A SHOWER. THIS WAS AT THE END OF JANUARY, AND I SAID, "WELL, IT COULD BE ANYDAY!" (YES, I HAD FORGOTTEN THAT JESSICA WAS A MONTH LATE!) THE LADIES WERE SO SURPRISED THAT I WAS THAT FAR ALONG, SO, WE AGREED TO WAIT UNTIL THE BABY WAS BORN TO HAVE A SHOWER SO THAT WE COULD GET THE RIGHT THINGS FOR THE BABY. FINALLY, FEBRUARY 7TH ARRIVED. NO BABY. A FEW MORE DAYS, NO BABY. VALENTINES DAY ARRIVED, AND OF COURSE, NO BABY. BY NOW, I WAS A CRYBABY OVER THE WHOLE THING, AND COULD NOT WAIT TO GET MY BABY. I WAS A REAL JIMENY CRICKET FOR MOST OF THE TIME, BUT MARTIN PATIENTLY PUT UP WITH ME. THE NEXT FRIDAY, WAS FEBRUARY 20TH, AND THERE WAS OF COURSE, NO BABY. MARTIN DECIDED TO TAKE ME OUT TO DINNER. WE WENT TO A PIZZA AND CHICKEN BUFFET. I ATE LIKE A PIG, (A WHOLE PIZZA AND PROBABLY A WHOLE CHICKEN TOO) AND WAS MISERABLY STUFFED. WE WENT HOME, AND SUDDENLY, THERE IT WAS. A CONTRACTION. ANOTHER, AND ANOTHER, LIKE CLOCK WORK. COULD IT BE? I DECIDED TO WAIT, AND THEN RIGHT AROUND MIDNIGHT, IT WAS CLEAR THAT I WAS REALLY IN LABOR. WE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL, AND TO MY SURPRISE, IT WAS IN LABOR! WHAT, NO SENDING ME HOME TIME AFTER TIME? NOT THIS TIME, IT WAS THE REAL MC COY. THEN, THINGS SPEEDED UP QUICKLY. PROBLEM THOUGH, I GOT SICK TO MY STOMACH. ALL I COULD THINK WAS THAT IF I PUKED UP A WHOLE PIZZA AND PROBABLY A WHOLE FRIED CHICKEN, THAT THEY WOULD CALL THE PAPERS AND THE GUINESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS AND REPORT IT. I SWALLOWED AND SWALLOWED. PLEASE, PLEASE, I PRAYED, DON'T LET ME DISGRACE MYSELF. I PROMISED NEVER TO STUFF MYSELF AGAIN, JUST PLEASE DON'T LET ME THROW UP THAT DISGRACEFULL GLUTTONY. THE LABOR RUSHED ALONG, AND THEN ONLY 2 1/2 HOURS AFTER I ARRIVED, I BEGAN TO HAVE AN UNCONTROLLABLE URGE TO PUSH. I COULN'T STOP IT, AND CALLED FOR HELP. SURE ENOUGH, THERE WAS THE BABY TRYING TO GET OUT. I HAD NOTHING FOR THE PAIN, BUT WAS ABLE TO CONTROL MYSELF WITHOUT GETTING HYSTERICAL. THE DOCTOR CAME IN, TOOK ONE LOOK AND BEGAN TO GRAB HIS GLOVES. "GET HER DOWN THE HALL!" HE YELLED, AND AS THEY RAN DOWN THE HALL WITH ME, I THOUGHT, "PLEASE, PLEASE DON'T LET ME THROW UP!" FINALLY, THE BABY WAS BORN. JUST ONE, NOT TWINS. BUT, A BEAUTIFUL BABY GIRL. WE NAMED HER BOBBIE JO. I WAS JUST ECSTATIC. SHE WAS PERFECT. I DIDN'T THROW UP EITHER! LIFE WAS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT! THEN, SIX HOURS LATER, I WENT BACK INTO LABOR. I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS LABOR, I JUST THOUGHT I WAS HAVING SEVER AFTER BIRTH PAINS. I JUST LAY THERE AND HAD THEM, AND SUDDENLY, SOMETHING WAS BEING PUSHED OUT FROM ME. I PANICKED AND CALLED THE NURSE, WHO LOOKED AND CALLED THE DOCTOR. BEFORE LONG, I PASSED ANOTHER PLACENTA. AMAZINGLY, I STARTED OUT THE PREGNANCY WITH TWINS, BUT ONE DID NOT MATURE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS VERY RARE, BUT SOMETIMES THIS HAPPENED, AND THE PLACENTA FOR THAT BABY CONTINUED TO GROW AFTER THE BABY HAD DIED EARLY ON. I FELT SAD FOR AWHILE, I REALLY WANTED TO HAVE TWINS, BUT LOOKING BACK, I AM GRATEFUL BECAUSE I COULD NOT HAVE BEEN A GOOD MAMA TO 3 CHILDREN AT THE AGE OF 21. SO, OUR BOBBIE JO WAS BORN. THE MIRACLE BEGAN. HOW COULD I HAVE KNOWN THAT I WOULD ONLY HAVE 33 YEARS WITH HER? I WOULD HAVE PERHAPS DONE THINGS DIFFERENTLY, BUT HEAVENLY FATHER IS WISE TO KEEP THE FUTURE FROM US. AS IT WAS, I HAD SUCH JOY IN HER, AND AM GLAD THAT I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE DIFFICULT FUTURE AWAITING US. MORE TOMORROW, LOVE, NANASEE

BUSINESS GAL!

AFTER WE WERE BAPTIZED A WHOLE NEW COMMUNITY WAS OPENED TO US. WE STILL LOVED OUR OKINAWAN FRIENDS, THEY WERE VERY SPECIAL, BUT NOW, WE HAD MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH AS WELL. WHILE LEARNING ABOUT OUR NEW FRIENDS AND MEMBERS, I FOUND THAT THERE WERE MANY SINGLE ARMY MEMBERS. THEY WERE HOMESICK FOR THINGS AMERICAN, AND I CAME UP WITH AN IDEA. I ASKED THEM WHAT THEY MISSED MOST AS FAR AS AMERICAN FOOD, AND BOY, DID THE SUGGESTIONS COME IN! PINEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE, CHOCOLATE CAKE, PEACH PIE, PUMPKIN PIE, HOMEMADE BREAD, BISCUITS, CHOCOLAT CHIP COOKIES, CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS, AND ON AND ON. I TOLD THEM THAT I WOULD GLADLY COOK WHATEVER THEY WANTED AND BRING IT TO THEM FOR A FEE. NOW, YOU MAY THINK THAT THESE THINGS COULD BE EASILY OBTAINED, BUT NOT IN OKINAWA. THEY DON'T EAT SWEET THINGS. EVERYTHING WAS SAVORY, MEANING SALTY OR SEASONED, BUT NOTHING WAS SWEET. YOU COULD BARELY GET A CAKE ANYWHERE, AND THEN IT WAS AWFUL. THEY HAD SOME "COOKIES" THAT WERE ACTUALLY RITZ CRACKERS WITH VANILLA FROSTING IN THE MIDDLE. NOW THESE WERE SUPRISINGLY GOOD! THEY DID HAVE GOOD WHITE BREAD, I THINK THEY USED RICE FLOUR, AND IT WAS LIGHT AND DELICIOUS. SO, I STARTED A LITTLE BUSINESS. THE SINGLE MEN WERE SO EXCITED, AND THE ORDERS CAME IN AT AN ASTONISHING RATE. THE GUYS WERE SO HAPPY, THEY EVEN GAVE ME LARGE TIPS. WE HAD A SECOND INCOME! WITH OUR NEWFOUND FINANCIAL GIFT, WE WERE ABLE TO SAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY A LITTLE CAR. WE PAID TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR IT AND IT WAS A RUSTY LITTLE MESS. IT RAN THOUGH AND MARTIN TOOK SPRAY PAINT AND PAINTED IT BLUE. WE NOW HAD TRANSPORTATION. DRIVING ON THE ISLAND WAS NOT AS EASY AS YOU MIGHT THINK. THERE WAS ONE MAJOR HIGHWAY, AND AFTER THAT, YOU JUST TOOK YOUR CHANCES ON THE MOUNTAIN TRAILS. OH, AND IF SOMEONE WERE LEARNING TO DRIVE, (AN OKINAWAN, NOT AN AMERICAN) THEY HAD A HUGE SIGN ON THE CAR TELLING EVERYONE THEY WERE LEARNING. IF THEY HIT YOU, IT WAS YOUR FAULT, BECAUSE YOU SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF THE WAY! THE CAB DRIVERS WERE MANIACS, AND THEY WOULD SPEED EVERYWHERE- THE ONLY WAY YOU KNEW THEY WERE EVEN COMING ON THE MOUNTAIN ROADS WAS BECAUSE THERE WAS A HUGE CLOUD OF DUST COMING AROUND THE CURVE, AND SURE ENOUGH THE NEXT THING YOU KNEW, A RED CAB SPED BY! NOT SURPRISINGLY, I LET MARTIN DO ALL THE DRIVING! SO, AT NIGHT AFTER HE GOT OFF WORK, WE LOADED UP THE LITTLE CAR AND DELIVERED OUR GOODIES. SOON AFTER WE GOT THE CAR, A TYPHOON WAS BEARING DOWN ON THE ISLAND. THIS IS A SUPER-HURRICANE, AND VERY DANGEROUS. WE WERE TRAPPED IN THE APARTMENT FOR THREE DAYS BECAUSE WE COULD NOT GET THE DOOR OPEN. I GRATEFULLY LEARNED WHY THE BUILDINGS WERE MADE OF CEMENT BLOCKS- THE STORM DID NOT EVEN BOTHER THEM. ABOUT THE SECOND DAY INTO THE STORM, MARTIN THOUGHT TO ASK ME IF I HAD PUT THE PARKING BRAKE ON THE CAR. "JIMINY CRICKET!"I SAID. I KNEW I HAD NOT PUT THE BRAKE ON. AND THE LITTLE CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE ON A DIRT DRIVEWAY. WE COULD NOT CHECK BUT WE WERE SURE IT HAD BEEN BLOWN AWAY. BUT, WHEN THE STORM DIED DOWN AND WE COULD OPEN THE DOOR, THERE SAT OUR LITTLE BLUE CAR RIGHT WHERE WE PARKED IT. I COULD JUST IMAGINE THE GUARDIAN ANGELS HOLDING ON TO IT DURING THE STORM! THE MOST AMAZING SIGHT GREETED US AFTER THE STORM, WE WENT ON AN ISLAND TOUR TO CHECK OUT THE DAMAGE AND FOUND THAT THE LITTLE HUTS WITH GRASS ROOFS HAD SURVIVED JUST AS WELL AS THE CEMENT HOUSES! PAPASAN TOLD US THAT THEY HAD KNOWN FOR MANY CENTURIES HOW TO PUT THE PALM LEAVES ON THE LITTLE HUTS TO MAKE THEM STORM SAFE. NEVER THE LESS, IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE THEM STILL STANDING. WHILE WE LIVED THERE, WE GOT A LITTLE MONKEY. HE WAS A SMALL SPIDER MONKEY AND HE HAD THE RUN OF THE HOUSE. HE WAS A GOOD LITTLE MONKEY, DOING HIS BUSINESS OUTSIDE, AND JESSICA LOVED HIM. SADLY, ONE DAY WE CAME HOME TO FIND HIM GONE. WE NEVER DID FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM. OUR LIFE IN OKINAWA PASSED MUCH TOO QUICKLY, AND SOON IT WAS TIME TO GO HOME. WE HAD BEEN THERE FOR 18 MONTHS, AND JESSICA WAS GETTING TO BE A BIG GIRL. WE DECIDED THAT IT WAS TIME TO GIVE HER A BROTHER OR SISTER. IT WAS NOT TO BE EASY FOR US, AND WE FOUND THAT AFTER A MISCARRIAGE, WE COULD NOT GET PREGNANT. IT WAS SO EASY TO GET JESSICA, THAT I DID NOT THINK THIS WOULD BE DIFFICULT. BUT IT WAS. EACH MONTH PASSED WITH DISSAPOINTMENT. IN FEBRUARY, 1975 WE CAME BACK TO THE STATES, SADLY LEAVING OUR LOVING FRIENDS BEHIND. WE WERE READY TO START A NEW LIFE IN THE STATES. TO OUR JOY, WE WERE STATIONED IN EL PASO TEXAS! HOW WONDERFUL TO BE IN TEXAS AGAIN. THEN, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE PAYROLL DEPARTMENT HAD MESSED UP MARTIN'S RECORDS AND HIS PAY WOULD BE DELAYED. UH-OH! WELL, WE HAD ENOUGH MONEY TO GET A SMALL APARTMENT AND SETTLE IN, BUT VERY LITTLE ELSE. I TOLD MARTIN NOT TO WORRY, I WOULD THINK OF SOMETHING. THEN, I GOT A GREAT IDEA! BACK THEN, YOU COULD PICK UP SODA BOTTLES AND TURN THEM IN FOR MONEY. I BORROWED A LITTLE WAGON FROM A NEIGHBOR, AND PUT JESSICA IN IT: AND OFF WE WENT. I WALKED BLOCK AFTER BLOCK, AND IT SEEMED THAT PEOPLE HAD THROWN EXTRA BOTTLES DOWN, BECAUSE I JUST LOADED UP THAT LITTLE WAGON. I WENT HOME, UNLOADED THE BOTTLES AND WENT OUT AGAIN. MORE AND MORE BOTTLES WERE FOUND, AND I TOOK THEM HOME TOO. THE NEXT DAY, JESSICA AND I DID THE SAME THING. IN A FEW DAYS, WE HAD COLLECTED QUITE A BIT IN BOTTLE REFUNDS, AND WERE ABLE TO BUY GROCERIES AND OTHER THINGS WITH OUR MONEY. I DON'T REMEMBER MINDING THE WORK, I WAS HAPPY TO FIND THE BOTTLES AND FELT PRODUCTIVE. SOON, OUR PAY SITUATION WAS CLEARED UP, AND I COULD LEAVE MY BOTTLE BUSINESS BEHIND! JESSICA LOVED HAVING DADDY COME HOME FROM WORK, AND WE LOOKED FORWARD EACH DAY TO SEEING HIM COME HOME. AS USUAL, THERE WAS NO MONEY FOR EXTRAS, BUT WE WERE SO HAPPY THAT WE DID NOT SEEM TO MIND. MARTIN WORKED IN THE MAIL ROOM AND SOMETIMES TOOK JESSICA TO WORK WITH HIM. HE HAD A NIGHT SHIFT, AND SO SHE COULD GO AS HE WAS THE ONLY ONE THERE. THE ONLY BUMP IN THE ROAD FOR US WAS THAT WE COULD NOT GET PREGNANT. FINALLY, I THOUGHT I WAS PREGNANT, BUT ONLY A FEW DAYS LATER I HAD ANOTHER MISCARRIAGE. I WAS HEARTBROKEN. I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY HEAVENLY FATHER WOULD NOT LET ME HAVE ANOTHER BABY. MAYBE I WAS NOT WORTHY TO BE A MAMA AGAIN. MARTIN TRIED TO COMFORT ME, BUT I WANTED ANOTHER BABY, AND HAD A HARD TIME BEING CHEERFUL. BY NOW, IT WAS MAY, AND 2 MONTHS HAD PASSED SINCE THE MISCARRIAGE. THE DOCTOR SAID THAT WE COULD TRY FERTILITY DRUGS IF WE WANTED, BUT WHEN HE TESTED ME, TO MY AMAZEMENT AND JOY, WE WERE PREGNANT! OH, HOW HAPPY I WAS. I COULD NOT STOP THANKING HEAVENLY FATHER AND I PRAYED EVERY DAY THAT I WOULD KEEP MY BABY. FINALLY, ON MY 21ST BIRTHDAY IN JULY, MARTIN BOUGHT ME A MATERNITY BLOUSE AND TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD ALL BE OKAY. TOMORROW, I WILL TELL YOU WHO WAS ON THE WAY! LOVE, NANASEE

THE GIFT OF LIFE

WE HAVE SO MANY MEMORIES OF OKINAWA, IT WAS SUCH A PRECIOUS TIME FOR US. IT WAS SO WONDERFUL, EACH DAY, PASSING INTO EACH WEEK, GOING INTO EACH MONTH. THE CUSTOMS AND HOLIDAYS. ONE PARTICULAR HOLIDAY TAKES PLACE IN SEPTEMBER, CALLED, (WELL, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THE NAME IS) BUT IT IS THE HOLIDAY TO HONOR THEIR ANCESTORS. IT WAS SO EXCITING, ALL THE DANCING, MUSIC, FOOD AND COMPANIONSHIP. FOR THREE DAYS, ALL THE PEOPLE WOULD OPEN THEIR HOMES TO EVERYONE. I MEAN, THE DOORS WOULD LITERALLY STAY OPEN! THE PAPASANS OF THE HOMES WOULD HAVE FOOD AND DRINKS AVAILABLE TO EACH PERSON WHO PASSED BY. IT WAS A SIGN OF AFFLUENCE TO OFFER THE VERY BEST OF EVERYTHING. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAD EVER HAD PRAWNS, WHICH ARE GIANT SHRIMP, AND I MEAN GIANT, (AT LEAST 4 INCHES LONG) COOKED TEMPURA STYLE. THEY TAKE THE SHRIMP, AND COAT IT WITH A BATTER, AND FRY IT. IT WAS SO GOOD, IF THEY HADN'T BEEN SO ANXIOUS TO SHARE WITH ME I WOULD HAVE DISGRACED MYSELF BY BEING A PIG! THEY OFFERED WINE, RICE, VEGETABLES AND SEAFOOD. THERE WAS LIQUOR TO THOSE WHO WISHED IT, AND IT WAS THE CUSTOM TO LEAVE AN OFFERING FOR THEIR ANCESTORS IN THE FORM OF MONEY WHEN YOU LEFT. (GOOD THING I FIGURED THAT OUT BEFOREHAND, OR I WOULD REALLY HAVE MADE A BOOB OUT OF MYSELF!) DURING THIS FESTIVAL, THE FAMILY WOULD GO INTO THE FAMILY MAUSOLEUM TO WASH THE BONES OF THEIR ANCESTORS. THESE MAUSOLEUMS WERE FANTASTIC, THEY WERE BUILT INTO THE SIDES OF THE HILLS, AND WERE ROUNDED ON TOP. THEY LOOKED LIKE THE BACK OF A TURTLE, AND THIS WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT THE BIRTH OF THE DEAD INTO THE NEXT WORLD. I JUST REMEMBERED THE NAME OF THE FESTIVAL- IT IS THE OBAN FESTIVAL! ANYWAY, IT WAS GREAT, AND I LOVED IT.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT HAPPENED TO US THE ENTIRE TIME WE LIVED IN OKINAWA, INDEED THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO US AT ALL, WAS FINDING AND LEARNING ABOUT THE GOSPEL. BY CHANCE, A FEW MORMON CHURCH MEMBERS LIVED ON OUR LITTLE STREET, AND SOON, WE MET THEM AND THEY BEFRIENDED US. ALL OF US WERE ARMY FAMILIES, AND WE HAD MUCH IN COMMON. WE EACH HAD OUR CHILDREN, OUR HOMES, AND ARMY CAREERS. THERE WAS SOMETHING THOUGH, ABOUT THE MORMON FAMILIES THAT I ENVIED. IT WAS JUST AN INHERENT JOY THAT CAME NATURALLY TO THEM. IN MY CHILDHOOD, I HAD HAD SOME UNHAPPY EXPERIENCES AND I FOUND IT HARD TO TRUST IN LIFE. THESE FAMILIES WERE SO CONTENT, EVEN THOUGH THEY FACED THE SAME FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES THAT WE HAD- AND THEY HAD TREMDOUS RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER AS HUBANDS AND WIVES. I LOVED AND RESPECTED MARTIN TOO, BUT IT WAS DIFFERENT. BEFORE LONG, AFTER I HAD ESTABLISHED FRIENDSHIPS WITH THE MORMON LADIES, I BEGAN TO WONDER HOW THEY COULD HAVE SUCH AN EASY JOY IN THEIR LIVES. THEY DID NOT FORCE THEIR RELIGION ON ME, JUST BEFRIENDED ME FOR WHAT I WAS. I FINALLY ASKED THE BURNING QUESTION, "WHAT IS SO DIFFERENT IN YOUR LIVES THAT MAKES YOU CONTENT?" WELL, THAT WAS LIKE HANGING A STEAK IN FRONT OF A STARVING WOLF! (JUST KIDDING). WHAT I MEAN IS, THEY WERE SO EAGER TO TELL ME ABOUT THE GOSPEL, BUT I HAD INTIMIDATED THEM WITH MY STRONG PERSONALITY, AND THEY DID NOT WANT TO OFFEND ME BY TAKING THE FIRST STEP. IT WAS NOT LONG, THAT I FOUND SO MANY ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS THAT HAD TROUBLED ME FOR MY WHOLE LIFE. I FELT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WAS TO HAVE YOUR FAMILY EVEN IN THE AFTERLIFE, BUT I COULDN'T FIND A CHURCH THAT BELIEVED THAT WAY. I THOUGHT THAT MEMBERS OF A CHURCH SHOULD TAKE EVERY EFFORT TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER, AND THAT CLERGY SHOULD SERVE WITHOUT MONETARY COMPENSATION. I DIDN'T THINK A PERSON SHOULD HAVE TO GO TO COLLEGE FOR YEARS TO READ AND TEACH THE GOSPEL, AND I ALWAYS THOUGHT THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS WITH OTHER MEMBERS DURING CHURCH SERVICES. THERE SHOULD BE NO JUDGEMENT AS TO WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE PAID ENOUGH OF AN OFFERING. I FELT THAT GIVING AN OFFERING SHOULD BE VOLUNTARY, AND THE AMOUNT SHOULD NOT BE KNOWN TO EVERYONE. I ESPECIALLY HAD DIFFICULTY WITH THE CONCEPT OF HELL, I DIDN'T THINK A LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER WOULD THROW HIS CHILDREN INTO A BURNING ETERNITY. SUDDENLY, ALL MY QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED. THERE WERE EXPLANATIONS FOR ALL MY CONCERNS, AND THEY MADE SO MUCH SENSE TO ME. MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WOULD LEARN TO BE A GOOD MAMA TO MY BABY, THE WOMEN WOULD SHOW ME BY EXAMPLE AND OTHER HELP IF I NEEDED IT. I FELT IT WAS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, TO HAVE FINALLY FOUND A RELIGION THAT TAUGHT ALL THE THINGS I HAD ALWAYS BELIEVED. BUT, THERE WAS ONE MORE TEST. I WANTED TO SEE IF THE MEMBERS WOULD JUDGE ME IF I APPEARED DIFFERENT FROM THEM. SO, ON MY FIRST SUNDAY TO THE CHURCH, I DRESSED IN A MINI SKIRT, A LOW CUT BLOUSE, 4 INCH HEELS AND LOTS OF MAKEUP. MARTIN SAID HE THOUGHT I LOOKED MORE LIKE I WAS GOING HONKY-TONKING INSTEAD OF TO CHURCH, AND I TOLD HIM THAT I KNEW WHAT I WAS DOING. SO, IN I WALKED, HAVING WAITED UNTIL THE SERVICE STARTED AND MAKING SURE I MADE MY WAY TO THE FRONT OF THE CHAPLE TO SIT IN THE FRONT ROW. I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THAT THREE OF THE MEMBERS HAD BEEN ASSIGNED TO TALK THAT DAY. WHERE WAS THE PREACHER? (I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT IT WAS WRONG TO HAVE ONE MAN DO ALL THE TALKING, AFTER ALL IT WAS JUST HIS OPINION ANYWAY.) I WAS IMPRESSED THAT THE MEMBERS PRESENTED THE MESSAGE THAT DAY. NO OFFERING PLATE WAS PASSED. I WONDERED WHY, BUT WOULD ASK LATER. (TURNS OUT THAT THE MEMBERS PUT THEIR OFFERINGS IN A SEALED ENVELOPE AND GIVEN PRIVATELY TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BISHOPRIC). AFTER THE SERVICE I WAS MOST SURPRISED TO FIND THAT THE MEMBERS WERE ANXIOUS TO MEET ME AND SEEMED GENUINLY GLAD THAT I WAS THERE. NONE OF THE MEN GAPED AT MY EXPOSED CLEAVAGE, OR MY TINY SKIRT. INDEED, THE MEMBERS WERE SO FRIENDLY AND WELCOMING. I ASKED ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS THAT WAS A MEMBER OF THE CONGREGATION WHY SHE HAD NOT TOLD ME OF THE WONDERFUL WELCOME I WOULD RECEIVE. SHE SAID SHE WANTED ME TO EXPERIENCE IT FIRST HAND FOR MYSELF. MOST OF ALL, AS I STOOD THERE IN THE HALL, I FELT THAT I WAS ALMOST NAKED NEXT TO THE OTHER LADIES. THEY HAD LOVELY DRESSES ON, THAT WERE A MODEST LENGTH, AND THEY WERE SO PRETTY, SO LOVELY, SO, SO, WELL, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPRESS IT, BUT I REALIZED THAT I WANTED TO BE LIKE THEM. I WANTED TO GO HOME AND CHANGE MY CLOTHES. BUT, SINCE NO SEEMED TO MIND MY APPEARANCE I DECIDED TO STAY AND FIND OUT MORE. I LOVED BEING THERE, AND WANTED TO BE A PART OF THE CHURCH. THE MISSIONARIES CAME TO SEE ME, AND THE POOR THINGS PROBABLY THOUGHT THEY HAD MADE A MISTAKE. I KEPT THEM TILL MIDNIGHT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BECAUSE I HAD SO MANY QUESTIONS. THEY STAYED CHEERFULLY, AND PATIENTLY ANSWERED ALL MY INQUIRIES. AFTER EACH SESSION WITH THE MISSIONARIES, I BECAME MORE AND MORE EXCITED THAT PERHAPS I HAD FOUND THE END OF MY SEARCH FOR SPIRTUAL ANSWERS. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, MARTIN AND I WERE BAPTIZED ONLY A MONTH AFTER WE FIRST WENT TO CHURCH, AND HAVE FOUND GREAT JOY IN KNOWING THE TRUTH TO THE QUESTIONS OF LIFE. IT IS BECAUSE OF MY RELATIONSHIP WITH HEAVENLY FATHER AND MY SURE KNOWLEGE OF THE ATONEMENT OF JESUS CHRIST WHICH HAD GIVEN US THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE THAT I AM ABLE TO BEAR THE CRUSHING GRIEF OF THE DEATHS OF TWO OF MY CHILDREN AND ONE OF MY GRANDCHILDREN. THEIR BODIES ARE DEAD, BUT THEY ARE NOT. IF I DID NOT BELIEVE THIS WITH ALL MY HEART AND SOUL, I WOULD HAVE FOLLOWED MY SON OTTO TO HIS GRAVE BECAUSE I COULD NOT HAVE BORN THE LOSS OF MY SON. SO MANY MIRACLES HAVE HAPPENED TO ME IN MY LIFETIME, SO MANY, BUT THE GREATEST OF ALL IS FINDING THE GOSPEL AND THE KNOWLEGE OF THE PLAN OF HAPPINESS. I KNOW NOW THAT MARTIN WAS ALWAYS SUPPOSED TO GO TO OKINAWA, IT WAS NO MISTAKE, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A MIRACLE AT THE TIME BECAUSE HE WAS SPARED THE HORROR OF WAR IN VIETNAM. I THOUGHT IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT WE DID NOT HAVE TO BE SEPARATED FOR 18 MONTHS, AND THAT IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT THE ARMY ALLOWED HIS DEFERRMENT WHEN HE SHOULD HAVE GONE TO KOREA. OF COURSE THESE WERE MIRACLES, BUT THESE MIRACLES WERE THE STEPPING STONES TO THE GREATEST MIRACLE OF ALL- FINDING THE CHURCH. BECAUSE OF THE GIFTS OF THE SAVIOR, I CAN BEAR ANY LOSS, KNOWING THAT IT IS NOT THE END, INDEED, ONLY A PASSING TO ANOTHER PART OF LIFE, AND THAT THEY ARE WAITING FOR ME TO JOIN THEM. WHAT A WONDERFUL REUNION THAT WILL BE. LOVE, NANASEE

TERROR IN PARADISE

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK THOSE WHO LEFT SUCH WONDERFUL COMMENTS FOR ME. IT HELPS ME TO CONTINUE WRITING, KNOWING THAT I AM BRINGING SOME HUMOR TO YOU. NOW, THE TITLE DOES NOT SHOW MUCH HUMOR, AND THERE IS A REASON FOR THAT. THERE IS ONE REALLY AWFUL INCIDENT THAT COULD HAVE RUINED MY LIFE FOREVER, AND I WANT TO SHARE IT WITH YOU. WHEN JESSICA WAS ABOUT 9 MONTHS OLD, SHE, DADDY AND I WENT TO DINNER AT THE NCO CLUB. (NCO STANDS FOR NON-COMMISIONED OFFICER). WE WERE HAVING A GREAT TIME, REALLY ENJOYING OURSELVES AS THERE WAS LIVE COUNTRY MUSIC AND MARTIN AND I WERE TRADING OUR FOOD ON CHOP STICKS-(LEAVING MOST OF IT ON THE TABLE). JESSICA WAS FUSSING ABOUT BEING IN A HIGH CHAIR, AND MARTIN TOLD ME TO LET HER DOWN, AND HE WOULD KEEP TRACK OF HER. IT WAS ABOUT 7 PM, AND ALL WAS GOING WELL. THEN, A YOUNG ORIENTAL MAN CAME TO THE TABLE. HE SMILED AND IN VERY GOOD ENGLISH, ASKED IF HE COULD HOLD JESSICA. BEFORE I CONTINUE, LET ME TELL YOU THAT THE FIRST THING WE DID UPON ARRIVING ON THE ISLAND WAS TO ATTEND A CLASS ABOUT IMPORTANT DO'S AND DON'T'S WHILE OUT IN PUBLIC. THERE WERE SEVERAL, AND ALL OF THEM WERE NON-COMPROMISING AS FAR AS BREAKING THE RULES. THE ONE THAT FRIGHTENED ME MOST OF ALL WAS: NEVER EVER LET ANYONE THAT YOU DON'T KNOW VERY WELL TOUCH OR HOLD YOUR CHILDREN! THERE HAD BEEN SEVERAL INCIDENTS OF CHILDREN TAKEN AND NEVER SEEN AGAIN, AND THE ASSUMPTION WAS THAT THEY WERE BEING SOLD TO PEOPLE FOR ANY NUMBER OF REASONS. THE REASONS WERE NOT IMPORTANT, BUT THE FACT WAS THAT BLONDE, BLUE EYED CHILDREN, IN PARTICULAR GIRLS, WERE THE MOST DESIRABLE FOR ABDUCTION. SO, YOU CAN IMAGINE, WHEN THIS YOUNG MAN ASKED TO HOLD JESSICA, I VEHEMIENTLY DECLINED. MARTIN THOUGHT I WAS BEING RUDE, BUT I STOOD MY GROUND, TELLING THAT MAN, ABSOLUTELY NOT! THE YOUNG MAN TOLD US THAT HIS MOTHER WANTED TO SEE JESSICA AND SHE WAS JUST AT A NEAR BY TABLE. "SORRY". I SAID, "NO WAY". MARTIN COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY I WAS BEING SO FORCEFUL IN MY DENIAL TO THE YOUNG MAN, AND I REMINDED HIM OF WHAT WE HAD BEEN TAUGHT. HE TOLD ME THAT NOTHING COULD HAPPEN, AS WE WERE RIGHT THERE, AND HE WOULD KEEP AN EYE ON JESSICA. I WAS SO NERVOUS, BUT MARTIN DIDN'T SEEM TO MIND, SO I SAID OKAY, BUT JUST FOR A MOMENT. THE YOUNG MAN PICKED HER UP, AND WAS TALKING BABY TALK TO HER- AND WALKED OVER TO THE TABLE NEXT TO US TO SHOW "HIS MOTHER" THE BABY. I WAS WATCHING HIM LIKE A HAWK, AND HE LOOKED AT ME AS IF TO SAY, "SEE, IT'S OKAY". THEN, HE WALKED TO THE NEXT TABLE, SHOWING HER OFF, AND BEFORE I COULD BLINK, HE TURNED AND DASHED FOR THE FRONT OF THE RESTAURANT AND THE DOOR. TIME SLOWED TO A HALT FOR ME, (IT SEEMED LIKE IT TOOK FOREVER FOR ME TO GET UP AND GO AFTER HIM) BUT REALLY, IT WAS INSTANTANIOUS. I SCREAMED, GRABBED A KNIFE, OVERTURNED OUR TABLE, AND CHARGED AFTER HIM. SOMEHOW, MARTIN BEAT HIM TO THE DOOR, AND CALMLY SAID, "GIVE MY ME BABY". THE MAN LOOKED OUT THE DOOR, WHERE BY THE WAY, A CAR WITH A RUNNING MOTOR WAS WAITING, AND THEN AT MARTIN. HE JUST SHRUGGED HIS SHOULDERS AND HANDED HER OVER TO MARTIN. I, OF COURSE, WAS READY TO CUT HIS GIZZARD OUT, BUT HELD MYSELF WHEN I SAW THAT MARTIN HAD HER. I DID, HOWEVER, SCREAM AT HIM, "WHERE WERE YOU GOING WITH MY BABY?!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!!! HE JUST SMILED AT ME AND SAID, "I WAS GOING TO GET SOME FRESH AIR WITH HER, THAT'S ALL, NO BIG DEAL". AND BEFORE I COULD GET MY HANDS ON HIM, HE TURNED, WALKED OUT THE DOOR AND GOT INTO THE WAITING CAR. WELL, I AM JUST SOBBING IN TERROR, AND MARTIN WAS TRYING TO CALM ME. JESSICA IS SCREAMING AT THE ROUGH TREATMENT SHE HAD RECEIVED, AND THE WAITERS WERE TRYING TO RIGHT THE TABLE AND CLEAN UP THE MESS. I LOOKED DOWN TO SEE MY HAND CLUTCHED AROUND A STEAK KNIFE, AND I DROPPED IT ON THE FLOOR. I LOOKED AT MARTIN AND I WHISPERED, "I TOLD YOU. I TOLD YOU NOT TO LET HIM HAVE HER. I TOLD YOU". WE MADE A POLICE REPORT, AND WERE TOLD THAT ATTEMPTS LIKE THIS HAPPENED ALL THE TIME AND WE WERE VERY LUCKY. TO THIS VERY DAY, WHEN I THINK ABOUT HOW CLOSE WE WERE TO LOSING OUR PRECIOUS BABY, AND NEVER WOULD HAVE KNOWN WHAT HAPPENED TO HER, IT MAKES ME SHIVER. I WAS SICK FOR SOME TIME AFTER THAT, AND IT REALLY AFFECTED ME. FUMIKO AND HER FRIENDS WANTED TO TAKE CARE OF JESSICA, BUT I TOLD THEM WHAT HAD HAPPENED, AND THEY WERE VERY SYMPATHETIC. I KNEW THAT NOTHING WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THEY DID TAKE CARE OF HER, BUT IT TOOK ME SOME TIME TO TRUST ANYONE. FINALLY, I DID BEGIN TO LET GO OF MY ANXIETY, AND MARTIN AND I HAD BUILT IN CHILD CARE ANY TIME WE WANTED IT. THOSE WONDERFUL PEOPLE WOULD HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES IN DEFENSE OF MY CHILD, I KNEW THAT. AND SHE HAD SO MUCH FUN WITH THEM TOO. THESE LADIES WERE TINY, MOST OF THEM NOT EVEN OVER 5 FT TALL, BUT THEY WERE AS STRONG AS AN OX! THEY WOULD TAKE ME SHOPPING WITH THEM, AND IT WAS ALL I COULD DO TO KEEP UP WITH THEM AS THEY TREKKED ALONG THE MOUNTAIN ROADS TO THE LITTLE SHOPS. I TOWERED OVER THEM, LOOKING LIKE BIGFOOT, AND THEY JUST OUTPACED ME, TO MY SHAME. THEY WOULD TAKE JESSICA, AND, SOMEHOW WOULD PUT A SCARF AROUND THIER BODIES, AND TUCK HER IN ON THIER BACKS. I DON'T KNOW WHY SHE DIDN'T JUST SLIDE OUT THE BOTTOM, BUT THEY HAD THE SCARF HITCHED JUST RIGHT. SHE LOVED RIDING LIKE THAT. AT THE AGE OF ONE, SHE WAS BIGGER THAN MOST OF THE TWO YEAR OLDS, BUT THOSE TINY WOMEN JUST HITCHED HER UP AS IF SHE DIDN'T WEIGH ANYTHING. IT SEEMED TO BE THAT THEY FELT SPECIAL TO CARRY HER, AND THE FAMILIES WOULD TAKE PICTURES EACH TIME WE WENT OUT. AT ONE POINT, FUMIKO ASKED US IF WE WOULD LIKE TO LIVE IN HER RENT HOUSE FOR THE GRAND SUM OF 30 DOLLARS A MONTH. OH, I WOULD HAVE LOVED LIVING THERE, BUT IT TOO, HAD ONLY ONE ROOM, A TINY KITCHENETTE OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROOM AND THE BINJO(BATHROOM) WAS OUTSIDE ALONG WITH THE SHOWER. THERE WAS NO GLASS IN THE WINDOWS, AND THE MOSQUITOS HAD FREE REIGN, ALONG WITH THE HUGE TREE ROACHES. SEE, THESE THINGS DID NOT BOTHER THE OKINAWANS, THEY WERE USED TO IT- BUT I AM A SISSY, AND IT WOULD HAVE BOTHERED THE JIMENY CRICKET OUT OF ME! I WISH NOW, THAT I HAD BEEN MORE ADVENTUROUS- BUT AT THE TIME I JUST COULDN'T MAKE THE STRETCH. I LOVED MY OKINAWANS FRIENDS, AND CONSIDERED THEM A REAL GIFT IN MY LIFE. MORE TOMORROW, LOVE, NANASEE

OUR HAPPY LIFE

WE NOW HADEVERYTHING WE WANTED- WE WERE TOGETHER, WE HAD JESSICA, WE HAD A LOVELY HOME AND WE COULD PLAN FOR THE FUTURE. HOW SWEET IT WAS TO WAKE UP TOGETHER, GET MARTIN OFF TO WORK AND START MY DAY. NOW, MY DAY CONSISTED OF CLEANING, COOKING, TAKING CARE OF JESSICA AND GETTING READY FOR MARTIN TO COME HOME. IT MAY SOUND MUNDANE, BUT MANY REALLY NICE THINGS HAPPENED TO MAKE LIFE MORE INTERESTING. FIRST OF ALL WAS FUMIKO. SHE WAS OUR NEIGHBOR. SHE WAS MARRIED TO HENEI, AND THEY HAD 4 CHILDREN, KATSUMI, MIOKI, COTSUMI AND ANAKI. FUMIKO'S FAMILY HAD BEEN ON THE ISLAND FOR MANY GENERATIONS. THEY LIVED IN A TRADITIONAL JAPANESE HOME, WITH OPEN WINDOWS, RICE PAPER WALLS, AND BAMBOO MATS ON THE FLOOR. IT WAS A ONE ROOM HOUSE WITH A KITCHEN OFF TO THE SIDE. EVERYONE LIVED IN THE ONE ROOM, AND TOOK BEDDING OUT AT NIGHT. THERE WERE WONDERFUL LANTERNS, AND THE GARDEN WAS JUST HEAVEN. (THE ISLAND WAS SO SMALL, THAT EVERY TINY BIT THAT COULD BE WAS PLANTED WITH SOME KIND OF PRODUCE) IT WAS SO INCREDIBLE, AND I WAS IN LOVE WITH HER HOUSE. FUMIKO WAS A TINY JAPANESE LADY, WHO SPOKE PASSING ENGLISH. SHE IMMEDIATLEY MADE FRIENDS WITH ME. I WAS SO TOUCHED, I WAS AFRAID THAT I WOULD HAVE NO FRIENDS OVER THERE. WE VISITED EVERY DAY- MOSTLY FUMIKO WOULD COME OVER AND THEN TAKE ME TO HER FRIEND'S HOMES TO MEET THEM. THEY WERE ENCHANTED WITH JESSICA, AND ALL OF THEM WANTED TO CARE FOR HER. AFTER A WHILE, FUMIKO INVITED MARTIN AND I OVER FOR DINNER. THAT NIGHT, WE SAT AROUND HER TABLE, IN TRADITIONAL STYLE, ON CUSHIONS ON THE FLOOR. THE TABLE WAS COVERED WITH JAPANESE DISHES, AND WE HAD CHOP STICKS FOR CUTLERY. WE HAD THE CENTER OF THE TABLE, AND THE REST OF THE FAMILY SAT AROUND US. THEY HAD INVITED OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS, AND I WAS SO NERVOUS THAT I WOULD MAKE SOME KIND OF MISTAKE AND EMBARRASS MYSELF. I LEANED OVER AND WHISPERED TO MARTIN, "DON'T DO ANYTHING STUPID. MIND YOUR MANNERS, AND DON'T EMBARRASS ME. BETER YET, JUST SIT THERE, SMILE AND EAT." I THEN WENT BACK TO USING MY CHOPSTICKS WITH A SURE HAND, AND DIDN'T EVEN DROP A BITE. THE MEAL PASSED WITH GOOD CONVERSATION, AND EVERYONE WAS SO POLITE, AND SEEMINGLY IMPRESSED WITH OUR KNOWLEGE OF JAPANESE CUSTOMS. WHEN THE MEAL WAS OVER, I CROSSED MY CHOPSTICKS OVER MY PLATE, AS I SAW THE OTHERS DO. THEN, I STRAIGHTENED UP, AND LET A HUGE BURP GO! HUGE BURP! BELCH!- EVERYONE GOT A HORRIFIED LOOK ON THEIR FACE AND IMMEDIATLEY DROPPED THEIR HEADS, AS IF THEY WERE PRAYING. I LOOKED AROUND IN CONFUSION, AND FUMIKO SOFTLY SAID, "JODIE-SAN, PLEASE TO COME TO KITCHEN." SHE TOO, HAD HER HEAD DOWN, AND WOULD NOT LOOK AT ME. I WENT WITH HER, AND I SAID, "FUMIKO, WHAT'S WRONG?" SHE SAID, "JODIE-SAN, IT IS VERY RUDE TO BELCH AT THE TABLE! YOU HAVE LOST FACE WITH EVERYONE." NOW, LET ME TELL YOU THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE TOP TEN MOST EMBARRASSING THINGS I HAVE EVER DONE. I BEGAN TO STAMMER AND COULD HARDLY BREATH AS I EXPLAINED TO HER THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS A SIGN OF APPRECIATION TO BELCH AT THE END OF A MEAL IN JAPAN. I THOUGHT I WAS COMPLEMENTING THE HOST AND HOSTESS. I JUST BROKE DOWN AND STARTED TO CRY. SHE SAID, "WELL PERHAPS IN CHINA THEY WOULD APPRECIATE THIS, BUT IN JAPAN WE DO NOT! BUT YOU HAVE MADE AN HONEST MISTAKE, AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GO IN THERE AND APOLOGIZE TO EVERYONE. THEY WILL UNDERSTAND". APOLOGIZE? APOLOGIZE? GREAT! HOW CAN I FACE THESE PEOPLE? WELL, IF I DIDN'T APOLOGIZE TO THEM I WOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT FACING THEM, BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT LOOK ME IN THE FACE UNTIL I DID. SO, I DRIED MY EYES, WENT TO THE TABLE, SAT BACK DOWN, AND THEN, I BEGAN MY APOLOGY. "PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR MY RUDENESS. I TRULY THOUGHT THAT I WAS COMPLIMENTING THE HOST FOR THE LOVELY MEAL BY BURPING, I THOUGHT I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO THAT. IT WAS A TRUE MISTAKE AND I APOLOGIZE FOR INSULTING ALL OF YOU". IMMEDIATELY EVERYONE LIFTED THEIR HEAD AND HUGE SMILES RADIATED BACK AT ME. ONE GENTLEMAN SAID, " WELL MY GOODNESS, I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO SPIT OUT YOUR LIVER WITH THAT BELCH! GOOD JOB!" MARTIN CRACKED UP, AND SO DID EVERYONE ELSE. THEY WERE NOT LAUGHING AT ME BUT WITH ME. THEN, MY DEAR HUSBAND, MY SWEETHEART LEANED IN CLOSE AND SAID, "GOOD THING I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO EMBARRASS YOU-I TOOK YOUR ADVICE AND JUST SAT HERE, SMILED AND ATE. NO, WOULDN'T WANT TO EMBARRASS YOU OR ANYTHING!" I GAVE HIM A LOOK THAT PROMISED RETRIBUTION, AND THE REST OF THE EVENING PASSED WITHOUT FURTHER DIFFICULTIES. IT WAS ACTUALLY A WONDERFUL EVENING, AND I LEARNED FROM IT TO BE SURE I GET MY CULTURES STRAIGHT BEFORE I TRY OUT ANY OF THE CUSTOMS. ANOTHER TIME, MARTIN TOOK ME TO A LITTLE TOWN ONE LOVELY DAY TO SHOP. THERE WERE LITTLE SHOPS CROWDED TOGETHER EVERY INCH OF THE STREET. MOST OF THEM SOLD SOUVENIERS. THERE WERE SHOPS FOR FRUIT, GROCERIES, CLOTHING AND SERVICES. THE OWNERS WOULD STAND OUTSIDE THE SHOP UNTIL YOU PASSED BY AND TRY TO ENTICE YOU TO COME INSIDE AND SHOP WITH THEM. THERE WERE LADIES IN KIMONOS- AND ALL OF IT WAS SO CHARMING. AS WE WERE WALKING BY ONE SHOP IN PARTICULAR, ONE LADY TOUCHED MARTIN'S SLEEVE AND SAID, "HEY BIG G.I., YOU COME IN- SEE WHAT I GOT!" MARTIN SNATCHED HIS ARM BACK AND TOLD HER QUITE RUDELY TO GET AWAY FROM HIM! I WAS SO SUPRISED THAT MY HUSBAND WOULD ACT IN SUCH A RUDE MANNER! I SAID, "MARTIN SEE! HOW DARE YOU ACT LIKE THAT! THAT POOR WOMAN JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU WHAT SHE HAD FOR SALE! WHAT HAS GOTTEN INTO YOU?!!! HE SAID, "THAT WOMAN IS A PROSTITUTE. SHE WAS SOLICITING ME." WHAT?!!! I WHIPPED AROUND AND BEFORE I COULD LIGHT INTO HER, SHE SAID, LOOKING AT MARTIN, AND POINTING AT ME, "OKSAN? SHE OKSAN?" (SHE WAS ASKING IF I WAS HIS WIFE). HE LAUGHED AND SAID, "YES, SHE REAL BIG OKSAN!" BEFORE I KNEW IT, SHE HAD DISSAPEARED INTO THE SHOP AND SLAMMED THE DOOR. HE LAUGHED "SO, DO YOU STILL WANT ME TO GO IN AND SEE WHAT SHE WANTS TO SHOW ME?" "UH, NO, DO YOU WANT ME TO GO IN AND SHOW HER WHAT I HAVE?" I SAID, RAISING A FIST. "COME ON BABE, WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH FUN HERE" HE SAID, AND OFF WE WENT. WE HAD MANY DAYS, WHEN WE HAD SUCH FUN, WALKING THE STREETS IN THE MOUNTAINS, SHOPPING IN THE VILLAGES, AND LEARNING TO LOVE THE PEOPLE. HALLOWEEN, THANKSGIVING, AND CHRISTMAS PASSED BEFORE WE KNEW IT. SINCE WE WERE OVERSEAS, THESE HOLIDAYS WERE SPENT WITH FUMIKO AND HER FAMILY, AND THE FRIENDS WE HAD MADE. I SHOULD TELL YOU THAT WE DID NOT LIVE ON BASE, AND SO WE DID NOT HAVE MANY AMERICAN FRIENDS. BUT THAT WAS OKAY, THE PEOPLE ON THE ISLAND WERE SO VERY WONDERFUL. MORE TOMORROW, LOVE, NANASEE

OKINAWA!

OH, HOW WONDERFUL IT WAS TO BE WITH MARTIN AGAIN! WE HURRIED HOME TO OUR NEW APARTMENT WHICH WAS IN A CEMENT BUILDING ON THE SECOND FLOOR. THERE WERE TWO APARTMENTS UPSTAIRS, AND THE FIRST FLOOR WAS THE RESIDENCE OF THE PAPASAN (A NAME FOR AN OWNER OR A NAME OF RESPECT FOR A MAN IN JAPAN) AND HIS FAMILY. THE THIRD FLOOR WAS THE ROOF, A FLAT ROOF, WHERE WE HUNG OUT THE LAUNDRY TO DRY. THE HOUSE WAS ON A ROAD CALLED JAGAROO ROAD. LINING THE ROAD WAS A LITTLE RIVER, (REALLY A CREEK BECAUSE IT WAS SO SMALL) AND IT WAS CALLED THE BINJO RIVER. I ASSUME THIS WAS BECAUSE IT RAN INTO THE SEA FURTHER DOWN, AND PERHAPS SWEPT REFUSE AWAY WITH IT'S CURRENT. THE WORD BINJO MEANT BATHROOM. THE JOKE WAS IT WAS CALLED A BINJO, BECAUSE YOU HAD TO "BEND YO KNEES" TO USE IT. THE BATHROOMS IN OKINAWA WERE MEARLY TROUGHS WITH RUNNING WATER, AND YOU JUST BENT YOUR KNEES AND SQUAT OVER THE TROUGH AND LET IT ALL FLY. IN THE UPSTAIRS APARTMENTS, WE HAD REGULAR TOILETS, (THANK GOODNESS!) BUT EVERYWHERE IN PUBLIC, THEY SIMPLY HAD BINJOS. REMEMBER THIS WAS IN THE EARLY '70'S AND I AM SURE THINGS ARE DIFFERENT NOW, BUT IN ADDITION TO HAVING TO SQUAT OVER A TROUGH TO GO, THERE WERE NO MEN'S OR LADIES ROOM, JUST ONE ROOM AND YOU TOOK YOUR CHANCES WHEN YOU WENT- A MAN COULD WALK IN AT ANY TIME AND JUST GO TO TOWN. (IT WAS IMPOLITE TO STARE AT ANOTHER PERSON USING THE BINJO, ISN'T THAT NICE?) ANYWAY, I WAS SO AFRAID THAT SOMEONE WOULD COME BUSTING IN WHEN I WAS RELIEVING MYSELF THAT I COULD NOT BRING MYSELF TO USE A PUBLIC BINJO. OF COURSE, AS SOON AS I GOT IN A STORE, I HAD TO GO! I REALLY SUFFERED FOR MY PRUDISH ATTITUDE, BUT I GOT VERY GOOD AT "HOLDING IT" UNTIL I GOT BACK HOME. FUNNY THING THOUGH, IT STUCK WITH ME. TO THIS DAY, AS SOON AS I GET IN A STORE, I HAVE TO GO! I CAN TELL YOU THE LOCATION OF EVERY LADIES ROOM IN KEMAH AND SEABROOK, AND QUITE A FEW IN LA PORTE! BUT, I DIGRESS. THE LITTLE RIVER RAN ALONG THE SIDE OF A LARGE HILL, AND THE HILL WAS COVERED WITH TREES AND GREENERY. AT THE BASE OF THE HILL WAS THE STOCKADE (JAIL)FOR THE ARMY. THE HILL LOOKED JUST LIKE A HILL, BUT IT HOUSED A SECRET. INSIDE THE HILL WERE THE REMAINS OF A HOSPITAL THAT THE OKINAWANS BUILT DURING WORLD WAR 2. THE JAPANESE ARMY CAMOFLAGED THIS HOSPITAL LIKE THIS- AND IT WAS AMAZING THAT THEY HAD DONE SUCH A THING, AN ENTIRE HOSPITAL INSIDE A HILL. (THE HILL WAS QUITE LARGE AND TALL, THOSE OF US FROM TEXAS MIGHT EVEN CALL IT A MOUNTAIN!) WHEN I LEARNED THAT I WAS GOING TO LIVE ON AN ISLAND, I WAS SO EXCITED THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO FEEL THE ISLAND BREEZES AND LAY ON THE BEACHES. FORGET IT! OKINAWA IS ONE LONG ISLAND OF MOUNTAINS, HILLS AND CORAL BEACHES. THE WEATHER IS IDENTICAL TO HOUSTON'S WEATHER, HUMIDITY AND ALL. THE INSECTS WERE DIFFERENT THOUGH, THE DADGUM BUGGERS WERE MUCH LARGER! IF YOU THINK OUR TREE ROACHES ARE BIG, THEY ARE PUNY IN COMPARISON TO THE ONES ON OKINAWA. EEEWWW- AND THEY HAVE BROWN CIRCLES AROUND THEIR EYES! THERE ARE MILLIONS OF THEM, AND PEOPLE ALLOW LIZARDS INTO THIER HOUSES TO KEEP THE ROACHES UNDER CONTROL. (I LOVE LIZARDS!) BUT THEN YOU HAD TO SLEEP WITH A NET OVER YOUR BED, BECAUSE THE SWEET LITTLE LIZARDS COULD FALL ON YOU FROM THE CELING AND YOU COULD CHOKE ON ONE IF IT FELL INTO YOUR MOUTH WHEN YOU WERE SLEEPING. (I AM NOT SURE, BUT I THINK I WOULD WAKE UP TO AN EVENT LIKE THAT!) NONE THE LESS, WE HAD OUR NET TOO, AND ONE OVER JESSICA'S CRIB. OH, AND THEN THERE WERE THE SPIDERS THAT LIVED IN THE DRAINS. THESE ARE HARMLESS SPIDERS, NEVER MIND THAT THEY COULD GET UP TO 4 INCHES ACROSS! THIS SOUNDS WORSE THAN IT WAS THOUGH, ACTUALLY THESE WERE GIANT DADDY LONG LEGS SPIDERS. THEY HAD A VERY SMALL BODY AND VERY LONG LEGS. THE PROBLEM WAS THOUGH, THAT IF YOU STEPPED OVER A DRAIN IN THE FLOOR, THEY WOULD RUN UP YOUR LEG IF THEY GOT THE CHANCE. I GUARANTEE YOU THAT IT WILL ONLY HAPPEN ONCE, BECAUSE YOU WILL NEVER FORGET THE FEELING OF A SPIDER RUNNING UP YOUR BELL BOTTOM JEANS AS FAR AS IT CAN GO! I ALMOST BEAT MYSELF TO DEATH THE ONE TIME IT HAPPENED TO ME, I JUST STARTED SCREAMING AND BEATING MY LEG, TRYING TO KILL IT. I LOOKED LIKE A CONTORTIONIST, TWISTING, JUMPING, SQUEALING AND SWATTING. IT SCARED THE JIMENY CRICKET OUT OF MARTIN, HE THOUGHT I HAD LOST MY MIND! FINALLY, I JUST GAVE UP AND SHUCKED MY JEANS RIGHT IN THE LAUNDROMAT. GUESS, WHAT? AFTER ALL THE ACTION, I MISSED THE LITTLE MONSTER, AND HE RAN ACROSS THE FLOOR AS SOON AM MY JEANS WERE IN A PUDDLE AT MY FEET! NON OF THE OKINAWANS THAT WERE IN THE LAUNDROMAT SEEMED TO BE IMPRESSED AT MY SHOW, IT SEEMS THAT THEY TOO, AT ONE TIME IN THIER LIVES HAVE UNDRESSED WITHOUT MODESTY FOR THE SAKE OF RIDDING THEMSELVES OF SUCH A SPIDER. SO, YES, THERE WERE THINGS TO GET USED TO IN OUR NEW COUNTRY. ONE MEMORY I HAVE IS OF A BIRD. WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL IN INDIANA, I JOINED THE AUDOBON SOCIETY CHAPTER AT THE SCHOOL. WE TOOK BIRDWATCHING TRIPS ON THE WEEKENDS, CHARTING BIRDS THAT WE SAW, AND MAKING NOTES OF THE MORE RARE SPECIES. IT WAS QUITE A COUP TO SPOT A REALLY RARE BIRD, AND WE WERE ALL EXCITED WHEN SUCH A THING HAPPENED. NOW, IN THE UNITED STATES, IT IS VERY RARE TO SEE A BIRD KNOWN AS A SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER. IT HAD A LONG TWO PART TAIL AND WAS ABOUT MEDIUM SIZED FOR A BIRD. NONE OF US EVER SAW ONE, BUT PERHAPS ONE DAY I WOULD HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SEEING ONE IN THE WILD AT LEAST ONCE IN MY LIFE. ANYWAY, ONE DAY, WHEN I WAS HANGING OUT THE LAUNDRY, JUST A FEW DAYS AFTER MY ARRIVAL, TO MY IMMENSE SURPRISE, A SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER LANDED ON THE CLOTHESLINE! THERE HE WAS, SCISSOR-TAIL AND ALL! JUST SITTING ON THE CLOTHESLINE. I WAS IN SHOCK- AND QUIETLY CREPT DOWN THE STAIRS TO THE APARTMENT TO GET THE CAMERA. BOY, I WAS GOING TO BE FAMOUS, TO ACTUALLY GET A PICTURE OF A SCISSOR TAILED FLYCATCHER! BACK UP THE STAIRS I CREPT, SO VERY QUIET, SO VERY EXCITED- AND WHEN I GOT TO THE ROOF, INSTEAD OF THE LOVELY THING HAVING DESERTED ME, SEVERAL OF HIS BUDDIES CAME TO VISIT HIM! BY NOW, THERE WERE AT LEAST 6 SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHERS ON THE ROOF. WAIT A MINUTE! WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? I NEVER EXPECTED TO SEE ONE, BUT SIX? OH, AND LOOK AT THE TREE- ANOTHER COUPLE IN THE TREE! WELL, IT SEEMS THAT ON OKINAWA, SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHERS ARE AS COMMON AS ROBINS ARE HERE! SO, MY ELATION TOOK A HUGE DIVE, AND I TOOK A FEW PICTURES OF THE BIRD AND HIS FRIENDS, AND WENT BACK TO HANGING OUT THE LAUNDRY. ONE THING THOUGH, I FOREVER GOT A THRILL EACH AND EVERYTIME I SAW ONE OF THESE BIRDS THERE, BECAUSE I KNEW I WOULD NOT SEE THEM ONCE I WAS STATESIDE AGAIN. THE BEACH WAS VERY CLOSE TO THE APARTMENT, BUT ONCE AGAIN, I HAD TO ADJUST TO A NEW ENVIRONMENT. INSTEAD OF DANCING ACROSS SILKY SAND, IT WAS JUST SHARP CORAL THAT WOULD CUT YOUR FEET TO RIBBONS. YOU HAD TO WEAR SHOES, AND IF YOU WANTED TO SWIM, YOU HAD TO WALK OUT QUITE A WAYS TO THE DROP-OFF WHERE THE CORAL DROPPED AWAY FROM THE TOP OF THE WATER. AND, YOU HAD TO BE REALLY CAREFUL, BECAUSE YOU COULD SCRAPE YOURSELF ON THE EDGE OF THE CORAL THAT DID NOT DROP OFF SHARPLY, BUT HAD LOTS OF LITTLE EXTENSIONS UNDER WATER THAT YOU COULD NOT SEE FROM THE TOP. THERE WERE MILLIONS OF TINY STARFISH TOO. LAYING EVERYWHERE, JUST MILLIONS OF THEM. I HATED STEPPING ON THEM, BUT YOU COULD NOT HELP IT. THEY MADE UP THE BEACH AS WELL AS THE CORAL. ONE THING THOUGH, THERE WERE LOTS OF LITTLE LAGOONS, TINY REALLY, SOME AS SMALL AS EIGHT FEET ACROSS, THAT HAD GEORGEOUS TROPICAL FISH SWIMMING IN THEM. NEON GREEN, ELECTRIC BLUE, PINK, RED, VIBRANT YELLOW, THEY WERE THICK IN THESE LITTLE LAGOONS. EVEN ANGELFISH! OH, BUT GUESS WHAT? THOSE LITTLE LAGOONS WERE VERY DEEP- AND IF YOU DID NOT KNOW BETTER AND REACHED IN TO TOUCH THE FISH, YOU WOULD FIND YOURSELF HINEY OVER ELBOWS IN THE WATER BECAUSE YOU REACHED TO FAR AND FELL RIGHT IN. YOU SEE, THE FISH LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE SWIMMING NEAR THE TOP, BUT THE WATER WAS SO CLEAR, IT WAS DECEPTIVE. THOSE LOVELY FISH COULD BE EIGHT FEET BELOW, AND LOOK LIKE THEY WERE EIGHT INCHES BELOW. REMEMBER THE SHARP CORAL? PLENTY ON THE SIDES OF THE LAGOONS TOO. USUALLY ONLY TOOK ONE MISHAP LIKE THAT TO MAKE YOU VERY CAUTIOUS BEFORE REACHING TOO FAR OVER THE LAGOONS. WELL, I AM NOT TOO MUCH OF A DUMMY, AND I ADAPTED QUICKLY AND BEGAN TO ENJOY LIFE ON THE ISLAND. MORE ABOUT THAT TOMORROW! LOVE, NANASEE

OFF TO VIETNAM

AFTER JESSICA WAS BORN, WE BEGAN TO LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING AS SOON AS MARTIN'S NEW ORDERS CAME IN. WE WERE GRATEFUL THAT HE HAD BEEN ALLOWED TO STAY WITH ME FOR THE BABY, BUT HE ONLY HAD ANOTHER SIX WEEKS AND HE WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE. AS EACH DAY PASSED, WE WAITED ANXIOUSLY FOR HIS NEW ASSIGNMENT. WE WEREN'T TOO WORRIED ABOUT VIETNAM AS THEY WERE CUTTING BACK FROM SENDING TROOPS OVER THERE, BUT SURE ENOUGH, THE ORDERS CAME: REPORT TO LEAVE FOR VIETNAM ON JULY 16TH. WE COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. NOT NOW, NOT AFTER EVERYTHING HAD BEEN GOING SO WELL FOR US. HE WAS DUE TO BE GONE FOR EIGHTEEN MONTHS- EIGHTEEN LONG MONTHS! WHAT WOULD JESSICA AND I DO WHILE HE WAS GONE? MARTIN WANTED ME TO LIVE WITH HIS PARENTS, BUT I DID NOT WANT TO DO THAT AS THEY WERE NOT SO HAPPY WITH ME BECAUSE HE HAD LEFT TO TAKE ME TO TENNESEE AND THEY FELT HE HAD THROWN HIS LIFE AWAY. WE DECIDED THAT JESSICA AND I WOULD LIVE IN HOUSTON WITH HIS PARENTS FOR A SHORT TIME AND I WOULD WORK WHILE MARTIN'S STEP-MOM LOLA TOOK CARE OF JESSICA. SOON THE FIRST OF JULY CAME AND IT WAS TIME TO GO. WE HAD PACKED UP OUR FEW BELONGINGS, (ALTHOUGH THEY WERE A LOT MORE THAN WHEN WE STARTED) PACKED THE CAR AND OFF WE WENT. IT WAS QUITE A DRIVE TO HOUSTON, BUT WE WERE HAPPY ABOUT HAVING THE TIME TOGETHER BEFORE HE LEFT. BEING YOUNG, WE DIDN'T ALWAYS THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT HOW WE DID THINGS AND WE PUT A HEAVY TOOL BOX FULL OF TOOLS IN THE BACK WINDOW OF THE CAR. JESSICA WAS RIDING IN A LITTLE PLASTIC BABY CARRIER, (DEFINETLY NOT A CAR SEAT) BETWEEN US IN THE CENTER OF THE FRONT SEAT. CLOSE TO WASHINGTON D.C., I HAD NURSED HER AND PUT HER BACK INTO THE LITTLE CARRIER. SHE WAS QUIET, IT WAS HOT AND MUGGY, AND MARTIN AND I WERE JUST RIDING ALONG, NOT TALKING. SUDDENLY I CLEARLY HEARD THE WORDS, "PICK THE BABY UP". I LOOKED AT MARTIN AND TOLD HIM THAT I HAD JUST FED HER AND DIDN'T WANT TO DISTURB HER. HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAD NOT SAID ANYTHING- SO, I THOUGHT, "WELL YES YOU DID, BUT NO BIG DEAL", AND LEFT HER IN THE CARRIER. BUT THEN, STRONGLY AND FORCEFULLY THE WORDS, "PICK UP THE BABY NOW!!!" WELL, SHOOT, OKAY, WHATEVER, I REACHED OVER TO PICK HER UP AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF LIFTING HER TO MY CHEST WHEN A CAR CUT IN FRONT OF US AND MARTIN HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES. WE SKIDDED TO A JARRING STOP, BARELY MISSING THE CAR AND THE FORCE OF THE SUDDEN STOP CAUSED THE HEAVY TOOLBOX TO SLAM INTO THE FRONT SEAT- RIGHT WHERE THE LITTLE CARRIER WAS! I STUPIDLY LOOKED AT THE TOOL BOX, HELD UP THE BABY FOR MARTIN TO SEE AND STARTED SCREAMING. "OH, MY GOSH, IT COULD HAVE BEEN THE BABY!!! I AM SO GLAD YOU TOLD ME TO PICK HER UP!! SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!!!" MARTIN LOOKED AT ME WITH SHOCK ON HIS FACE AND SAID, "I NEVER SAID A WORD. I WAS LOOKING AT THE WASHINGTON MONMUMENT IN THE DISTANCE. I NEVER SAID A WORD!" AFTER I TRIED TO CALM DOWN A BIT, WE HAD TO GET THE TOOL BOX OUT OF THE FRONT SEAT. WHEN WE MOVED IT, THE LITTLE CARRIER HAD BEEN CRUSHED. JESSICA WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I KNEW THEN THAT HEAVENLY FATHER HAD WARNED ME TO PICK HER UP- THERE WAS NO OTHER EXPLANATION. I CRIED TEARS OF GRATITUDE THANKING HEAVENLY FATHER OVER AND OVER FOR MY BABY'S LIFE. HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE WHEN I NEEDED HIM, EVEN WHEN THINGS ARE SO GRAVE, AS IN THE EXAMPLE OF THE DEATH OF BOBBIE JO, IF ONLY TO ASSURE ME THAT HIS PLAN IS TRUE. FOR THIS INSTANCE HOWEVER, HE SAW FIT TO WARN ME AND I WAS ABLE TO SAVE JESSICA. WE WERE VERY SOBER AFTER THAT, AND THE TRIP WAS MORE QUIET. WE ARRIVED IN HOUSTON ON JULY 8TH, WITH ONLY A WEEK TO GO BEFORE MARTIN LEFT. HOW SAD I WAS. I TRIED TO BE BRAVE, BUT I REALIZED THAT NOT ONLY WAS HE GOING TO BE GONE FOR 18 MONTHS, IF HE WERE KILLED, HE WOULD BE GONE FOREVER. WE HAD LOST SEVERAL FRIENDS IN THE FIGHTING IN VIETNAM, IT WAS VERY REAL TO US HOW SERIOUS THE SITUATION WAS. JUST BEFORE HE LEFT, WE WENT TO GALVESTON, FOR ONE MORE TRIP TO THE BEACH. WE SAT ON THE SAND, AND TALKED ABOUT HOW SPECIAL OUR TIME TOGETHER HAD BEEN SO FAR. "WE WILL HAVE MANY YEARS TOGETHER" HE SAID, "I WILL COME HOME AND WE WILL NEVER BE SEPARATED AGAIN". THE DAY CAME WHEN HE HAD TO LEAVE FOR THE AIRPORT TO FLY TO VIETNAM. IT WAS SO HARD FOR ME, AND TO WATCH HIM BOARD THE PLANE KNOWING I MAY NEVER SEE HIM AGAIN ALMOST MADE ME BREAK DOWN. BUT THIS TIME, THERE WAS NO TIME FOR SILLY HISTRIONICS. I WANTED HIM TO SEE MY SMILE AS HE LEFT- I WANTED HIM TO SEE HOW PROUD I WAS OF HIM. AS HE KISSED ME GOODBYE, I CLUTCHED HIS COAT, HIS HAIR, TOUCHED HIS FACE, HIS LIPS, AND KISSED HIS EYELIDS. I WANTED TO SCREAM AT HIM NOT TO GO, NOT TO LEAVE US, OUR LITTLE BABY GIRL AND ME, NOT TO GO. BUT, FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE, I CONTROLLED MY EMOTIONS, AND QUIETLY STOOD IN HIS ARMS. "COME BACK TO ME MARTIN, I CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT YOU. COME HOME TO US, TO JESSICA AND ME. COME BACK TO US" I WHISPERED IN HIS EAR. "PLEASE BE CAREFUL, AND DON'T BE TOO BRAVE. BE CAREFUL, I WILL WRITE EVERYDAY. I LOVE YOU, AND CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT YOU". THE TEARS WERE FLOWING DOWN MY FACE, WETTING HIS COAT. BUT, I DID NOT SOB, I JUST SPOKE QUIETLY TO HIM. HE TOOK MY FACE IN HIS HANDS, WIPED MY TEARS AND SAID, "I WILL BE CAREFUL, I WILL NOT BE TOO BRAVE, I WILL COME HOME TO YOU. I PROMISE. I WILL WRITE AS OFTEN AS I CAN- I CANNOT BEAR TO LEAVE YOU AND JESSICA, BUT I HAVE TO. BEFORE YOU KNOW IT I WILL BE BACK. I LOVE YOU BOTH". AND THEN, HE WAS GONE. I WATCHED HIM WALK DOWN THE RAMP TO THE PLANE, AND I THOUGHT MY HEART WOULD BURST. HIS DAD AND LOLA HAD COME TO THE AIRPORT, AND THEY GENTLY TOLD ME THAT WE SHOULD GO ON HOME. SO, WE DID. TWO DAYS LATER, I RECEIVED A POST CARD FROM ALASKA. MARTIN HAD STOPPED OVER IN ALASKA ON THE WAY TO VIETNAM. THE POST CARD SAID, " I LOVE YOU, AND I PUKED ON THE PLANE. (REMEMBER HE DOES NOT FLY WELL). COKES COST A DOLLAR HERE, CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? LOVE, YOUR HONEY". I WAS SO HAPPY, HE WAS OKAY SO FAR! THEN, A FEW MORE DAYS WENT BY AND I RECEIVED ANOTHER LETTER FROM HIM. THE INFORMATION WAS BEYOND MY BELIEF. I FELL TO THE FLOOR, CLUTCHING THE ENVELOPE AND LETTER, SOBBING ALOUD. LOLA CAME RUNNING, "WHAT'S WRONG? WHAT'S WRONG WITH BUBBA?" SHE CRIED. " NNOTTHHING, I STAMMERED. NOTHING AT ALL! IT 'S A MIRACLE! A MIRACLE! LOOK!" SHE TOOK THE LETTER, AND BEGAN TO READ. SHE TOO, COULD NOT BELIEVE THE NEWS- WHEN MARTIN'S PLANE LANDED IN OKINAWA JAPAN, ANOTHER LAYOVER TO VIETNAM, THE ARMY OFFICIALS GOT ON THE PLANE AND POINTED OUT MARTIN AND 5 OTHER SOLDIERS. "YOU MEN ARE TO STAY BEHIND HERE IN OKINAWA. YOUR ORDERS ARE CHANGED. LEAVE THE PLANE AND TAKE YOUR STUFF WITH YOU". WELL, IT SEEMS THAT THEY NEEDED 6 MEN TO WORK IN THE MAIL AND TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS THERE ON THE ISLAND. MARTIN HAD TRAINED IN A SPECIALTY FOR WORKING ON ARMY TRUCKS AND VEHICLES AND THEY NEEDED HIM IN THE MOTORPOOL. HE WAS NOT GOING ON TO VIETNAM! HE WAS GOING TO SERVE THE 18 MONTH STRETCH IN OKINAWA! BUT, THE MIRACLE PART WAS: FAMILIES COULD LIVE IN OKINAWA TOO! I COULD GO OVER AND LIVE WITH HIM! I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT, I COULD GO TOO! I WANTED TO CALL HIM BUT HAD NO WAY TO REACH HIM. SO, I IMMEDIATLY GOT A JOB, AND BEGAN TO SAVE TO GO OVER TO BE WITH HIM. LOLA KEPT JESSICA. POOR LITTLE BABY, WAS SO TINY TO HAVE HE MAMA LEAVE HER, BUT I HAD TO- WE HAD TO BE A FAMILY WITH OUR DADDY! I FOUND OUT THAT I COULD ARRIVE ON THE ISLAND OF OKINAWA AS SOON AS SEPTEMBER 7TH OF THAT YEAR. I ONLY HAD 6 WEEKS TO MAKE THAT DATE. I WROTE EVERYDAY, AND MARTIN DID TOO. HE TOLD ME HE HAD FOUND A LITTLE APARTMENT AND COULD MOVE IN ON SEPTEMBER THE FIRST. HE HAD FOUND BABY FURNITURE AT THE SECOND HAND STORE ON BASE, AND SINCE THE APARTMENT WAS FURNISHED, HE ONLY HAD TO GET SOME HOUSEHOLD ITEMS. "HURRY, HURRY" HE WROTE. "I CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE YOU OVER HERE WITH ME." THEN, HE TOLD ME IN ANOTHER LETTER, THAT ONE OF THE MEN HAD SHOT HIMSELF IN THE FOOT SO THAT THE ARMY WOULD SEND HIM HOME. "I HAD THOUGHT OF STUFF LIKE THAT" HE WROTE. "I AM SO LONELY WITHOUT YOU AND THE BABY." I TOLD HIM THAT TIME WOULD PASS QUICKLY, AND TO BE HAPPY. I THANKED HEAVENLY FATHER EVERY NIGHT AND DAY FOR OUR MIRACLE. THE WEEKS PASSED QUICKLY, AND THE MONEY BEGAN TO BUILD UP. THE TICKETS TO OKINAWA WERE 900.00 FOR JESSICA AND I. IT TOOK EVERY DIME WE HAD , MARTIN'S PAY AND MY CHECKS AS WELL TO PAY FOR THE TICKETS AND HAVE ENOUGH FOR JESSICA AND I TO MAKE THE FLIGHT. BUT, WE DID MAKE THE FLIGHT, WITH NO TIME TO SPARE! JUST SHE AND I, ON A PLANE TO GO TO OUR BELOVED DADDY AND SWEETHEART. IT WAS A VERY LONG FLIGHT, AND THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS HELPED ME WITH MY SMALL BABY. WE STOPPED OVER IN HAWAII, AND THEN IN GUAM. FINALLY, THERE IT WAS, DOWN BELOW, THE ISLAND OF OKINAWA! THEN, WE WERE LANDING- AND GETTING OFF THE PLANE, AND THEN- THERE HE WAS! JUMPING UP AND DOWN, YELLING MY NAME! HE BROKE THROUGH THE CROWD, AND WE HUGGED AND CRIED- TEARS OF RELIEF AND JOY! WE WERE TOGETHER! HEAVENLY FATHER HAD ONCE AGAIN, GIVEN US A MIRACLE. WE WERE ONLY SEPARATED FOR 7 WEEKS! MY SWEETHEART AND I WERE TOGETHER, AND WE KNEW THAT SOMEHOW, WE WOULD NOT BE SEPARATED AGAIN. LOVE, NANASEE