Wednesday
Our offer on an apartment was accepted, and we take possession at the end of the week.
Without our possessions.
Unless they miraculously appear in the next couple of days.
Meanwhile, I’m enjoying the hotel ambiance and went down to the cafe for a latte just before lunch and whiled away a couple hours in the lobby, reading a book and texting with friends. Amazing we can keep in touch from halfway around the world!
C and I chatted with our bartender(s) last night as we had a light supper at the hotel bar. J is very friendly and open, telling us about his Filipino/Chamorro upbringing, love of food and drink, travel advice, and pulling his co-workers into the conversation about our apartment hunting. They seemed interested that we are going to live in Guam, not just visit. “When will you invite me to the housewarming party?” J asked, grinning. I asked him if he spoke more than two languages. His answer? Six.
[Me, hanging American head in utter shame.]
[Also me: “How do you say ‘good-bye’ in Tagalog?” Answer: Paalam!]
When you live in a place like this and work in the tourism industry, you probably make it a point to learn the basics of several languages. Fortunately for Americans (who don’t tend to learn languages), English became the basic universal business language due to our economic hegemony after WWII. As C pointed out to me last night, we Americans have enjoyed the many perks of being a major superpower, and we don’t have long memories. We fail to remember how isolationism actually worked . . . or rather, didn’t.
Kids aren’t taught this in school anymore—and we can see where ignorance about history has led us.
Still having fun with my art journal.
Anyway, I worked some more on Strawberry Moon. It’s plumping out nicely, but I really, really need my notes. Hello, Universe? Please bring me my household goods. Please! I’m doing my part, but I need those pages.
Back to the DM project on FB after I finish this entry. I got a few new Pink Dandelions Newsletter signups after my first batch of direct messages . . . PLUS I was able to text back and forth with some people I hadn’t communicated with in awhile. If I know for sure someone already subscribes, I sometimes send a little note just the same to say “hi.” Not always. Mostly if I haven’t talked to that person in a while.
I’m reading quite a few Substacks these days and note with a certain amount of pleasure when people long in the business give analysis to the current state of the industry, usually reinforcing my feeling that the changes, on a whole, haven’t been great for writers or readers. Yes, the gatekeepers are no longer as relevant, but now nobody can find new writers and their work because there are Just. Too. Many. Books.
What difference does it make if a) nobody reads your stuff because either a gatekeeper doesn’t think it’s good enough or b) the work is impossible to find? Either way, you are writing and working hard for very little to zero money. I’ve yet to hear a convincing argument that the difference is all that important, at least if you’d like to be compensated for your hard work. Not that people haven’t tried. They have, and when I don’t agree they do things like “unfriend” me on Facebook.
Case in point. Social Media is a scourge.
PS: Looking at my blog “categories” I realize I’ve had four iterations of this blog as follows: Good Life, Crazy Times. Remarkable! By the Pen. And now My Writing Journal.
Can’t say I haven’t tried with this thing since, what, 2018/19?
Now, I’m basically writing for myself here, like a real journal. Everyone else is welcome to read it, of course, but I’m no longer using it as some sort of marketing tactic. It’s just a record of my writing days.
I do love to get comments, however. People should feel free to start a conversation. Or share their own diary/journal entry for the day. Why not? Gather ’round ye writers and dreamers and journalers and poets and artists. Be polite. Play nice with others. Enjoy.
Thank you for bringing me along on your journey 😊I love reading what you write – I do journal – I have one I call Letters to Lloyd – I started it the day after I lost him- while I don’t write in it every day – I am on my fourth notebook. I have just started another one I am calling Finding Moments of Joy and Gratitude every day.
Congratulations on your apartment – I look forward to seeing pictures and reading more about your Guam adventure.
Mary Jo: I love that you are journaling. Your Letters to Lloyd sounds lovely and poignant. A beautiful way to keep the “conversation” going with a loved one who has passed. Moments of Joy and Gratitude are also so important. Welcome fellow journaler!
I’d love to see an image yours or borrowed, to go with, “Gather ’round ye writers and dreamers and journalers and poets and artists. Be polite. Play nice with others.”
Good idea! I’ll work on it.
Wow! Guam. My father was stationed there during part of WWII. He was a navigator on a B-29, and they had a base there. So I grew up hearing about that island, and also about Tinian, China, and India, where he was also stationed. So for me all of those places have a kind of mythic feel to them. I hope you and Craig enjoy your time there.
Hi, Jason: It does feel like a different world. I never thought I’d find myself living in the Pacific Islands. That’s cool that your dad was stationed here. Thanks for reading and commenting!