Maybe I Missed the Memo

Maybe I missed the memo - but did I miss a grammar revolution?

When did the world start alphabetizing the word THE?   When I first started noticing this - I thought it was a random fluke - a stock person had failed language arts or something - but now it appears to be more and more common.  Correct me if I am wrong - but doesn't "the" just kind of get the throw-away treatment?   Such as "Sound of Music, The?"   If not, "T" would be the longest section of any store.   Is this an accepted form, now?   I have not been able to locate things because I simply did not add the word "the" to the title.    Or did all this start with the implementation of THE Ohio State University?

Along with the "THE" faux pas - when did the world start alphabetizing by first names?   I thought, again, proper names were alphabetized by last names.    Sinatra, Frank.  Capone, Al.  Are the younger generations not learning this?    I really don't spend that much time in music  stores - but at Christmas looking for CDs . I couldn't find Bruno Mars or Bob Seger.   I thought maybe CDs are now blase and people only downloaded music - but no - as it turns out I found them both under B.  So, looked for other artists and sure enough - alphabetized by the first name...Chris Brown.  Tom Petty.  Unless you are Cher, Adele or Sting - I think we should go back to the last name first.  I didn't look for Meat Loaf.

I also saw a list of names from my kids' school in first name alphabetical order.   I asked the front desk clerk why it was this way - and he told me both ways were right.   I told him he was wrong.  No wonder it takes forever to get anything done in the office - instead of going to the J file for my children - they apparently sort by first name.   Glad I don't have a Jack, Cody or Maddy.  I'd be there all day.

I don't know when this became the accepted grammar rule and I don't like it.   And by the way - in the 2012 US New and World Report  Book of Best Colleges and Universities...The Ohio State University is listed under O - not T.

And a Good Ken Griffey Day to You, Sir!

For about the last 10 years the third Monday of January is a very special day for my family. No school. No work. We sleep in...and we honor Ken Griffey, Jr. It all started in New Orleans when my middle son, Bub, was in 1st grade. I asked him if he knew why they didn't have school one particular Monday and he announced it was Ken Griffey, Jr. Day. Hence, a new celebration was born.

In honor of this holiday, in no particular order, I am posting some memorable things my kids have said.

Our oldest son, Buddy, is (sometimes) a man of few words. His mantra from the time he could put words together has always been "Be nice to Shane." I don't know what injustices were forced upon him as an infant - but we have lived by these words ever since. Say what you mean and mean what you say - Be Nice To Shane!

Since we're always being nice to Shane, some sweetness must have rubbed off on him at some point. When he was about 7 or 8 we were talking about a dog that I used to have -Teddy. I said he was now in heaven. Buddy popped up and said "Is he with your dad?" Oh, my heart just filled with love - as I answered "yes, absolutely." To which he replied "Do they know Abraham Lincoln?" (I'm guessing they do.)

Now I've mentioned son #2 before - and his shock and disdain at graffiti spelled wrong on a bathroom wall. (I have humongous balls.) The graffiti itself was ok - his displeasure was that the word humongous was spelled incorrectly. Lesson learned - if you are defacing property - the least you can do is spell it correctly!

But, Bubby for all his political correctness has a sweet side. At about the age of 5 we were playing "My Favorite" - where you ask what your favorite whatever is - vegetable, fruit, tv show, etc. I asked "Who's your favorite Mom?' to which he unblinkingly replied with glee "MISS LORRIE." Ouch! But, who could blame him - he and Miss Lorrie had a mutual adoration for each other. But still....I thought I was a gimme!

Now Sissy...for those of you that knew her as a young girl - we were lucky to hear her voice let alone have a conversation. I know that is surprising for those that know her now - but believe me when I say - Bubby was her voice for 5 years! But, every once in awhile she would say something that would stop us in our tracks. My favorite took place when she was 6. We were walking into Target and she had a horrible look on her face and then started crying..."Why would you want to be tortured with your pet?" I had no idea what she was talking about and she kept saying they were doing it next door. I told her no one was being tortured and we didn't have a pet - so we were safe. When we were walking to the car it occurred to me what she had heard. PetSmart had salespeople saying "come in and get a portrait with your pet." Yes, we've had her hearing checked since then.

But my favorite Sissy quote is recent - not from her "tortured" childhood. It doesn't even need an intro...."I do have a good memory. I just forget things." Amen, sister!

And a happy Ken Griffey, Jr Day to all!

Two Sides to Every Island

I noticed my last two posts might have been misconstrued as "un-Okinawan." They were not meant that way - just a little venting on why I should be a Luddite because I can't handle technology - and the demise of the USPS! But, I can totally see where someone might think I am not enjoying my time here.

Truth is - this is not ever where I expected to be at this point in my life! We'd done the Asian thing and thought I'd checked that block. I have a son in college that is now 10,000 miles away - and soon our 2nd will follow - so you might understand the reluctance to jump right in. I knew enough from the first go around that Okinawa is a few year behind - and if I, as the least technology inclined person, feel that way - you can imagine what a savvy teen has to adapt to! But, here we are for better or worse.

To set the record straight here are things I do like about Okinawa.

First - we are on an island. I don't think I need to elaborate. Water is everywhere and some of the views are spectacular. You can be having the worst day of you life, suddenly be at the top of a hill - and suddenly your breath is taken away by the beauty of the island.

2. I have a mama-san that comes once a week and cleans my house. I did fight this because I'm not too busy to clean my own house - and the kids aren't so busy they can't clean. But, after realizing I am giving up a lot to be here - I conceded and she comes once a week. She is the most adorable lady. She tries to teach me Japanese - mostly with disastrous results - but I can say "delicious" and "rain" with no problems! I changed the living around over Christmas and yesterday she told me it was "deluxe." Sometimes she cooks dinner for us - and well, I'm going to love anyone that shows up with food!

3. Sushi Go Round. You push a button and a train delivers your sushi. Even if you don't like sushi - what's not to love about that?

4. Island Gift Shops run by spouses organizations. I don't even know where to begin...Goodies from Thailand, Viet Nam, Japan, Hong Kong and even Germany and England! The merchandise is spectacular, very reasonably priced - and best of all - all the profits go to charities.

5. Japanese radio. Sometimes FEN (Far East Network) plays some horrible music in the middle of the day - it's like club music - which would be fine at night - but not at 3 in the afternoon. So, I will switch it to a Japanese radio station. I can never understand what they are saying - lots of giggling followed by "kudasai kudasai." (Kudasai is a request - I don't know what they are asking for) - and then they will play Rhinestone Cowboy. Very random music. Sometimes the DJs will speak English - but it doesn't translate very well. "Music flavored ice cream" is a favorite and I also like the sponsorship of KFC "Ve do schicken lright." I am not being mean - I think it's cute. One day I also heard the Doobie Brothers. The DJ identified them and followed with "They are not really brothers." Thanks for clearing that up!

6. The activity bus. Oh, praise Jesus and all the saints - why doesn't every school system have this set up? If the kids have an activity after school - sports, drama, tutoring, anything....they take and activity bus home. Mama doesn't have to stop whatever it is she's doing and pick them up! I love this.

So, the next time I am on a hill viewing the ocean listening to Japanese radio while my mama san is cleaning my house - I will have time to go to the gift shops and sushi go round because the activity bus will be taking my children home!

Miss Me/All Mail Has Not Been Posted!

Miss me? I've missed sharing my views to an interested world - I can tell you that! I don't know where the time went - I'm usually much better at communication.

Speaking of communication....Christmas kind of sucked in the land of Okinawa. Oh, the gift giving and receiving was wonderful, the food added unwanted pounds and the decorations were Griswold worthy - but I'm talking about Christmas cards and specifically the Post Office.

When we lived here before - the daily trip to the post office was the highlight of each day. You don't get home delivery over here - you must physically go to the post office. Well, our last tour was well before email, texting, vonage, skype, etc. The USPS was all you had, baby. Every day except Sunday, you trekked to the post office to see what mail you might have. Some days your neighbor asked you to get her mail - she just gave you the key. Sometimes nothing. Sometimes only a bill. Magazines seemed to come all on the same day. But personal letters - nothing like it in the world! Someone actually took the time to put pen to paper. It was a wonderful feeling. But the most special feeling was the yellow slip. It meant you had a package.

Young Marines worked at the post office. I had one neighbor bake goodies for them all the time. Her creativity worked - they would not only call her when she received a box - they would help her load it when she got there.

The most profound thing about the mail - when all the mail had been put out for the day - the Marines would put a sign in the window - "All Mail Has Been Posted." That meant they were done for the day - so you did not need to come back. (And as silly as it sounds - when you are desperate for communication - you check 3 and 4 times a day.)

So fast forward to the present. The Post Office is no where near the happening place it was. First of all - no mail on Wednesday. They don't issue keys - only combinations. No sign saying if they are done posting mail. The only thing that is the same is the yellow slips. There is still nothing like seeing that in your box.

Anyway - I mailed all my cards the first Monday in December. I was very proud of myself knowing that even though I moved 10,000 miles - people would still get a card from me.

YEAH. A WEEK AFTER CHRISTMAS.

I don't know why it took so long to get to the States -but I'm blaming that for the reason we received so few cards. To those that asked for my address - you have no idea how much your cards meant to us. For those still receiving our cards (and please, check the postmark) - I am totally expecting your holiday card now that you have our address. And a little yellow card in my box wouldn't hurt, either!