Full Circle

 My guest today is a fellow graduate from my high school. We both attended an event several years ago and realized our connection. This year, she approached me about editing and publishing her book, and I was delighted to do it. I hope you will enjoy meeting Myra and hearing about her book, Full Circle. (BTW, Larry designed the beautiful cover.)

 

What does a writer gal do when cooped-up during a COVID-19 pandemic? She polishes three memoir and six memory-based short stories and combines them into a book, Full Circle.

As a two-time cancer survivor, uterine and breast, I was motivated foremost to offer solace to my two children. When one is diagnosed with cancer, one’s life implodes. The entire household suffers the cancer with that person. I was not able to handle my own grief and fear, or help my children deal with theirs. I wanted them to realize that this was our story. I did the best that I could, under the circumstances. Their sorrow did not go unnoticed. My supportive husband, friends, and coworkers, were also a blessing.

I decided to publish my book and not limit it to just sharing with my family. I felt the themes were universal and would resonate with a larger audience. Coping with cancer, the immigrant experience, the loss of a baby, shared love of reading, a father’s temper, a beloved colorful great-aunt, the compassionate care of a home health care nurse, who brought me laughter when I had stopped smiling and laughing, plus the devastation of Alzheimer’s, would tug at the heart strings and bestow comfort.

Memories enrich and give meaning to our lives. May you delight in my Full Circle.

About Full Circle (Click title for the Amazon link.)

All nine stories in this collection are the author’s actual memoirs or based on her memories. Some include the names of actual people, while others have been changed. Some are sweet. Some are touching. Some are bittersweet. All are memorable.

About Myra

Myra Fay Graubard earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from California State University Los Angeles. She is a retired instructional assistant, who directed an elementary school computer lab. She also aided high school and elementary special needs students. Ms. Graubard worked as a graphic artist for an engineering firm. She is a freelance writer, who penned a collection of poetry, Within the Without. Her published articles have appeared in Antique Doll Collector, Doll Reader, Teddy Bear & Friends, and The Collector’s Eye. Myra resides in Southern California, ten minutes from Disneyland, with her family

 

Happy 4th of July!

This is an encore of a blog from July 4, 2003. Thought you might enjoy seeing it again.

I’ve been thinking about one of the most memorable ones in my life. I happened to read it again today and wanted to share it with you:

Independence Day - July 4, 2000 *

Our last year in Japan, we invited a large group to our home to enjoy a traditional 4^th of July barbecue. Our California friends, Dave and Ruth, had just arrived for a visit, so it was also a chance to introduce them to our co-workers, friends and Japanese “family” including Misayo-san and Kazue.

The evening before, we had decorated the apartment using fans I had purchased in the US, embellished with a flag motif. With a red tablecloth and white napkins and accessories, it looked very patriotic.

While I was at work, Ruth made potato salad for the festivities. In addition, I had prepared baked beans, a green salad and brownies. We served assorted chips and other snacks, besides the customary hamburgers and hot dogs. Most of our guests brought additional snacks, sweets and desserts. We fired up the charcoal in the small barbecue we had purchased at the Price Club. Two of the Japanese guys commandeered the spatulas and became our cooks for the evening.

Many of the people who attended were Japanese and had never experienced a real “American-style” 4^th of July before. We played lots of patriotic music, and ate our meal on the balcony while enjoying the twinkling lights of Osaka at night. We lamented the absence of fireworks, but God had other plans. He provided a fabulous thunderstorm that no man-made pyrotechnics or laser show could begin to match. And He waited until we were finished with our barbecue before it began.

Most people viewed the heavenly display from inside, but our friend Casey insisted on remaining out-of-doors where he could get the full effect of the thunder and lightning.

Everyone enjoyed the party. Dave and Ruth got to meet our friends, and we were able to introduce the Japanese to a real “red, white and blue” Independence Day celebration.

Perhaps being so far away from home at the time, this particular holiday was especially precious to us.

We’re grateful for each one we get to celebrate, and for living in this fabulous country. Spending time elsewhere heightened our appreciation for America and its blessings!

So, celebrate in whatever way has meaning for you. Freedom is a hard-won privilege. Don’t ever forget it!

* Excerpt from 31 Months in Japan: The Building of a Theme Park

©2005 Lorna Collins

Work Families

During my working years, I was blessed to work for several companies where the employees became like family.

In 1978, I went to work for CF Braun & Co. Larry had already been employed there for thirteen years at the time. For the first six months, I was on probation (standard at the time). I felt as though I had to prove myself worthy to work there.

Once I had passed the test, however, I could have stayed for as long as I wanted. Many employees had been there for forty years or more. I was a “lifer” and would have stayed until retirement. Except, it wasn’t an option. The company was sold twice. With each sale, they lost customers. I left because we didn’t feel it was prudent for both of us to be employed by the same company.

During my seven years there, many fellow employees became closer than family. (Larry worked for the company for over thirty years in several different iterations and owners.) Even after both of us left, we remained in touch. We are still close to most of them, and we have groups on both Facebook and LinkedIn where we continue to share information.

About ten years later, after we moed to Orange County, I went to work for HC Power, inc. Once again, joining a new company was not an easy transition, and I felt I had to prove myself. However, soon these fellow employees became like another family.

I left in 1998 to work for three years in Japan. During my absence, the company was sold to PowerOne. I was asked to return in 2002 when we came back from Osaka, and I felt right at home once again. However, about eight months after I returned, PowerOne announced they were moving the manufacturing offshore and closing their California facilities.

We were such a close group, for the first two years after the company closed, we met on the first Friday of each month after work—just because we missed each other. We have groups on Facebook and LinkedIn to keep in touch.

In January, we suddenly lost one “brother,” Mehron “Ron” Khatiblou. I had worked with him in Engineering. I was out of town on the day of his memorial service, so I was unable to attend.

His month, we lost another “brother,” Raul Valerio, my former boss, in a paragliding accident. Last Friday, the “family” joined his family and friends to celebrate his life. I loved seeing everyone but wished the occasion had been a happier one.

The next place I worked, Downey Savings and Loan, was another extended family. Once again, few people who worked there ever left. I was employed there for seven years.

I adored the people. However, at the end of 2008, the FDIC closed the company—another victim of the banking collapse. I stayed on until mid-2009 to help with the closure.

Once again, we continue stay in touch through Facebook and LinkedIn. We have gotten together several times, and we all still miss seeing our friends.

My last job was a contract for Parker Aerospace, a subsidiary of Parker Hannifin. And once again, I felt as though I were coming home to a family. Many employees had been with the company for forty years, and few people left.

Even though I was only there for one year, I felt as though I had been at home.

Some people are lucky enough to work for one of these kinds of companies. I was blessed to work for several, and I continue to be grateful to count former employees of these companies among my close friends.

Sharing Memories

On Saturday, May second, thirty friends from three Alhambra grammar schools met at our house in Dana Point to renew old friendships and share memories, fifty-five years after we graduated from eighth grade together.

Not everyone who attended is shown in the photo. A couple arrived late, two left early, and a few others didn’t want to be in the picture.

I hadn’t seen one of the guys since sixth grade. He moved away in the seventh, but I was able to track him down. I’d stayed in touch with several over the years, and I’d found more of them last year when preparing for my high school fiftieth reunion. But this fellow wanted to reconnect with several of his friends—and he did.

One unexpected benefit was the mini-reunion of my husband and two of the guys he graduated from high school with. They were all two years ahead of the rest of us, but they competed in track and field together, so they had many shared memories and mutual friends. One was the older brother of an attendee, and the other was a husband.

Olamendi’s Mexican Restaurant in Capistrano Beach provided the fabulous food: pollo verde (chicken in green sauce), beef in red sauce, and fish in white sauce. I’m not a great fish fan, but this was incredible. Along with the meat, they brought tostada shells (bowls and flat), soft corn tortillas, beans, rice, shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, and (as if that weren’t enough), lots of fresh tortilla chips with huge bowls of fresh, hand-made guacamole and salsa. They als o sent their delicious dessert “Raquelitos”: flour tortilla pockets filled with pineapple, deep fried, and covered with cinnamon sugar. Yumm!

A couple of people brought additional salads, chips, drinks, and desserts. No one went home hungry! In fact, we packed large bags of food for several to take home. We took a few desserts to church the next day, and we still had far too much left. So we’ve invited friends for lunch nearly every day to use it up. The food was far too good to waste!

Some people live fairly close, but a few traveled long distances to attend—from Oregon, Northern California, Nevada, and Missouri!

Several of us shared our grammar school photos and compared how we looked as kids with how we look now. We’ve held up pretty well!

During the afternoon, laughter echoed through the yard as a few people (mostly the guys) told tall tales. As he left, one of them said, “It felt like we were right back in fifth grade again.”

Although the event ended far too soon, plans are already underfoot for the next get-together.

Some of us gals got together near the end for one last photo of our feet. Mine’s the bare ‘baby’ one on the left. The shot shows the diversity as well as the closeness we share. Amazing! After fifty-five years, friendships endure and memories remain fresh.

Have you ever attended a grammar school reunion? Did you recognize each other? What surprised you?

A Wonderful Reunion

Today we fly home from Washington State after an eleven-day trip to attend the 2014 Rick Steves’ Tour Reunion. This event is held every January so those who shared a tour during the previous year can meet again in Edmonds. Many of the tour guides from Europe attend as well. This year, the little town of Edmonds hosted over 3000 people for this event!

Before the reunion last weekend, however, we visited with several of our friends who live in the area.

We started our visit with our dear friend Rev. Serena Sullivan in Tacoma. She had stayed with us in Dana Point for a few days last year, so we loved seeing her once again. We’d never been to this lovely city before, so we enjoyed exploring, and she was a great guide. Our friend is now retired, so she had discretionary time to spend with us.

We enjoyed the Glass Museum as well as the Natural History Museum. She drove us on a scenic tour of the area, and we wandered through the cute little shops in some of the charming areas of town. We even went to the show one evening to see “Into the Woods” in a charming old theater. Oh, and we ate in several wonderful restaurants.

While based in Tacoma, we drove to Woodinville o spend a day with our friends, the Newtons. We hadn’t seen them since about 1991, and really enjoyed catching up. We talked all day and still had lots and lots to share.

After several days in Tacoma, we checked into our hotel in Edmonds. While there, we went to Mukilteo to meet another friend from Whidbey Island for lunch. We hadn’t seen her in years, either. The Newtons surprised her by joining us. We all attended the same church many years ago, so once again, we had lots to catch up on. Fortunately, the restaurant wasn’t too busy because we occupied a large booth for well over three hours, and they allowed us to stay!

A couple of days later, we drove to Bellevue to spend the day with our friends, the Donovans. They are more former members of the same church family. They moved to Washington in the 1980s, and we have stayed in touch through the years. We visited them when we were in WA in 1991, but we haven’t been together since.

We were invited for lunch, but when asked to stay for dinner, too, we happily agreed. Another seven hours with still more conversation left for the future!

On Saturday morning, the day of the reunion, another tour member from our group, Mas, met us at the hotel, and we all drove together to the Edmonds Conference Center for the formal event.

What a great time! Nine of us (nearly half of our 21 tour members) showed up. One couple came all the way from Ohio! We laughed and talked and shared memories and caught up. Our guide, Virginie, had come from France, and we enjoyed seeing her again.

We were the group which had the most members present, and we won the prize—Gummy Bears!

We also had our photo taken with Rick, Unfortunately, Larry had run back to the car, and Dick took the photo, so both of them were missing. (We don’t have the copy of the photo yet.)

One Rick Steves’ tour requirement is for each person in the group to select a stranger to be their ‘buddy’ throughout the trip. When the group reunited at the bus or to start a new adventure, we did a ‘buddy check’ to make sure everyone was present. Mas was my buddy. Larry’s buddy, Dick, also attended. The relationships we had formed over the two weeks of our trip remained strong.

On Sunday, the company presented events for anyone interested in a future trip to ‘test drive a tour guide.’ Throughout the day, in three different locations, tour guides showed slides and described their tours. Then, if anyone was interested, the guides made themselves available for questions at the Conference Center.

We’d talked about going to Spain, so we attended the early presentation on the basic tour of Spain’s major cities. Since another presentation about a different tour of Spain was scheduled after one on Italy, we decided to sit in on that one as well. Rick himself provided the narration. We really enjoyed being reminded of all the great memories of our own Italian trip.

After the second Spain presentation, we decided to go to lunch, and who did we run into? Our friend Mas! We all ate lunch together, enjoying one last chance to connect.

After lunch, our tour guide, Virginie, took part in the presentation on the trip we had enjoyed. So we attended that one to give her support. She did a wonderful job! If we hadn’t done it already last year, we’d have been ready to sign up.

We took the opportunity to say goodbye to her once more before returning to the hotel late in the afternoon.

During the night, we had a six-hour power outage. When we woke in the morning, the power was back on, but some parts of the area were still in the dark. The wind and hard rain the night before had caused several severe outages.

After breakfast, we packed and drove to the hotel near the airport for our last night in Seattle—careful to avoid the traffic for the football game! (Seattle won, and the city went crazy!)

We checked in and then returned the rental car.

So today,we’re headed home, ready to get back after a terrific trip filled with visits with old friends and new ones, including those with whom we experienced the glory of France.