Memories on Monday

This past weekend, I celebrated the anniversary of my arrival in this country, 45 years ago!  I had left my country of birth, almost a year before that, with my mother and step-father, at the end of August, in 1973.  I was 17 then.  I spent almost one year, travelling through parts of Asia with them.  We spent a little over two months in Malaysia, where we visited with family and friends.  Then, we went to Hong Kong for several weeks, visiting with family.  After that, we went to Taiwan, where we had more family and where my mother accepted a teaching position for a term.  After that, we went back to Hong Kong.

My mother and step-father stayed there for nearly three years, but, in August 1974, I came over to the United States to attend university.  I was 18; it was my very first time going anywhere without my mother!  I still remember that flight, as if it was yesterday - from Hong Kong to Seoul, South Korea where I had to transfer planes, where my travel agent had omitted to book me on the connecting flight and I was worried that, if I delayed, I would miss the rest of my connecting flights!  The personnel at the airport were a bit suspicious of me since my name was not on the passenger list for the connecting flight and I had to undergo a physical security check, but, finally, they let me board the flight!  Then, to Honolulu, Hawaii, which was my port of entry and I had to go through Customs.   I remember the Customs officer giving me a hard time about some bars of chocolate I had with me!

From Honolulu to Los Angeles International Airport.  I had to get from the International terminal to the domestic flights terminal for my next flight.  I went to the airline counter, but it was closed and I had no idea where to go. A gentleman who was on the same flight from Honolulu (I had seen him as we were getting off the plane; he had been with a lady and a little girl) approached me and introduced himself as a former employee of that airline and asked if he could help!  I explained that I needed to catch my next flight and he said he'll show me the way.  I trusted him on the strength of having seen him on the plane with a lady who I assumed was his wife (she wasn't with him at this time, though), and followed him, at night, through a parking lot, to the other terminal!

There, I waited for several hours until my flight was called.  From Los Angeles to Chicago, from Chicago to Milwaukee, from Milwaukee to Green Bay, Wisconsin!  By the time I arrived at my destination, I had been flying for two days, crossed the International Date Line, and lost a day in the process!  I had also lost one of my suitcases!  By the time it was located at the Los Angeles airport and forwarded to me, it had been broken into and several items stolen, including a new, portable typewriter which had been my parents' gift to me.  The replacement typewriter they sent led to a long lasting friendship with a lady who worked at the post office!

Oops!  I just realized that I had written about my arrival in this country in a previous post, too!  You know you've been blogging too long when you start repeating yourself in posts!  Or, maybe I'm getting old: "Did I tell you about the time I _____________ (fill in the blank)?"  "Only about a dozen or so times, dear."  LOL.  Oh, well, that other post has more details, if anyone is interested!

It's been another day of phone calls.  Neighbor T called, again, this morning, and we chatted a bit.

Later, I called the doctor's office to see if they had received my ultrasound results.  They had received them, but, the doctor has not reviewed them, yet.  They said they will call me, tomorrow, after the doctor reviews them.  If they don't call, then, I'll call them, again.

I also received a call from the Auto Club about my membership and car insurance renewal.  They had sent me a form to sign, earlier, and I had gone in person to the office to discuss it with one of their agents and I was told to disregard it.  But, now, they are calling me about it, again.  I will go back to the office, tomorrow, and discuss this whole matter again, with another agent!  It's a good thing I am retired and have time to do all this, isn't it?

In between phone calls, I changed my bed sheets and did a load of laundry.  After tea, I took the trash can to the curb (only the black garbage bin) and watered the garden.

Today, I am grateful for:
- Events that took place 45 years ago
- Memories
- Friendships
- Library books
- Cooler evenings


Monday's To Do List:
- Change my bed sheets - DONE
- Do laundry - DONE
- Vacuum - DONE
- Water the garden - DONE
- Take the trash cans to the curb - DONE
- Pay the phone bill - DONE

Tuesday's To Do List:
- Call the doctor's office
- Go to the Auto Club
- Water the houseplants
- Other things as needed