Great Memory from Guam

One of the years I had spent in Guam was what my parents called the “Party Year” my dad was a popular air man (man in the Air Force) and he would throw parties a lot and they would be pretty crazy at times like I know friends of my dad would know me just by seeing me and him with just a glance because they served together in the military and they would say “Hey it’s Travis and his son _____”. One of the the best parties thrown was on my second birthday, and all the main party men and women on base attended all the Captains and Sergeants came and the party went on so long that my mom and dad both had to fill their personal closets with gifts that people had gotten me and they had to make so many runs for more drinks, food and stuff like that because every hour more people would come as people would leave if people even left, But mind you I was two so I don’t remember so well but as one of the few things my divorced parents can agree on its that the party was crazy and “Off the Chizain” as my dad said to be funny Haha.

I also remember going to the beach on Guam it was really pretty and this was the first and only fresh water beach I had been to and it was clear so I could see the fish in it and as a kid you know thats an amazing sight to see as a three or four year old. I remember my dad taking me out to swim a lot and that is really fun even though I already knew how to swim at a really young age but hanging out with my dad and swimming was nice to be able to do with my dad since he was normally working and didn’t really get home till I was already in bed. Sometimes though my dad would go mess around with some of his buddies from work or would go mess around in the water by himself and one of those times he got a goggle set with like a snorkeler and the goggles, you know the whole Wal-Mart swim gear thing, well he went off by himself and came back and when he came back he walked up to me and he said “Hey son want to try and see if you can use the snorkeler” and my mom said “Travis Don-” and he goes “Shhh Babe”. and so I put it up to my mouth and immediately make a disgusted face and spit it out now learning that the thing tasted like the awful salt water and I sat there with a face that like I just took a bite through and entire lemon half, and my mom and dad were just laughing and laughing.

Another memory I remember greatly is the coconuts from Guam they were in all the trees and if you were lucky and didn’t want to climb the tree they were in your yard too, But my dad and mom had a nice computer so they would look up recipes and stuff that could be used with or in Coconuts. My dad would always have to buy the Coconuts though at the local market or from neighbors who would have an abundance of them, However one day he decided he was going to climb our tree and grab some from there to use as cups and make drinks for another get together him and his buddies were gonna have for a football game and well we didn’t own a ladder and stuff so he couldn’t climb up there with that so he decided to just climb up there with his hands and well for a fit man in his mid 20’s that should be easy well this is just a straight up climb with no other branches in the way for him to use but he eventually makes his climb but as he is up there and knocking down coconuts one falls onto the roof and slides off and dents the hood of his Camaro (don’t know which model) and he smacks the tree and curses “&*%$” and then out of pure irony another one falls off and knocks him on the head he doesn’t fall but he does climb down after cursing some more. Once my dad gets inside the house though he takes the Coconuts to my mom and she notices the huge bump on his head and gets him some Ice and a few hours late everyone enjoys Coconut themed drinks and cups and enjoys a football game most likely the 49’ers because thats his favorite team.

But from all my fond memories of Guam I can say that I loved it there it was a simpler time and everything was more easygoing than it is today, and I would love to return there to visit. 2