Laguna Beach's Oldest Lifeguard Vet, Johnny Garau

During my workouts at the YMCA a few years back, I heard this "Legend of Laguna", Johnny Garau, talking story about the Olympics in Barcelona.  The topic of the Olympics is automatically a cue for me to join in the conversation. Many stories followed before Johnny 'caught the last boat', August 23, 2013. He was ready.  He was ready.

ALOHA JOHNNY, now we'll keep our eyes open for your sailboat, O'Johnny, in the Dana Point Harbor.

Such a character! Such a surfer! Such a history!

Johnny was named after his dad, Aurelio, when he was born in 1925.  He was brought up and lived most of his life in Laguna Beach.  He also lived on his boat in the Dana Point Harbor for 35 years.  Up until last week he was Laguna Beach's oldest living lifeguard vet. Many locals smile when they recall meeting him and how, at one time, he swam or surfed to work! Yup, he kept his boat out in the ocean, not far from Thalia Street Beach in the old days. He would dive off his boat in the morning and surf to the beach.

When he was a kid out on the family ranch, he liked his tree house and liked to swing from the trees just like his idol, Tarzan, Johnny Weismuller.  Johnny Weismuller, recipient of five gold medals in swimming during Olympic Games in the 1920's.  Johnny Garau had lots of names. Aurelio, Frenchy, Uncle and Junior were a few. He liked the name "Johnny" best because of Weismuller and it stuck.  His parents asked him what he would like for his First Communion present when he was seven years old. He told them he wanted to see the Tarzan movie.  After they took him for pie at Knott's Berry Farm, they all went to see the movie Tarzan the Ape.

His dad, who became a father late in life, was his first teacher along with his very proper mom and the German Dominican nuns at St Catherine's Military Academy. There were many rules for him while growing up and this is what gave him a strong foundation which enabled him, I believe, to fly so high in life. Again, such a character!

His dad had an exciting life. He went hunting in North Aftica while in the military 'as a kid', worked in a mine and later worked in the restaurant and catering business. He catered for dignitaries and eventually Queen Victoria's Funeral. He moved to the east coast of the USA, worked at world fairs and went hunting with Teddy Roosevelt. Later moved to California and among many things, owned the Cotton Club in Los Angeles and Victor Hugo's, now Las Brisas, in Laguna Beach.  His dad was friends with several of the first Hollywood movie stars including Mary Pickford, as well as the opera singer, Caruso and the musician Cab Calloway. His mom spoke four languages. She came from the Blanchard Family who ran wagon trains, some of them from Canada, during the pioneering days. One of the wagon train stops was Las Vegas, New Mexico where Johnny's mother was raised. She was born in Texas. There is great history from both sides of his grandparents as well.

He often spoke of the afterlife...
was more than ready...
for those Olympic sized...
waves in the sky.

Aloha Johnny.

We are all one
in one Great Spirit.

(to be continued)

Great Olympic Fan, Eleanor Weems, World War II Pilot Flying Higher

This incredibly awesome woman, my 'California Mum', is one of the reasons I am writing this blog. It has been Eleanor's great enthusiasm for the entire Olympic movement that first got me interested in the games during the summer my sister and I lived with her family many years ago.

Her daughter, Frances, phoned me Friday to tell me her mom, (96 years old), was not responding.

Could do nothing else but head to be with her in Newport Beach, California.

After being by her side through the night last night, breathing with her, Fran and I went a few blocks away to 8:00 A.M. Sunday Mass at the little chapel on Balboa Island.

At 8:35 A.M. this morning, exactly when we were receiving Holy Communion, Eleanor left her earthly body. In her time...in His time.

Our World War II pilot passed beyond the clouds she once flew in.

She's now flying higher...stronger.

Olympics and Obama's Personal Speech on Race

Obama's speeches have been so inclusive, always from the people's perspective.
But this July of 2013 he spoke for himself about a personal topic and encouraged all of us to do so.

Here are a few of my many personal thoughts at random:

• Brought up by the most inclusive person I've ever known, my dad.
• Studied in a Liberal Arts College, Chestnut Hill, where many were advocates of the poor.
• Graduated, taught in California, worked and traveled freely around Europe and the Middle East.
• Taught and traveled for a few years in Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Taiwan.
• Was not allowed to enter some places in Asia where signs were posted, "No Whites Allowed".
• Heard from many Asians who had greater fears of blacks than any other country I'd been in.
• After several years in that part of the world went directly to work in Mexico City during the Olympic Games. Entered the Athlete's Olympic Village where everyone, for the most part, had manners.  Then was shocked at my own embarrassment as my friends pointed out the rudeness of Team USA's blacks inside the Athlete's Village. Tried to defend them by reminding my co-workers that there's a large range of types in every culture. Then after several times inside the village saw so much of it that I too had some personal negative thoughts. Perhaps having been around the 'ever so polite' Japanese where etiquette is a priority gave even more contrast.
• Obama as a young boy, for a couple of years in Asia...how difficult it must have been for him.

Then there was my year in Rio de Janeiro, where three million gathered a day ago for the Pope Francis.
Rio, where smiles and sidewalks, music and dancing, beaches and volleyball, white people and black people...blend.

Just as Obama said, talking about it will help many to understand. It can bring the inside out and clear the air. We often feel great after a good wringing out, aye?  And we all know that understanding and tolerating and sometimes celebrating differences can and will bring...
a more peaceful world,
a more peaceful country,
and a more peaceful home.

To Be or Not to Be, That is the Question

After my front desk duty at the Community/Senior Center
this afternoon went to a great Shakespeare/Musical
Production at Heisler Park in Laguna Beach.



Somehow my mind drifted to things 'to be' or 'not to be', archives, then paper...yup PAPER. 
Which will be around in long term future? Digital images or hard copies!? Archival paper is not the norm. Digital copies might be difficult to retrieve with the future of changing technologies. Which is better for thousands who work on family history, family journals and story telling.  The Dead Sea Scrolls survived, will digital? A question that many have.

Well here is a bit of an example of a hard copy. 
Notice the name "Carole Cadora" disappearing.
No doubt, like most, this is not archival paper.

IBC, International Broadcasting Center!

Sochi 2014 and Olympin!

Returned to the West Coast after attending a festive reunion with so many awesome classmates from Chestnut Hill College, in Chestnut Hill, Pa.  (So enjoyed Kathy Heidere, a classmate, who went to the Montreal 1976 games. We had a good chuckle about bumping into each other in Canada.  Such a buzz.) Among the pile of mail upon my return was a package from Olympin in New York.

The pin for Sochi 2014 was enclosed and had no Olympic rings!

Pimco, who once gave the license to the club, was no longer in charge of producing Olympic pins. Hmmm, nothing more permanent than change, aye? Now wondering about the new pin licenses. Many Russians, traditionally, had "pin fever". It will be interesting.  It seemed many more Russians than usual attended the 76 games...most likely because Moscow 1980 was to be next on the 'game plan'.

A Putin quote opens the Sochi Website:

"We are determined to organize a real celebration in 2014, a festival of sport, deserving of its unique mission: to unite people around the world with really significant values - a healthy lifestyle, tolerance and equality."

Household Projects Have Been Ongoing

Household projects are leading me to some fun Olympic visuals.

An example of an Olympic Certificate. I received this

after working for the AOB, Atlanta Olympic Broadcasting

 during the Centennial Olympic Games.  The two names in

the lower corners are Juan Antonio Samaranch and William 

Porter Payne.

Inauguration Day Parade, Washington DC

Crowded events keep many people away.  Occasionally they even keep me away.

Many years ago in between living in Asia and Brazil, I was home in the USA helping my dad and mom in our family business.  1969 was the busiest year my dad ever had.  When the inauguration day arrived that "excitement inner clock" of mine went off at 4:00, 4:00 AM.  This time the thought of a crowded event did not keep me away.  Quite like the Olympic crowd!

My parents were sleeping and although I wanted to wake them and ask them if they wanted to drive to Washington DC, I knew they were exhausted and opted to write them a note that went something like this: "Mom and Dad, I happened to wake up very early and have decided to drive to DC to join in on the historical inauguration event.  I will phone you later."

I arrived in DC and found a great parking space close to where the parade was forming. Soon after I exited my car, dressed neatly in one of my spiffy hand tailored Hong Kong suits I walked by a few of the floats that were ready to roll. The driver of the Florida float chatted with me and explained that the girl that was to ride with him could not make it.  

Yup, you guessed what he asked me next..."Would you like to ride in the parade?"

Naturally I answered YES!  And soon found myself waving to thousands.

It is such a fun world...and THAT was SUCH a fun day!

The Profound Power of THE Flame

Just what is it about the power of a flame?

The last thing I emptied from my car prior to heading to help salvage some family history and some of my own history in NJ was to place the bonfire wood I got from Bill Holder out for neighborhood grabs.
Was planning to have a bonfire on the beach in November 2012 but because nothing is more permanent than change, had to give up that little stash of kindling.  Just love bonfires and once in while driving home by Aliso Beach in the evening we will just stop and enjoy the sight of bright fires on a dark night with the the melody of the ocean in the background. Mm mm good!

As a kid, candles lit on our dining room table and made our meals so ceremonial! Candles across Atlantic Avenue at Saint James Church made our prayer time more sacred.  Fires in our "6404" fireplace made our cold winter nights warm and cozy.  Lit candles on our birthday cakes always made us a bit breathless just as fire works did on the 4th of July.  ( For my kids, Don and Marion, occasionally I would light a candle for small meals, even if we were only having a tuna fish sandwich!)

The seven day candles in Old Serra Chapel in San Juan Capistrano made our family have hope in hard times and allowed us to give others hope by lighting a special candle for them. The iron workers out on the Mission grounds made useful tools with their fire, just as the Mission's ovens modeled from Spain's 13th century ovens were used making Capistrano the place where technology began in California.

Whether it be at the Kris Kringle night time markets of Europe, the fire dancers of the South Pacific or the flames that attract fish to the fishing boats in Asia, the warm candlelight of Chestnut Hill College's chapel, fire, when used for good, makes us feel incredibly good.

Whether it be the huge torches along the night beaches of Waikiki or simply a tiny tea candle in a jam jar hanging from a tree or placed by a flower in the center of the table during evening cocktail time, fire can make a serene lovely night lovelier.

But just what is it about the magnificently PROFOUND POWER OF THE OLYMPIC FLAME...

Montreal 1976 Olympic Flame

There is not one person that I know that has not been profoundly moved by the Olympic Flame. 

Mexico 1968 Olympic Tee Shirt

Such fun to find...

A simple well designed tee shirt in 1968! 

The orange and yellow dish was a gift, and there is

another identification card used in the old analog

broadcasting days.  Such a well known name and

well loved athlete, Don Schollander!

That Was Not Santa Who Brought That Sack

...But it sure felt like Christmas when

 George III stopped by.

Hurricane Sandy

Tucked in an old trunk, during Hurricane Sandy.
Mexico, Munich and Montreal programs and 
articles of SammyLee, DrYou, etc.

Sandy

Here is the last sentence of my last post of this blog which I wrote in California during the hurricane:
Now back to Twitter and the news about Hurricane Sandy and our wet boxes under the beds.

Now here I am, writing this post back at the Southern New Jersey Shore!

So many stories, so much disaster...
along with so much gratitude that all our family members were safe.

So here I am, on Absecon Island, one of the barrier islands along the Atlantic Coast.

And before I return to saving old family history photos which are more important than the Olympic memorabilia, and for the most part, are almost dry now, the Olympic Pins that I spoke of in my last post were in my old backpack which was on the floor of the basement.  Of course we were all thinking of the value of a human life, not things, so I did not dare ask for anything beforehand.  Days passed and wondered if I should ask for a few items.  There were days with no power. That was another reason not to call and use up their precious cell time.  Then, after making my own executive decision to fly back word came of another storm.  Was wondering where if could camp/sleep.  So of course would not fly back.  Then Christy asked if I wanted anything out of 3 North during that wet windy week; she told me that George III was able to get to the island.  So told her about Lois's box under the bed and and my ruck sack.  BINGO! Later received a text from her...atttached was a great photo of George and Lois's items drying that had previously been floating items in a long plastic box.

Her text read, "Rescued!"  : )

Pin Trading Venue in the Olympic Park

So many distractions since I last wrote including my Southern New Jersey Shore stay at 3 North, a rad basement dwelling which I heard today is under a foot of agua and rising! Superstorm Sandy 2012!

Continued my Olympic Park strolling.  Stopped to chat often.  Everyone was eager to share their excitement, met mostly British.  The foreigners I met that first day had primarily come to the UK with an organized tour group.  Most were not hesitant to express how expensive everything was.

When I got to the Coca Cola Pin Trading building in the park, was surprised to see a line primarily because I hadn't seen many Olympic fans walking around with lanyards of "metal" hanging around their necks or hats covered with Olympic pins.  Waited about fifteen minutes to enter and had a bit of a "walk through" to familiarize and update myself.  This pin trading center was quite different from previous games; all the pins were Coca Cola pins.

I set up my pins from previous games, on the only empty table.  My first trades were with folks I chatted with while I cued up for entrance.  Then there were a few others and then, many young kids with their parents who I ended up giving pins to in order to get them started.  It is always fun to trade and chat, as most agree.  The most enjoyable part is meeting interesting people from all over the world.

Never found the Hyde Park Coca Cola Pin Trading Venue even though I was in the park many times. The park was across from my temporary home near Lancaster Gate.  After one of the swimming events there I saw a great sign, one sign leading the way to "Pin Trading", I headed in the direction the sign was pointing then nada, niente!  Decided to go to the Serpentine Museum instead and it was a great decision.  It featured Yoko Ono's exhibition. (Yoko walked right next to me when she entered closing ceremony btw.)

Did have some good fun trading at the entrance to the Olympic Village one day as well.

Now back to Twitter and the news about Hurricane Sandy and our wet boxes under the beds.

Two Pies and a Quiche = Olympic Ticket!

Strolled, paused, and gazed.  That's what i did most inside the Olympic Park 2012.  Was delighted to simply soak in the exciting and peaceful atmosphere.  

When I met locals from London, I would ask them how they got their Olympic tickets. Heard lots of interesting answers. 

While sitting on a bench 'people watching' near the large Olympic Park Map, I met an interesting man.  We had a good conversation about several topics and I asked him how he got his Olympic ticket.  He seemed glad that I asked him that question.  Probably eager to tell someone just why he was there.

"Today is my birthday" he said.
"My wife tried for a long time to get me an olympic ticket for a birthday present. It was very difficult".

"One day she decided not to give up, she was patient and waited and waited and started baking while she waited.  She was determined not to lose her cue.  She finally got a response...AFTER she had baked two pies and a quiche!"

Entrance to the Olympic Park London 2012

Thrilling walk through the entrance of the Olympic Park!  Took my time to enjoy; watching others, giggling with new friends, soaking in the atmosphere and shooting pics of fellow fans with the "London 2012" and the famous stadium in the background.

Could make this lengthy but, quite simply, just being in the park fulfilled my goal for London 2012.  Music filled the air, guides were everywhere, roaming entertainers brought smiles and no doubt the ice cream girls became expert guides by the end of the games.

Many have written about the details of the park but I'll tell you a few things that you might not read about...

My First 2012 Olympic Ticket

"Keep Moving" was another phrase that was repeated by the guides.  But hey, I just needed to stay in one place for a bit to use my magic marker on one of the sheets of paper I quickly tore out of my sketch pad during my hasty departure from California just about 48 hours beforehand.

Chatted with one of the police while i was making my sign, trying to educate him : ) a bit.  I reminded him that this had always been part of the Olympics.  And wouldn't it be wasteful if someone had an extra ticket and couldn't find someone like me. Waste is never good, aye? 

I remember wishing that i brought my vest with many olympic patches since Mexico '68 which would have given me a more official look but it turned out that i didn't need it and now am thinking that it actually might have attracted too much attention because less than two minutes after I held my magic marker sign up, next to the very kind officer of peace, a dark haired women came up to me and asked, 

"What event do you want to see?" 

"I just need to get inside the Olympic Park" I said.

And bingo with a big smile she handed me a ticket for Olympic Park entry only.  

I quickly reached in my pocket for some historic olympic pins for an exchange/trade/thank you and she said,

 "No, I cannot accept anything". 

"But please" I said,  "let me give you some very collectable pins"...and as she rushed off to the Olympic Park entrance I asked her why not and then she turned and simply said...

"It is a sponsor ticket for you to enjoy from Panasonic". 

Opa!

(Quick flash back of time:  While living in Honolulu, Hawaii in the mid nineteen seventies I went to Panasonic's show room to attend their open house to check out new video recording and video editing systems.  There were others also checking out the new technologies.  Among them were KGMB's chief, Don Cadora and their sound specialist Jim Waters. Jim became a good friend and Don became my husband.) 

Magic at the Olympic Park

Tube travel from Lancaster Gate to Stratford was direct, longer than expected and crowded.  I stood all of the way and chatted with an enjoyable young man with a stronger than usual accent.  He spoke quickly and I found myself straining a bit to understand his English.  He worked at the Olympic Park's McDonalds.  He was excited to work 'inside the park' and hadn't seen any events or any pin trading.  He didn't even know pin trading existed although at former games it often took place around McDonalds so naturally that took me by surprise.  Especially by the second week.

I wasn't wearing my olympic vest with patches from most of the former games and wasn't wearing my lanyard with hunks of metal around my neck.  For that matter, didn't see anyone else wearing their metal pins around their necks or even on their hats.  I remember thinking that this was a bit strange because by the second week of most Olympics, pins were everywhere, along with the fun conversations and merriment that went along with pin trading.

At Stratford crowds from our train and huge crowds from many other trains were guided around to the right to the long walk to the entrance to the park.  "Have your tickets ready" was one of the most common announcements from guides along the way.  I finally got close to the entrance and then after inquiring, found that tickets were returned via "the collections booth".  Hmm "collections".  Got in line for collections booth and asked about returned tickets and was told that they didn't know what happened to those tickets that were returned but they did know that they could not sell them.  Much later heard that there was a place inside the park where purchases could be made.  But how to get inside...that was the question.

Made a few more inquiries and got negative answers.

Then resorted to my favorite "old faithful" Olympic MAGIC PLAN.

Yup, as in MAGIC MARKER!

First Morning, Departure to Stratford and Olympic Park

Woke up earlier than expected.  Olympic butterflies. 

Enjoyed the view from my window, and the comfort of my room.  Placed a few perishable food items from California in the refrigerator knowing that food prices were quite dear before starting my journey to Stratford.

Headed around the corner to Lancaster Tube Station and purchased a travel pass for a week.  Thought is would be a lot less because of the inexpensive Olympic transport passes from the past Olympics. Wrong. There was no special deal for the games, just the regular Oyster Pass that most Londoners use on a daily basis.  And once this pass runs out "topping it up" is costly.  Almost four dollars for a very short round trip within a boundary.  London residents had advantages, tourists did not. (My thoughts quickly went to Hawaii where a senior can travel miles for a dollar, no boundaries, no zones. Transfers were permitted, unlike London.  And NYC where you need no transport pass to exit and no matter what time of day, the price remains the same.)  All in all, my transport expense was aprox 12.00 per day including Heathrow Airport Connect, not Heathrow Express to and from Paddington Station.

Arrived at Stratford and followed the crowd...

My London 2012 Beginnings Across the Street from Hyde Park Olympic Venue

Will back track to give a bit more detail of the "first" hours.

When I rang the door bell of this very posh home in this very posh neighborhood, I felt a bit intimidated.  I was at the front door waiting and ringing the bell thinking that nobody was home.  But then, a musician/singer from Ireland who had been renting one of the rooms opened a window on a lower level.  He popped his cheery head out of the window and asked if he could help.  I explained who I was and he came up to the ground level from inside and let me in.  We chatted about music and a few other topics before the owner of the home arrived with her two sons, age 10 and 12.  After that a Russian music teacher arrived with a bundle of red roses. She would soon be leaving for St Petersburg and didn't want the beautiful flowers to be wasted. She then began to give violin and piano lessons to the boys after we had a chat.  I then headed off to Hyde Park Olympic Event.  

Hyde Park Olympic Venue is across the street!  Sweet, so sweet, aye?  And more importantly, this family is so so sweet!

Here I am in LONDON

...Thinking about Sunday, August 5th.  

Was chatting with my daughter who was in Hawaii, listening to her good news, and noticed a gmail reply on my computer screen.  Had received other replies to a request to exchange a room but wasn't interested.  Then suppose because I had been so busy and it was the first day that i had no agenda for a long time, because my plan of "not wanting to go to London because of the huge expense" was not working,  and because the email from London on my laptop was well written...everything changed.  

The response was from a young single mum who had an extra room in her home.  I replied and found myself ringing up Virgin Atlantic Airlines.  There was a "reward seat" cancelation, booked it, and bingo started packing.

Arrived in London within 48 hours, early Tuesday evening.  Headed for Hyde Park Olympic Event and slept well that night, really well. Next morning headed for Stratford, bought an Oyster Card and was able to find a ticket for the Olympic Park from one of the sponsors and spent an incredibly wonderful day inside the exciting park.  And the Olympic Park, just being in the Olympic Park, has been my favorite part of the Olympics. 

to be continued...

My London 2012 Experience; My Plan Did Not Work : )

My plan was to stay at the beach in California.

I suppose I now qualify as an Olympic Bum.

I fully intended to enjoy TV, many awesome iPhone Apps, and the incredible streaming technology that has come a long way...baby! Watched Opening Ceremony with Mike and Fran Sawdei in Laguna Beach.  Had fun experiencing the "digital games" for a while. Then Sunday came, August 5th, I woke up and everything changed.

Here I am in London!!!
Speechless in UK!  Listening to all these voices saying, "How can I help you, luv?"

So will try to capture in words during the next few weeks just how this all happened, yet again.

In the meantime, am off to the Railroad Tavern on Angel Way in Stratford, where the Olympin members and many others are meeting.  A post-games meetup. It's a great little pub and a good meeting place where the Olympin Club began many years ago. (Went last night and loved meeting the delegation from Cuba, Catherine Saluan from Russia, and the Wickstrom Family, the awesome Wickstrom Family and Bud Kling.  Some go months before to scout and prepare and bingo, here I am, low budget CWC! Such a buzz. haha)  Oh, did I get in?  Yes.  Will explain later!

The Electricity Over London's Opening Ceremony

Everything else in the world paled compared to the electricity in the air over London last night!

After the torch ran "the spirit" throughout the streets of UK, the blanket of magic covered the UK and the glory of the Opening Ceremony eradicated the ever present pessimism that comes prior to every Olympics, in every country.

Brilliant reflection of the humanity of the British!  Hundreds of years history unfolding from quiet pastures to the heavy labor of the industrial revolution, to present day upbeat life in that royal blue stadium with bright gold Olympic rings

...dynamic...funny...artistic...thousands of performing...kids jumping, sleeping, singing...Poppins dropping...Rowling reading...even handicapped reaching out to others.

...dancing digits displaying runners around the participating "spectator performers"!

Royalism...Bondism...Bechamism...musical mastery and meaningful symbolism grabbing our senses!

The hill of flags, flags of 204 countries decorating, flags standing in honor giving dignity to THE Olympic flag's entrance and the Olympic athletes of the world.  

And the lighting...the future ones lighting the 204 petals that rose up to the incredibly symbolic magnificent Olympic Cauldron!

The electricity now flowing around this fragile beautiful world...can you feel it?

Technology and London 2012, Part #1

http://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-blog/carry-on/2012/6/28/tech-thursday-must-have-apps-for-the-2012-london-olympics?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Technology and the Olympics

Technology and getting online was a big help for me during Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.  Looks like I will be using technology more than ever during 2012!

The fans, the Olympic committee, the athletes and the sponsors will be tech savy as they post, navigate, check the maps and tweet away.  In Beijing six million were using Twitter, that figure will be at least 140 million during the London Games.

With so many portable light weight devices the London fans will carry them into the stadiums and catch the action close up even if their seat is far away. No doubt the athletes and fans will be tweeting away.  Fans around the world who are unable to attend, will be able to interact with those attending the games; their family, friends or just folks they follow.  There is nothing more exciting than the feeling of being right there, but 'almost being there' where it all happens will be a close second!

Wimbergs Proud of Our Family Winner

Opa!  Our Lindsey Petrosh became Miss New Jersey this weekend.  Lindsey's mom, Joyce Wimberg Petrosh, my first cousin, is a Wimberg from Egg Harbor City in Southern part of NJ.  Egg Harbor, our family, and the entire state is bursting with pride!

Amazing Mascot Creations

Such creative juices must flow while the creators of these Olympic mascots begin their work of art. 

Jing Jing, Sumi, Sochi, Miga, Gliz, Hodori, such fun names! 

Olly the kind Kookaburra from Australia, Sam the eagle who danced into our hearts, Izzy the Olympic spirit with stars for eyes and Cobi the stylized Catalan sheepdog...I can still see his huge balloonish body disappearing in the sky above closing ceremony.  Amazing how so many who grew to love him so much so that sad sayonara tears fell from their eyes.

Amazing creations.  Amazing art.  Amazing creators.

The Magic of Olympic Mascots

Today was sitting and chatting on the beach with Fran Weems Sawdei.  Fran is a great sports fan who has attended the Olympic Games and It was her mom, Eleanor Olsen Weems, who first encouraged me to go to the Olympic Games. Eleanor, who is now 96 taught aviation and was one of the female pilots (WASPS) in WWII. (Incredible family)

One of the topics that came up as we chatted away by the ocean's edge was the mascots of the Olympic Games.  Fran mentioned that they were a rather recent addition.  And even though some think the design of the mascots are not so appealing, they sure do grow on you, just like E.T!

Thousands of real doves were released and The Dove of Peace was the symbol/mascot in Mexico ’68.  The Dove was pictured almost everywhere.  Although the dove was not a character walking around, it still spread the spirit of peace and the spirit of the Olympics during the games. 

A small stuffed animal, a dachshund, Waldi was sold in novelty shops throughout Munich in ’72.  

And now we have Wenlock and Mandeville.  Like several Olympic mascots of the past, a bit strange at first glance.  Then as they work and spread their Olympic spirit they become more lovable as the games progress.

Wenlock and Mandeville represent the start of the Industrial Revolution with their camera eyes.  No need for two, one with peripheral will do! They are named after the village “Much Wenlock” in Shropshire which hosted a precursor to the modern Olympic Games in the 19th century and “Stoke Mandeville” where the first paralympic games were held in 1948.  They’ve got some history to share, aye?

So get ready, no doubt they will be successful in sprinkling their “Mascot Magic” on you tool

Graduation, Lanakai Beach Day and a Great Olympic Invention

Glorious ceremonialism at the University of Hawaii this week during Marion Cadora's graduation from grad school.  Am so proud of my daughter's achievements.  Even though the ceremony was long it was delightful.  My son flew in from New York.  We were with a spirited group from HK, Marion's hale.  We went to post celebrations on campus and for me to have both of my awesome kids in one place was pure bliss.

And what beach was the best beach to chill and relax after all the pomp and parties?  Lanakai.

We met Carmen Enriquez and her daughter at Buzz's in Lanakai for a delicious lunch before the beach.  Both mother and daughter, Eva, are from Spain.  Carmen, a journalist, worked with Juan Carlos of Spain who was on the Olympic sailing team in 1992.  (Very much a part of the Olympic movement.)  Eva, fun-loving Eva, who also graduated, is a good friend of my daughter's.

At lunch interesting conversations flowed.  Among the topics was "inventions".  Later as we walked to the amazing beach at Lanakai, we saw that there were no trees to give a bit of shade.  In my beach bag I pulled out one of my favorite inventions that I've been carrying around now and then since the summer Olympics of '92.

Because it is often hot and sunny at the summer games, finding shade is desirable indeed.  Around '92, someone came up with an idea to assist the Olympic fans for the Barcelona games.  Someone from "la Caixa" funded the idea.

It was a large hat, a light weight paper hat, that could be folded up so small that it could fit into a small cd sleeve.  So small therefore easy to transport.  (I believe it was made in Korea and am not sure who came up with the idea.)

So Eva, Marion, Carmen, Don and I drove then walked to a beautiful spot on this heavenly v e r y sunny beach.  "Finding shade was desirable indeed."  So I reached in my beach bag for my protection, a very small item that became very large indeed!

Along with the popping open of that protective head cover, came laughter and giggles of recognition of "la Caixa" and the wonderful Olympics in Spain twenty years ago!

Great invention, great day, great functional Olympic memorabilia!  : )

Kitesurfing in Rio 2016

Yippy! The ISAF recently voted affirmative!  A "grandioso" new sport for the games, kitesurfing.  Am thrilled for our Orange County Kitesurfers.  Am thrilled for the future Olympic spectators as well.  And...for the kitesurfers who so often can be seen all over the Hawaiian Islands and wonderfully windy Kailua.  No doubt all the kitesurfers around the world will be celebrating and many preparing to go to my old home town in BRAZIL, BRASIL!

Cancellation Fun in Canada

Hundreds of olympic fans filled the central post office of Vancouver in order to cancel whatever they could cancel; post cards, envelopes, and almost anything that was made of paper!  Long high tables were set up in the main entrance area of the office.  Excited stamp collectors were permitted total freedom to cancel...almost anything.  They stood and canceled then moved slowly around the table to access all the designs for every winter sport as well as opening ceremony and closing ceremony.  Happy people meeting each other and chatting and exchanging olympic experiences as they canceled away and politely made room for curious newcomers.  

Something easy to transport home to family and friends to share a bit of the Olympics for no cost at all.

So for those of you on budget, take note : )  !!!