LIFE IN THE FAST LANE

MANY OF LFT'S OWN HAVE MOVED ON TO BIGGER AND BETTER LIFE A BROAD. IN THIS SEGMENT, WE PUBLISH A STORY FROM SALINAS IN CALIFORNIA USA.IT'S SISTER BULOU ROBANAKADAVU'S STORY...

GREETINGS FROM  THE LAND OF THE FREE & HOME OF THE BRAVE !!!

UNITED STATES HAS BECOME "HOME AWAY FROM HOME" FOR MANY OF US.
IT'S LIKE A  CHIC.BREAKING OUT OFF
IT'S SHELL INTO A BIGGER WORLD...TRYING TO STAND ON
ITS' TWO FEET & LEARN TO SURVIVE.

BORN & BRED BACK HOME - LAUTOKA, FJ ISLANDS.. WE
COULD TRAVEL AROUND THE MAINLAND [VITI LEVU] WITHIN A
DAY..  AND THEN MOVING ACROSS THE SAME PACIFIC OCEAN
TO THE U.S. - WE SEE THINGS ON A BROADER, LARGER
SCALE - THE LAND AREA & IT'S POPULATION & EVERYTHING
ABOUT IT.   OH!! MY, MY - IT IS HUGE!!!

WE  RESIDE IN SALINAS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.   SALINAS
IS KNOWN  TO BE  THE WORLDS  "SALAD BOWL".    IT IS
SIMILAR TO OUR SALAD BOWL BACK HOME IN NADROGA ,
[FIJI ISLANDS].   THE POP. IN SALINAS  IS MOSTLY
HISPANICS - WHO ARE  EMPLOYED   IN THE AGRICULTURE
INDUSTRY....DOING FARM WORK - STRAWBERRY FARMING,
ARTICHOKE FARMING, CABBAGE, LETTUCE & OTHER FRIUTS &
VEGETABLES... I TELL YOU -THESE ARE HUGE, HUGE
FARMS... YOU ONLY HAVE TO TRAVEL FROM SAN JOSE DOWN TO
LOS ANGELES VIA HWY I THEN ONTO HWY 5 TO VIEW THESE
BEAUTIFUL, HUGE  FARMS...

I  LIVE-IN WITH  A COUPLE - THE VARGAS. THE  GENTLEMAN
IS HISPANIC BY ETHNIC BUT BORN & BRED HERE IN THE U.S.
HE SERVED IN THE MILITARY OVERSEAS FOR SOMETIME BEFORE
JOINING THE SPRECKLES SUGAR [EQUIVALENT TO OUR F.S.C.
IN FJ] HERE IN SALINAS..    HIS WIFE HAILS FROM
MISSOURI..   THEY ARE IN THEIR LATE 80s, SHE WORKED AS
A WAITRESS THEN LATER OPENED HER COFFEE SHOP- WHILE IN
THE COFFEE SHOP BUSINESS, SHE  ALSO  WORKED AS A SALES
REP FOR HOME INTERIOR DECORATORS.. THEY BOTH DID
WORKED  EARNESTLY DURING THEIR PRODUCTIVE YEARS & ARE
NOW   ENJOYING THEIR RETIREMENT DAYS.  DUE TO THEIR
HECTIC SCHEDULES BACK IN THE 1960 - 1999, THE LADY OF
THE HOUSE, TODAY IS STILL AN EARLY BIRD - GETTING UP @
7AM EACH DAY, UNLIKE THE GENTLEMAN HE ENJOYS
SLEEPING-IN, THEN GETS UP LATER INTO THE DAY.  WHICH
GIVES ME AMPLE TIME TO ASSIST THE LADY WITH HER
MORNING CHORES, MEALS,READING THE DAILIES  BEFORE HER
HUSBAND GETS UP.

THIS WOULD BE MY 3RD YEAR WITH THE COUPLE AND HAVE
ENJOYED BEING WITH THEM & BECOME  PART OF THEIR
FAMILY.   FROM THE DAY I STARTED  LIVING WITH THEM,
MY B'DATE WAS ADDED WITH  THEIR B'DAY CALENDARS AND
WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS THEIR FAMILY TRADITION TO
CELEBRATE EVERYONES B'DAY...  GOD IS GOOD - CAUSE HIS
FAVOR IS ALWAYS AHEAD  FOR  HIS CHILDREN..  I
APPRECIATED THEIR KIND THOUGHTS - JUST GIVE ME A SEC.,
THIS IS SOME THING  I AM LEARNING & APPRECIATING
THAT WHEN WE CONNECT OUR LIVES WITH GODS WORD   ALL
THE TIME - HIS FAVOR WILL ALWAYS! I MEAN-ALWAYS GO
AHEAD OF YOU-EVEN,  IF IT MEANS YOU BEING IN A STRANGE
LAND WITH STRANGE PEOPLE - GOD,  SOMEHOW IN HIS
UNIQUE WAYS WILL WORK THINGS OUT IN YOUR FAVOUR - DO
YOU BELIEVE THAT ?? I DO A 100 % !! AMEN & THANK YOU
LORD !!  HALLELUJAH !! PRAISE BE TO GOD!! THATS  GOD
MOVING THEM  TO FAVOR HIS DAUGHTER...AMEN....!

IN SALINAS, THE SENIORS [AGE 65YRS. & ABOVE]  USUALLY
GET TOGATHER AT A CHURCH HALL ON TUESDAYS.   SANCKS &
LUNCH PROVIDED.  GUESTS  WERE  INVITED  TO  SHARE
TOPICS THAT ARE RELEVANT TO THE SENIORS & THEIR CARE.
BUSSINESS HOUSES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WOULD DONATE
FRUITS, CAKES, CANDIES, VEGES, YAMS etc...THE LUNCH
ORGANISERS WOULD SORT OUT  ALL THESE GOODIES & HAVE
THEM PACKED  AND GIVEN TO EACH SENIOR AS HE/SHE  SIGNS
IN & PAY $3.00/MEMBER.   SNACKS, COFFEE, MILK, JUICE,
WATER &  FRIUTS  AVAILABLE - SELF SERVICE-  ENJOY
THAT. WHILE SNACKING - THE TALKS WOULD BEGIN, FOLLOWED
BY Q & As.  SOMETIMES, THEY WOULD SING ONE OF THE
FAVOURITES HITS DURING THEIR DAYS - AND GUESS WHAT -
YOU BET - THE WORDS OF THOSE SONGS ARE STILL VIVIDLY
CLEAR AS CRYSTAL..FOLLOWED BY THOSE  WAVY HARMONIOUS
VOICES OF THE '20s, '30s & ON..  WHEN ALL IS SAID &
DONE  THEN LUNCH IS SERVED...THOSE THAT SERVE LUNCH
ARE ALSO SENIORS - IT THRILLS ME  TO SEE THE HEART OF
CARING, SHARING & SERVICE   AMONGST THEMSELVES... THEN
COMES THE MOST WAITED UPON / EXCITING TIME - DRAWING
OF TICKETS.. THESE TICKETS ARE ISSUED  AS THEY SIGN
IN... IF THEIR NOS. ARE DRAWN - THE  WINNERS  GET TO
PICK  WHAT THEY WANNA  TAKE HOME -EITHER A CAKE,
DOUGHNUTS,CANDIES OR PIES - WHATEVER IS THERE FOR THE
RAFFLES..FOR eg. IF 20 ITEMS ARE UP FOR GRABS, THE
TICKETS WILL BE THOROUGHLY JUGGLED & PICKED 20 TIMES /
UNTIL ALL THAT WAS DONATED HAS BEEN ISSUED TO A TICKET
WINNER.

THEY ALSO GET TO WEAR CERTAIN COSTUMES THAT DEPICT
CERTAIN DAYS THAT ARE OBSERVED   IN THE U.S. eg. ST.
PATRICKS DAY [IRELAND CELEBRATES/ IRISH DECENDENTS]-
THAT IS WHEN PEOPLE WEAR GREEN : GREEN HATS, GREEN
SUITS WITH MATCHING GREEN SHOES...,  ANOTHER EVENT
WOULD BE THE BEST HAT DAY - OH! I TELL - YOU'LL SEE
DIFFERENT SHAPED , DIFFERENT COLOURED, DIFFERENT SIZE
& STYLED HATS....OH! AND THEY ARE ALL  BEAUTIFUL  -
HEY! FOLKS  - DON'T MESS WITH OUR SALINAS SENIORS!
JUST KIDDING..   WELL, THESE ARE SOME OF THE EVENTS
THAT GETS THEM REJUVENATED - HAPPY & EXCITED ABOUT
LIFE, MEETING OTHER SENIORS & MAKING NEW FRIENDS.

WITH  THEIR  DOCTORS  APPOINTMENT DAY, THEIR DAUGHTER
USUALLY TAKES CARE OF THEM - TO & FRO THE CLINICS...
BUT IF THEIR DAUGHTER IS OUT OFF  TOWN, WE THEN USE
THE BUS SERVICES -  ONLY FOR SENIORS  - MST
[MONTEREY/SALINAS TRANSIT] RIDES - WE CALL & BOOK THE
RIDES ONE DAY IN ADVANCE , DRIVERS COME HOME,  PICK
THE CLIENTS & CARE-GIVERS, DROP  US  AT THE CLINIC &
PICKS AGAIN WHEN ALL IS DONE....FARE - $2.50 EACH WAY
ONLY FOR THE CLIENTS, CARE-GIVERS DO NOT NEED TO PAY
NOTHING..  THOSE  DAYS,   I  ACCOMPANY  THEM TO THEIR
CLINICS...  IT IS VERY INTERESTING TO LEARN  ABOUT THE
SERVICES  AVAILABEL ESPECIALLY   FOR  SENIORS. DON'T
FORGET, THESE BUS SERVICES ARE WELL  EQUIPPED TO
TRANSPORT SENIORS SITTING IN THEIR ELECTRIC CHAIRS,
WHEEL CHAIRS, THOSE WITH WALKERS  &  THEIR OXYGEN
APARATUS . ALL PROPERLY BUCKLED & FASTENED - DONE BY
THE DRIVER  BEFORE HE PROCEEDS TO THE CLINIC ...
REALLY APPRECIATE IT!


DINNER TIME   IS AT 5PM EVERYDAY..  THAT SCHEDULE
ONLY  CHANGES,   IF WE ARE AT THEIR  FAMILIES.   5PM
WAS ALWAYS DINNER TIME DURING THEIR WORKING DAYS,
BECAUSE THE LADY WOULD THEN  HAVE ENOUGH TIME  TO BAKE
HER PIES,  TO SELL   AT HER COFFEE SHOP  THE NEXT
DAY...  HENCE , THEY HAVE BECOME SO USED TO THAT
TIME...  AFTER DINNER,  IS WHEN THEY TURN ON  THEIR TV
PROGRAMS - THE LADY USUALLY  WATCHES  CNN - ONE OF THE
MOST WATCHED/TRUSTED  NEWS CHANNEL HERE IN AMERICA..
THE GENTLEMAN  FAVORS  BASEBALL & BOXING..  I WOULD
SIT  & JOIN EITHER ONE,  IF SOMETHING INTERESTING IS
ON-MEANING "ON  AIR".

JUST LATELY, THE LADY WOULD CALL AND ASK TO SHARE SOME
BIBLE READINGS WITH HER, WE'D DISCUSS FEW TOPICS &
PRAY TOGATHER...  LATER FOUND OUT THAT HER FAMILY DID
ATTENDED SUNDAYS SCHOOL DURING THE 1920 -1940s WHILE
IN MISSOURI.. SHE SHARED FEW THINGS THAT SHE &  HER
COUSIN WOULD DO  IN THEIR YOUNG DAYS - ONE OF WHICH
WAS,   THIS DAY THEY WERE  ASKED, TO GO  TO THE STORE
TO BUY SOME GROCERIES..WHATEVER CHANGE [MONEY]  WAS
GIVEN TO TAKE HOME, THEY DECIDED TO BUY FEW ROLLS OF
CIGARS, THEY SHARED THE CIGARS WALKING BACK HOME..
MIND YOU THESE ARE FARM GIRLS [BORN & BRED AROUND
FARMING LIFE]...THEIR PARENTS WORKED  ON VEG. & FRIUT
FARMS ALL THEIR LIFE... SO BESIDE THEIR HOME IS THIS
CREEK. THEY LOOKED AT EACH & SAID - HEY! REMEMBER, IT
IS SIN TO SMOKE - SO  LETS GO INTO THE WATER - YOU
BAPTISE ME THEN I WILL BAPTISE YOU , BECAUSE WE HEAR
IN CHURCH - THAT ONCE SOMEONE IS BAPTISED THEIR SINS
ARE CLEANSED... SO THEY WENT AHEAD  AND DID EXACTLY...
ON ANOTHER  DAY,  THEY  WANTED TO SMOKE AGAIN - BUT
NO MONEY - GUESS WHAT THEY  DID ???   THEY WENT INTO
THEIR HOME , GOT HOLD OF A BIBLE...OPENED INTO THE
BOOK OF PROVERBS & TORE OUT FEW PAGES, ROLLED THEM UP
AS THEIR  CIGARS - AND DID EXACTLY WHAT THEY DID
BEFORE - WALKED TO THAT SMALL CREEK & DID JUST THE
SAME !  AND FROM THAT DAY ON - THE LADY OF OUR HOUSE
SAID -THERE WAS JUST THIS ONE KIND OF FEAR THAT CAME
INTO US...WE DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS... WE WERE QUIET
FOR AWHILE, THEN SAID TO EACH OTHER,  WE BETTER NOT DO
THIS AGAIN... THAT WAS THE LAST,  THEY  EVER  SMOKED..
WE [THE LADY & MYSELF] SHARED THE  IDEA, THAT
MAYBE,  OUT OF  IGNORANCE YOU DID WHAT YOU BOTH DID...
BUT I TELL YOU, THOSE FEW PAGES OF SCRIPTURES YOU
TORE,  WERE NOT JUST  PAPERS....THEY WERE THE LIVING
WORD OF GOD [LIVE WORDS]....GOD BREATHED  WORDS. AND
YES, WE APPRECIATE  THOSE  TIMES, WHEN GOD ALLOWS  HIS
WORD  TO BE  ENLIGHTENED SO THAT WE MAY ACQUIRE THE
KNOWLEDGE  ABOUT  HIM, LEARN IT &   LIVE  IT.

WELL, FRIENDS IT HAS  BEEN A GREAT PLEASURE &  HONOR
TO SHARE HIGHLIGHTS OF CARING FOR OUR SENIORS. THOSE
WHO HAVE TOILED THEIR DAYS TO HELP MOVE, DEVELOP
AMERICA.. TO THE AMERICA WE KNOW, READ, ALWAYS WISHING
& DREAMING - THAT ONE DAY I MAY VISIT U.S.of A...   IT
HAS EVENTUATED,  TODAY WE ARE BLESSED TO BE PART OF
THEIR PRECIOUS LIVES & BECOME FAMILIES...

MAY GODS BLESSING BE CONTINUALLY  YOURS  AND  YOUR
LOVED ONES.

YOUR FRIEND,

BULOUVERE V. ROBANAKADAVU : SALINAS, MONTEREY COUNTY,
CA, U.S.A.