The 10 THINGS I Miss Most About GUAM

Having just recently moved from Guam to the island of Oahu, I have found so much of my heart is stuck and etched in the sands, seas and loves of my paradise island of Guam. So, I thought I'd spend some time documenting just a few of the countless things I love and miss about my island of Guam.

10. 160,000: Referring to the 160,000 people who call Guam home. I miss every single one of them. Yes, even the ones who made sure to blog mean things about me when I decided to vote YES for Prop A :) Yes, I even miss them. It takes every single one of those 160,000 people to make Guam the imperfectly perfect place it is and I wouldn't want it any other way.

9. THE FRIZZIES: By this I am referring to the "HUMIDITY" and the way it causes mine and every other flat-iron using ladies hair to FRIZZ up beyond recognition. Here in Hawaii my hair just falls too nice, too smooth. I mean, I've spent the past 29 years trying to work around the limitations of living in a seriously humid place...and just when I get it down...I move and no longer need those skills. Haha, go figure.

8. SUNNY RAIN: Everyone who lives on Guam knows exactly what I mean by this. Haha. Only in Guam can the SUN be BLAZING hot yet RAIN be gushing from the sunny skies! Haha :) And, I'm sure all our Motorcycle, Moped dudes and dudettes can completely relate to this most frustrating part of life on Guam. Just when you think it's gonna burn your buns off, RAIN RAIN RAIN all the way! Why does the news even include a WEATHER portion? Haha.

7. FIESTAS AND DIET SODA: You know you're Chamorro when...and yes, I really do believe it is a CHAMORRO tradition! One which I miss very much! I mean, where else in the world do people, just for the mere sake of celebration and family, throw all diets to the wind, pile greasy chow on their bending paper plates, and make their way to the drink bar to grab a DIET SODA? Only on our Guam! Oh, our beautiful, DIET SODA loving Guam :)

6. MEMORY LANE: 29 years of life. Are you kidding?! Of course I have MEMORIES...enough to fill a thousand scrapbooks (which, if I had time, I would put together for every special occasion in my life). I miss that every square inch of the island includes some kind of memory, some kind of weird story or time when I meant to create one there, but never got to it. Memories...like the corners of my mind. I'm getting friggin misty :(

5. REALITY CHECKS: Guam is where my REAL WORLD is. All the good, the bad, the very bad, the awesomely stupid. It's all in my face the moment I return to my island soil. No matter where I go and how long I'm gone, Guam never fails to REMIND me of REALITY and keep me in check if ever I start to think I have it all together. Only on Guam do my imperfections find confirmations. Just ask around...I'm sure you'll run into a bunch who can attest to this truth. Or, maybe just take my word for it ;P

4. NAMES: It's like that weird "Cheers" song..."where everyone knows your name"...yeah, I actually do miss that about Guam. I like walking into Shirley's in Hagatna and the server asking me, "Miss Joy, what would you like to drink?" Ok, ok...so not everyone knows my name, and I definitely don't know everyone else's name, but it's just that feel, that vibe, that sometimes moment in Shirleys when someone actually does know my name.

3. COMFORTABLE: My bed, my car, my house, my life...it is COMFORTABLE. Nothing too out of synch, nothing too funky, I pretty much control what comes in and what goes out. I miss that COMFORTABLE feeling I get each day when I wake up and walk to my kitchen to make my cup of Starbucks coffee. I miss the COMFORT of knowing exactly where I'm going...I'm not the biggest fan of GOOGLE MAPS and missing my exit on the freeway. Guam = COMFORTABLE...which is actually the reason I moved. Time I get UNCOMFORTABLE.

2. HOMIES: The simple things like knowing where the clean towels are, or just where to find a screwdriver if ever I need to assemble a bookshelf. I miss my DVD's and being able to scrimmage through my insane collection of cinematic adventures, before putting it in the projector and flopping on my sofa to fall asleep to my movie of choice for the night. I just miss my HOME...doing the dishes, straightening the shoes in the foyer, putting Trevor's toys back into its designated corner in the living room. Home is where my heart is.

1. JAMFAM: These 9 people I miss most of all! Dad, Mom, Jen, Brother, Jas, Steffy, Skyy, Madison and of course Trevor! I've spent my entire life waking up and being blessed with sharing a morning conversation over coffee with them. I miss just seeing their faces and even the moments I couldn't stand another moment with them. Fights, squabbles, fun times...I MISS IT ALL! Dad, I miss your random calls to my phone and how you ask, "how's my girl doing?"...I miss you Dad. Mom, I miss hearing your voice at 9PM as you ask me, Jen and Vince, "does anyone want coffee?"...yes, I even miss our arguements. Jen, I miss your morning requests and random phone calls to as you say, "borrow a shirt or dress, please?"...I love how you always apologize for asking, and then ask all over again. Brother, I just miss you...you're such a dork and I miss your kisses on the cheek whenever you head out to work or just hanging with your friends. Jas, I doubt there is enough room to write all the things I miss about you, but let coffee, running, unloading your car when you return from the commissary, etc...be included in all the things I miss about you...you're my hero, always have been, always will be. Steffy, you're the only guy in the world who has ever made Jas as happy as she is...and I love you and miss you for that...plus, you're pretty awesome too! Skyy and Madison...I just miss hanging with you...and watching our stupid scary movies that make us not want to sleep at night. Hahahaha. And Trevor...my favorite part of each day...I miss everything about you...yes, even your stinky poo, when you punch me in the face and scream if I try to kiss you...I miss it all...I miss you all...I miss my Guam.