January
Younger son’s wedding in Corpus Christi and two weeks with son Richard and family in California kept me ‘off-Island’ for seven weeks. Ben was there for the wedding week, and he is planning our vacation together in New Zealand as I write this in March. The wedding was a wonderful family gathering for the Helmers, and a welcome for and by Diane's family and friends. Thank you.

February
This month’s highlight is son Steve’s graduation from Advanced Flight School. Jane was there as he landed from the last training flight; after the ice-water (which he said he needed!), an instructor stuck his ‘soft wings’ badge on Steve’s flight suit. How did this happen before Velcro?
The official Winging ceremony was the following week. Steve and Diane are now at home in Virginia Beach.
Jane returned to Guam mid-February, for six weeks of warmth and Guam-style activity.

2007 holiday season
For seven weeks, mid-November to late December, we dog-sat on the shore of the Philippine Ocean. This gave us lovely home and two cars to use, so our town-home and car were available for use by visitors.

November
We learn to live in the jungle: I’ll tolerate such ‘hardships’ any time!
At Thanksgiving the Presiding Bishop stopped here on her way back from the World Peace Conference in Korea. She saw all three Episcopal Churches on Guam, confirmed and received a number of candidates on Thanksgiving Day, and enjoyed the island hospitality that accompanied a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

December
Delivering the Noble Fir Christmas tree among flowering ginger, orchids, and coconut palms is certainly different.
We spent a day touring and visited several historic sites in the east and south coasts: from the Pacific to the Philippine, via Tartuguan Point, Talofofo Bay, Inarajan and Merizo to Umatac and home to Agat.
Christmas came quickly, with 80-degree temperatures, parties, and church events.

If I remember right, you'll see dogs on terrace, some of the garden, the Christmas tree when I brought it 'home' atop SUV among palms, sports car with top down, on December 4, on hill between Umatac (Magellan's landing place) and where we stayed at Agat, and the shoreline one evening on ‘our’ property.

Hike at Pagat

The first Saturday of October the Guam Episcopal youth group and several adults traveled across Guam in a rented bus to the bay at Pagat on the Pacific Ocean. The hike to a cave is largely vertical (well, steep) and somewhat slippery from rain. Ben's photos show just how dark the cave would have been without candles.
Returning home that afternoon, everyone knew the hike had been a good workout and the day very good.

Various

(Jane writes) Torrential downpours alternate with sunshine through this rainy season. Last Sunday we drove through a flooded section of road, which is not unusual and sometimes portions of the highway must be closed for 12 hours. Between the storms, however, the weather can be beautiful; just carry an umbrella anyway, and use it against both sun and rain!
The main roads are lined with fat concrete power poles that make excellent panels for graffiti artists ... to cover or deter unwanted marks, some districts paint flowers, turtles, and other designs in bold, bright colors. The poles will curve in extreme winds and power lines are ggradually being moved underground. Driving usually includes are section of road with metal plates during the day, barricades and bright lights at night.
Bus shelters are painted too; direction-giving may include "turn left at the purple-flowered bus-stop!"
We visited Saipan late last month and met many folk at St. Paul's church, where services are held under canvas behind the priest's home. We stayed in a condo on built on a site that mountain goats would have enjoyed. It was great, being up those steps among the trees and birds and with a view of the ocean.
Saipan has, of course, a number of WWII memorial sites; the jagged terrain made for many desperate battles. Amid molding guns are symbols of sorrow and forgiveness. In one picture here, we stand beside the Japanese peace memorial near Banzai Cliff; the Philippine Sea is beyond the cliff. Nearby is Bird Island, whose inaccessibility and structure make a perfect nesting-place for sea-birds.

Video-clips from Y'pao: Robot meets Man

A well-matched pair!

Video-clips from Y'pao: Flyover

View from the beach

Video-clips from Y'pao: rappelling

Blown away by the Navy helicopter—well, blown about a bit.