Home  >> Stories  >> The Tale Spinner #2016-08

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IN THIS ISSUE

• Mike Yeager visits Manila and Corregidor
• Carol Dilworth offers to replace missing Scrabble tiles
• From Heroic Stories, here is a tale of exceptional generosity
• Bruce Galway sends information about an educational fund
• Don Henderson forwards a story of an inventive man
• Tom Williamson shares a mystery
• Catherine Nesbitt sends some short bits of humour
• Sites are suggested by Barbara Wear, Bruce Galway, and Tom Telfer

Mike Yeager writes about a recent adventure:

CORREGIDOR: OFF TO A ROCKY START

I accompanied my 12-year-old grandson, Christopher, on a four-day Boy Scout Troop outing to Corregidor Island, Philippines. It was a camping trip for the boys, and the adults could choose either to camp or to stay in the hotel on the island. I chose the hotel. But the trip got off to a rocky start.

The adventure started at 4:30 a.m., when we met at the Singapore airport. It was a three-and-a-half hour flight to Manila, where we would spend the first night in a downtown hotel, and then ferry to Corregidor the next morning.

When we arrived at the Manila airport, Customs wouldnt let Christopher pass through. I was told by the officer that a child under 14 must be accompanied by a relative, or have a signed waiver from the parents. I told him that Chris was my grandson, but that wasnt enough. My being Caucasian and Chris being Asian, and our having different last names, might have had something to do with it. The woman in charge told me I needed to fill out a form, but then had a terrible time locating one. She consulted several other officials and finally found it. I filled it out and gave it back to her. Another woman escorted me through customs and over to a cash machine, where I withdrew 3,200 pesos, about $67 US, the fee for the waiver, and in the meantime, the woman in charge had somehow misplaced the form I had just given her. She asked me to fill out another one, but before I finished, she located the first one. The customs officials spent an inordinate amount of time talking the situation over with each other, and meanwhile the entire troop and accompanying adults waited. On the positive side, all the people we dealt with were very gracious and kind throughout the whole extremely inefficient process.

How do I describe the Manila traffic? Once in Vietnam, my friends and I were at the enlisted mens club watching a Korean song and dance troop when some joker popped a tear gas grenade. We all tried to get out into the fresh air as quickly as possible through the one and only door. That is sort of what the Manila traffic is like. There are streets with lines to signify lanes just like we have at home, but no one seems to pay any attention to them. Our driver straddled the line as if he didnt want to commit to any particular lane, keeping his options open.

Every street was in the process of being worked on, and there were barriers and cones all over the place. Our driver tooted the horn a lot and was constantly jockeying for position and attempting to nose other drivers out. All the other cars, trucks, buses and Jeepneys were doing the same thing, and added to the mix were motorcyclists weaving in and out, pedestrians crossing six lanes of traffic, and even children wandering around on the sides of the street. I closed my eyes for part of the ride, certain that we were going to crash. We didnt, and we managed to arrive at the Aloha Hotel safe and sound.

After returning home from the trip, I told my stepson Peter about the traffic, and he said, If you think the traffics bad in Manila, you should see Jakarta in Indonesia. It´s worse. I cant imagine traffic being any worse, but I trust he knows what hes talking about.

It was lunch time when we arrived and the Scout Master, Morgan, told us to deposit our bags in our rooms and meet down in the hotel dining room for lunch. I had a queasy feeling in my stomach, and decided I probably needed to get some food into it. I ordered some soup. Sitting at the table with the others, waiting for my soup to arrive, the pain in my stomach became more intense. I felt as if I was going to pass out, and not wanting to pass out in the restaurant and make a scene, I got up and started toward the door. I took several steps and realized I wasnt going to make it, so I eased myself down toward the floor, and the next thing I knew, I was flat on my back with a bunch of concerned restaurant employees looking down at me.

They tried to hoist me up and into a chair and one of the men said, "I´ll call the hospital."

"No." I said, "I dont need to go to the hospital."

Luckily, one of the other adults with the troop, George, was a practicing physician. He advised the staff to lay me down on a row of chairs. He took my pulse and asked me some questions. George was another grandfather accompanying his grandson. I owe him a huge debt of gratitude. He correctly diagnosed that I was having a vasovagal response, probably brought on by a stomach bug.

I tried to get up several times, but had to lie back down. One of the scouts came over and told me I was trying to get up too fast, and described the physiology of why that was. I remember wondering if he had gotten a merit badge for learning about that. They have merit badges for just about everything.

I finally made it up to my room, where Dr. George told me to drink fluids, including Gatorade, and to continue to rest. The others went to the zoo while I stayed back, close to the toilet. It was a rough day and night, but by the next morning, I was ready to board the ferry for Corregidor.

It took a couple of hours to ferry from Manila to Corregidor Island. The weather was balmy and the sea calm. We sat in assigned seats, in rows facing forward. Unlike on the Washington ferries, there was no getting up and wandering around to look at the view. A big screen TV hung from the ceiling in the front and a short film on safety and evacuation procedures played, followed by an entire Bee Gees concert. It was an old concert, all the Bee Gees were still alive and well. I was feeling better, but still had some stomach and lower abdominal distress. After I passed out on the floor in the restaurant in Manila, Morgan, the scout master, fired off a text message to Peter, my stepson, which read: "Grandpa Yeager had a fainting spell, he refuses to go to the hospital, but is conscious and talking." Dont get me wrong, I love being a grandpa, especially because of my relationship with my three grandsons, but his text message bothered me. It sounded as if Morgan was referring to some doddering pain-in-the-ass, feeble old man, and thats definitely not how I see myself.

When I was first introduced to Peter and Nanis maid, an attractive Filipino woman, she asked me if she should call me Grandpa, I suppose because Chris calls me Grandpa. She calls Peter, Sir, and Nani and my wife Katie, Ma´m. I told her I preferred to be called "Stud," but I dont think she got the humor, and she continues to call me Grandpa. My dad was a grandpa to our son Ben for just over a year. He once said, "I dont mind being called Grandpa; I just don´t want people to know I´m sleeping with Grandma."

Corregidor proved to be an excellent place of healing for me. I didnt take any electronic devices on the journey, no cell phone, tablet or computer, just reading and writing material. I went on one tour of the middle part of the island with the boy scouts, and an independent tour of the tunnel and lower part of the island. But most of the time, when the boy scouts were off doing various activities, I was alone to wander the lush forested island or lie on my bed in the hotel room and read, while the cool tropical breeze wafted over me. I also spent some time sitting up on the veranda, sipping iced tea, and talking with various travelers who were visiting the island.

Corregidor is a small island, 3.5 miles long and 1.5 miles wide, shaped like a tadpole. Strategically located at the entrance of Manila bay, it was used in defense of Manila harbor first by the Spanish, who conquered the Philippines in 1570, and then by the Americans, who took possession of the islands in 1898 after the Spanish American war. In the early 1900s, the Army Corps of Engineers transformed Corregidor into a major military reservation. It was incorporated into the harbor defense system of the area and Fort Mills Army Post was established there.

In 1942 the Japanese flew 614 bombing missions over the island and dropped 1,701 bombs. After fierce fighting, they took possession of the Philippines until 1945, when the American military took the islands back. In 1946, the Philippines were finally granted their independence.

My grandson, Christopher, told me that he heard the island was haunted. I didnt see any ghosts as I walked from one end to the other. I did see a lot of lush tropical plants, insects, birds, monkeys, and goats. I thought about all the people who lost their lives on the island. Our tendency is to romanticize past wars. Having been in one, I can say that at times it brings out the best and worst in human nature, but there is nothing romantic about it. Hopefully, over time humanity will collectively raise its consciousness so that war becomes obsolete, a horrible and stupid thing of the past.

The ferry ride back to Manilla was delayed because of stormy weather. When we finally got underway, the waves tossed the boat up and down with great force, the water rhythmically washing over the bow. A Mr. Bean movie played on the big screen TV. While many of the passengers got sick, the scout sitting next to me and I laughed ourselves silly all the way to Manila.

ED. NOTE: For pictures of the trip, go to Mike´s blog at http://www.aretiredboomer.blogspot.ca:

In France, it is illegal for grocery stores to throw away edible food. Stores must donate edible, unused food to charity or facilities that process it into animal food or compost.

CORRESPONDENCE

Carol Dilworth writes: Does anyone need some missing Scrabble tiles? Please let me know which ones, and I´ll send them to you.

Here´s what the tiles look like:

ED. NOTE: If you need tiles, just write to me and I will forward your letter to Carol, because I don´t want to put her address in an e-mail. My address is already out there as publisher of the Spinner.

From HeroicStories comes this tale by Arry Tanusondjaja of Jakarta, Indonesia:

THE MUSIC MAN

I studied in Adelaide, Australia, from 1992 to 1995. My parents actually could not afford to send me overseas, so my sister decided to finance my study there. I had been living in a shared house for a while with two friends. Then, one night when everybody was out enjoying the weekend, some burglars got into our house and ransacked our rooms. Along with the things that he took was my newly-bought stereo. A couple of weeks before, I had to beg to my sister so that she would allow me to buy a stereo. I promised that she could deduct $50 from my $500 monthly allowance.

I was deeply angry and disappointed. Because I didnt feel comfortable living there anymore, I decided to move back to the dormitory. During that time, I also got to know Kevin through Internet Relay Chat, from California. We exchanged e-mails back and forth, and at one point, he asked me to name 10 artists who I liked. He worked for a major record company. I jokingly told him that if he was thinking of sending me CDs, not to bother doing it because I didnt have any stereo. I shared my experience with him, and Kevin just made silly comments about it, and laid quiet for a while.

A couple of weeks later, the dormitory office called me that a parcel was waiting for me. It was a very big box, all the way from California. In it, there was a portable CD/cassette player, and 11 CDs, from my friend Kevin. He had to spend hundreds of dollars just to give me that pleasant surprise. We have never met each other in real life, but he shows that friendships can span thousands of miles.

In this world, where skepticism reigns, it still warms my heart to remember what Kevin did in 1995. Often times, people take a cold attitude towards others, and give questioning looks when strangers, or even friends or relatives, express their misfortune.

However, I can now see that even in this world of billions of people, there are gems shining in different parts of the world.

ED. NOTE: To comment on this story, or to get your own subscription to the site, click on

The Rolex watch company is run by a not-for-profit charitable trust. After a certain amount of money goes to Rolex employees and the founding Rolex family, what remains is donated to charities. Some of those charities focus on watchmaking and some on higher education. The Rolex founder was an orphan.

Bruce Galway forwards information about the

CANADA LEARNING BOND

Bruce received this information from Carol Ivey, who has been handling their financial affairs since they moved up to Lagoon City back in the early 1990s.They have been very happy with the results and services provided by her and her staff.

In a letter dated December 3, 2015, Ms. Ivey writes:

Many Canadians are unaware that any child younger than 15 could have up to $2,000 put towards his/her education, courtesy of the Federal government, through the Canada Learning Bond (CLB) program.

To qualify for the CLB, a child must have been born in 2004 or later, and the primary caregiver/parent must be receiving the National Child Supplement ("baby bonus.") The CLB funds are deposited into a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) for that child.

Once you open an RESP for the eligible child, the government deposits a grant of $500 into the plan and $100 annually thereafter until the child is 15, or to a total of $2,000.

This may not sound like a lot of money, but whenever the government offers free funds, it is a shame not to take advantage of it if eligible, so please pass this on to your children, your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, neighbours, or anyone else you know who might benefit from the information.

Don Henderson shares the new meaning of

A B C D E F G H I J K

After being married for thirty years, a wife asked her husband to describe her.

He looked at her a while, then said, "You´re A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K."

She asks, "What does that mean?"

He said, "Adorable, Beautiful, Cute, Delightful, Elegant, Foxy, Gorgeous, Hot."

She smiled happily and said, "Oh, that´s so lovely.... What about I, J, K?"

He said, "I´m Just Kidding!"

The swelling in his eye is going down and the doctor is fairly optimistic about saving his testicles.

Seattle is planning to build a new city park filled with hundreds of edible plants, such as fruit trees, vegetable plants, herbs., etc., which will be free to everyone. If successful, it will be the first "Urban Food Forest" of the nation.

Tom Williamson forwards this tale of

MYSTERY AT THE BEACH

Acouple lived near the ocean and used to walk the beach a lot.One summer they noticed a girl whowas at the beach almost every day.She wasn´t unusual, nor was the travel bag she carried, except for one thing: she would approach people who were sitting on the beach, glance around, and then speak to them.

Generally, the people would respond negatively, and she would wander off.But occasionally someone would nod and there would be a quick exchange of money and something that she carried in her bag.

The couple assumed that she was selling drugs, and debated calling the cops, but since they didn´t know for sure, they decided tojust continue watching her.

After a couple of weeks the wife said, "Honey, have you ever noticed that she only goes up to people with boom boxes and other electronic devices?"

He hadn´t, and said so.

Then she said, "Tomorrow I want you to get a towel and our big radio and go lie out on the beach.Then we can find out what she´s really doing."

Well, the plan went off without a hitch, and the wife was almost hopping up and down with anticipation when she saw the girl talk to her husband and then leave.The man then walked up the beach and met his wife at the road.

"Well, is she selling drugs?" she asked excitedly.

"No, she´s not," he said, enjoying this probably more than he should have.

"Well, what is it then? What does she do?" his wife fairly shrieked.

The man grinned and said, "She´s a battery salesperson."

"Batteries?" cried the wife.

And her husband replied, "She sells C cells by the seashore!"

There is an island which is disputed territory between Canada and Denmark. The militaries of both countries periodically visit to remove the other country´s flag and to leave a bottle of Danish schnapps or Canadian whiskey.

Catherine Nesbitt sends these snappy bits of

HUMOUR

I changed my car horn to gunshot sounds.
People get out of the way much faster now.

Gone are the days when girls used to cook like their mothers.
Now they drink like their fathers.

You know that tingly little feeling you get when you really like someone?
That´s common sense leaving your body.

I didn´t make it to the gym today.
That makes five years in a row.

I decided to change calling the bathroom the John and renamed it the Jim.
I feel so much better saying I went to the Jim this morning.

Last year I joined a support group for procrastinators.
We haven´t met yet.

Old age is coming at a really bad time.

When I was a child I thought Nap Time was a punishment.
Now, as a grownup, it feels like a small vacation.

The biggest lie I tell myself is,
"I don´t need to write that down, I´ll remember it."

I don´t have gray hair; I have "wisdom highlights."
I´m just very wise.

Why do I have to press one for English
when you´re just gonna transfer me to someone I can´t understand anyway?

Of course I talk to myself; sometimes I need expert advice.

At my age "Getting lucky" means walking into a room and remembering what I went in there for.

SUGGESTED WEBSITES

Barbara Wear forwards this link to the building of the Q´eswachaka bridge in Peru by communities on either side of the river:

Bruce Galway sends the URL for a video of an exhibit of skating talent coordinated with driving skills:

Tom Teller sends this link to a talk about Home Depot´s Jewish secret of success - helping others in times of tragedy:

from Jerusalem U on Vimeo.

In this TED talk, Allan Adams discusses what the discovery of gravitational waves means:

A new cancer treatment helps patients´ immune systems better at finding and destroying cancer cells:

Much more info at linked site

This may be the best cat video of all time:

Please sign the petition to urge the Canadian government to meet with Sixties Scoop victims and honour the commitment to healing relations with Aboriginal peoples of Canada:

The EcoARK Pavilion in Taiwan is three storeys high, built out of 1.5 million used bottles, making it the world´s first fully functional large-scale plastic building:

Weddings are not always without incident, as this video illustrates:

Can you spell the most commonly misspelled words?