FAMILY HISTORY 1

December 1955 was a heartbreaking time for our family.

Niles Canyon flooded for the last time when my baby brother was only a few weeks old. We lived in a new sub division and the house with brand new swimming pool was my dad’s pride and joy. With the flood waters rising the only way for residents to get out was by row boat – however my dad scored the one without oars and so he loaded it with his wife and youngest children and literally pushed them to safety.

However this meant leaving my step brother (14) and me (4) in the house. I was put up onto the refrigerator for safety as the water was rising fast. Dad came back after what seemed to be a million years and we were also pushed to safety. Dad always said later that he hated cactus plants as he had taken off his shoes to half push-half swim behind the boat – but managed to find what he believed to be every single cactus plant in the neighbour’s front yards along the way.

We all went up to Puyallup and the baby was so sick they thought he would die, so he was baptised in the dining room. We stayed in Puyallup 6-8 weeks but Dad had to go back to work in San Leandro and to try and sort out the mess left behind by the flood.

Auntie remembers Mum working so hard to keep it all together – the house was full of kids but truly never a cross word between them.

My younger brother was always a quiet guy. Just after the flood he was often found sitting in the corner of the front room by the sewing machine with a bit of string – just winding it around and around his finger – quite content to amuse himself - a waife of the storm.

One day as it came on to rain the refugees were glued to the window watching the water rise - clearly afraid that the flood had followed them all the way to Washington!

JOURNEY: San Leandro Visit - 6

Going to the cemetery was quite a hard thing to do by myself and I almost put it off. But I knew in my heart that I might not come this way again and really wanted to document for my children and grandchildren where my mother and sister were laid to rest. I went to the flower shop and was overcome with emotion in trying to purchase a couple of roses. Yellow for my mother and pink for the little sister who was only with us a couple of days before being whisked off to heaven.

Roses in hand I knew that I needed help to locate the gravesites so I went up to the office. So quiet and so very still.
Guardian angels stand guard – it’s really quite beautiful.



I followed the map I was given but once I got close to Tina’s grave I knew that my mom was only a stone’s throw away and yet a lifetime away.





Eternal rest grant unto them oh Lord
And let perpetual light shine upon them
May they rest in peace
Amen - Amen

JOURNEY: Puyallup Sojourn -1

Nothing better than a girl’s night out and fantastic to combine that with good food and good company. Puyallup has grown so much since I was last here 8 years ago. My cousin’s book club wrapped up their year with a progressive dinner and I got to tag along. We met at an Irish pub which I have found over the years is certainly a good starting place for any function. What a fantastic venue and the stained glass light fixtures were certainly impressive – just wish I could fit one in my suitcase! Next we went a block up the street to another pub with a sort or heritage Puyallup theme going on. The planes suspended from the ceiling were every boy’s dream and the food was great too. All I really wanted since I arrive in the States is cornbread and I got it here with yummy barbequed ribs – not as good as Kieran’s but who can compete with something made with such love? I also splashed out and ordered a Long Shoreman’s Tea which has to be sampled to be believed. Last we went to a fondue place for dessert which no one needed after so much food BUT how can you refuse chocolate??? Lots of conversation amid the bits of fruit and cake dripping chocolate which no one wanted to waste. Thanks Cousin for such a good time.

JOURNEY: San Leandro Visit - 5

Imagine coming all the way across the world to meet someone who comes from where you live?

I went to one of my Elementary Schools on my journey down memory lane on a brilliantly sunny day. While talking to the girls in the office (who were so lovely) I was introduced to a teacher from New Zealand. Imagine her surprise and mine to discover that we were both from Levin – and she had attended Horowhenua College across the road from St Joes.

Absolutely amazing.

JOURNEY: San Leandro Visit - 4

Well it's a funny thing to retrace your educational steps. I guess you think you know where you've been and then on closer investigation you find that approximations are just that - approximate.

I was born in the Fremont area and lived there for a while before shifting to San Leandro. But my strongest early memories are of this house.

I attended this school from Grade 3-5 though I would have sworn inside outside upsidedown that I actually started school there.



Then when my Mom was sick we moved to Hayward for a bit and I went to a school that noonger exists. After Mom died we moved back to San Leandro.



I did my last year at this School and then went on to the closest Junior High for 2 years.



Then we moved across town to live at this apartment house and I went to Pacific High.

JOURNEY: San Leandro Visit - 3

Telephone boxes are the most frustrating object ever invented. When you rock up to a telephone box you need

A) coins (not notes) preferably in the coin of the realm

B) the number you want to call

C) "it" to accept the coins and do something

D) the person you're calling to be able to hear/understand you

Today I traipsed all over San Leandro to try and get a taxi to pick me up and had issues with all of the above. Each box was strategically placed significantly distant from the other to work up a sweat in the mid-day sun as I beat the feet to get the help I needed.

AND why is there such a shortage of public restrooms?? or is it just that they are such a well kept secret that no one knows where they are?? I guess that's one way to keep them clean!

So today I had enough - and booked a rental car. I was a bit scaredy-cat about driving on the right hand side of the road. In fact the first thing I did (even after a lot of self talk) was turn left onto the road from the car rental lot and move ever so briefly onto the left side of the road before I made the necessary correction and began my new driving mantra of 'RIGHT IS RIGHT'.

JOURNEY: San Leandro Visit - 2

Today was one of reflection on a number of levels.

How can a SCHOOL morph into a MALL ???

Only in America where the Mall mentality took root and flourished, could a relatively new, state-of-the-art school be deemed surplus, by a short sighted school district (unable to interpret the birth rate into a long term vision) and end up transformed into a terracotta blot of outlet shops! Commercialism obviously outweighs the educational needs of this generation's learners in the now 'bursting-at-the-seams' remaining high school ~ jaded, dark and definitely not a patch on the 'Pacific way'.

Before going 'down to the mall' I was in a bit of a quandry.
*Should I go or boycott?
*Should I do the shopping thing to acquire some kind of souvenir?
In the end I went, looked, clicked the camera, had a Starbucks and came away feeling a bit lost.

To say it's a shame is not only a commentary and a judgement, but also an understatement.

JOURNEY: San Leandro Visit - 1

Aren't the folks at Elementary (Primary) school absolutely lovely inside and out? It must be something to do with being with little people who are still filled with wonder and excitement that creates a bubble of charity (love) and makes them receptive to random people who come in off the street (like me) wanting their help. Even though they are frantically busy doing a million and one things at the same time (excellent living examples of multi tasking) they will stop and listen and help. Pretty awesome really. I was certainly impressed with the folks at the Elementary Schools in San Leandro. Absolutely nothing was a bother! In fact the dear soul who is the office manager at one school rang her daughter to give me a ride 'cause she didn't want me to have to take a taxi! Now that's certainly above and beyond material.


GRADE 3


GRADE 4


GRADE 5


GRADE 7


Because they are so helpful I have photographic evidence (even if the Principal's cards have gone walkabout) that I did attend their schools. I not only got photos (well photocopied photos) of me, but also of my siblings. There was even a staff photo of my Dad. It's an interesting thing to delve into the past. I always thought I started school at one school but it looks like I didn't get there until the 3rd grade - even though Dad was certainly teaching in San Leandro in well before then when I would have been 6 years old. So we must have been living in Niles when I started school. And so the next step unfolds - off to Niles (at least electronically).

JOURNEY: Are we there yet?

Well I'm finally in San Leandro and the accommodation is great. I slept until 11 this morning as I was absolutely 'had it' after travelling for what seemd to be a jillion hours. I actually left Byron Bay at 5.30 am to get to Coolangatta Airport for a 9:10 flight. My flight to the states tried to leave Sydney at 1:50 but we were still on the ground at 5:30 pm when United officially cancelled. Running here and there I did get on a V-Australia flight at 8:30 pm and got into LAX at 10:30am (but officially 5:30 pm stateside) THEN tried to leave LAX at 6:30 pm (but SF closed). Eventually left LAX at 8:30 pm and got into SF at 9:30 ish. I thought I was nearly there until the shuttle (which was prepaid) wouldn't come because it was too late for them. So I went looking and had a couple of scary offers which I sensibly turned down and 11:00 pm finally departed on a shuttle to San Leandro. After several stops and the driver getting lost and cracking the side of the shuttle against a large rock strategically placed as a landscape feature on a corner - I arrived at the San Leandro Marina Inn after midnight (HOORAY- only a 36 hour journey - OMGoodness!!! Quite an adventure and it's only the beginning!