A Blast From The Past

This is a really long posting compared to my other ones...fair warning!

As this year comes to an end, there have been many things that have happened to me. I've gone through times of happiness, times of great sadness, and times that just drove me insane. LoL!! Through all the good and bad times, I can't help but be grateful for all that I have in my life.

This year started off great. I finally got a full-time position at The Rio Hotel & Casino in the VIP Department that I started off in. It took one whole year to finally get up to full-time. Along with getting that full-time position I had worked my butt off the past year that when it came to evaluations, I got outstanding with is the highest one can hit...awarding me a 5% increase in my pay as well as a $1500 bonus (of course taxes were taken out). A few months after that, I was awarded Employee of the Month for the Rio Hotel & Casino. This is an award that managers from the different departments choose and then the manager has to give a speech in front of a commitee why this employee should be choosen. I was honored that I was choosen to get this award.

In September, I was offered a position as a Casino Host at The Rio Hotel & Casino. This is one of the most coveted positions in the casino business and I was working so hard to get this position. I accepted the position and I loved it so much. I loved working so closely with the VIP guests as well as the VIP representatives that I used to work with. Sometimes when good things happen, the bad comes along and on November 5, 2008....I was laid off from my job. It was so hard to realize that something I worked so hard for was just stripped from me in a matter of weeks. The day I found out, I was devastated, but I realized I don't have the time to drown in my sorrows. I had to pick myself up and move on and find another job.

I was fortunate enough to go up to Utah to visit my family in April for BYU's Luau as well as my younger sister, Sia's last Living Legends performance. I always have loved dancing and I love watching all different dance shows. It was nice to see my two younger sisters and my sister in law perform in BYU's Luau. I miss those days of dancing in Luaus....Tahitian was always my favorite. Sia's Living Legend show is just incredible. I love watching Living Legends and the production they put on. It's such a great show with a neat story line.

Through out the year, I was fortunate to see George, Jenny, and my little nephew Carlos. It's funny how when you're growing up, you want to get away from your family as soon as possible, but when that happens you realize how special they are and how much you took them for granted. I loved spending time with them and its always nice to see how my nephew grows each time I see him. He is the cutest kid alive!!

People know I come from a Mormon upbringing and many may not agree with my lifestyle, but honestly, I'm not one to deny the person that I am. I have gone through so much to learn how to love myself that I will not let anyone make me feel like I'm living a horrible life. This year I was really fortunate to meet a great guy. His name is Joey and to have someone that makes you laugh and not have to worry about trying to be someone you're not....it's such a great relief. He's so mature compared to a lot of people I know his age. He has dreams that he works so hard for and wants to achieve. He supports me in all that I do and has been there for me through all my hardships since I met him (poor him, he meet me at the time my world came tumbling down).

My parents had invited me to join them for Thanksgiving, but at that time I had told Joey I would spend it with his family since I had promised him that (because at that time I had a job and had to work on Thanksgiving). When my parents invited me, I had gotten laid off from my job. Joey told me that I should go up to Utah since he knew how much my family meant to me. To hear him tell me that I should go was something that I knew was not the easiest thing to say because he was leaving for Korea in December and we wouldn't be together for Thanksgiving (the last holiday we would have together). I told him, that I will only go up to Utah to spend Thanksgiving with my family if they allowed me to bring him along with me. I told Joey, "They don't have to accept my lifestyle, but I want them to at least meet the person that makes me happy in life....if they can't do that, I will not spend it with them." I just don't see why I should be treated differently from the other children....yes I may not following the teaches that they follow, but I am just as much as a child of their's like the rest. I quickly called my sister in law, Jenny to ask her what she thought. Honestly, I'm so grateful for Jenny because I feel like I can talk to her and not worry about being judged about how I live my life. Jenny told me that she didn't see a problem with it and that I should ask if I could bring Joey up. I called my dad and informed him that I was dating someone and that I wanted to bring him up with me for Thanksgiving. My dad told me, "I may not approve of your lifestyle, but you still are you my son and you may bring him along with you". I was so relieved and happy that my dad told me that. My dad is a great man!! Joey and I went up to spend Thanksgiving with my family...even though it was a little awkward at times for Joey, it was something that meant the world to me to have him meet the people that mean so much to me....my family. He loved my siblings and enjoyed the time that we spent with them....especially since he stayed up till 6:30 in the morning playing Rockstar Band with Sia. Crazy!!

The ending of this year was a little bitter-sweet for me. One day before my birthday I got a call saying my grandma was going into the hospital. One of my biggest fears had come to life. I was so frightened for my grandma and scared that I would lose her. She had been my rock, my hero...a person that impacted my life more than she will ever know. Sadly, on November 29, 2008, my beloved grandmother, Yoshiko Uyema left this mortal life to be united with her loving husband, my grandfather, George Uyema. The day she passed away, my world came tumbling down. I didn't know what I would do. My younger sister, Ame called me with the news and by the time my dad called me I was a mess. I was balling on the phone and my dad tried to keep himself composed, but the way I was on the phone, he started to cry and tell me that she's ok and what made her happy were her grandkids. Memories of my grandma and myself flashed in my head all that day (both good & bad). I had a hard time forgiving myself for all the stress I put her through as a teenager...all my fights, all my temper tantrums...I just remembered my grandma crying and praying to make things better. Till this day, I wish I didn't cause that much hurt and pain for one of the women that I loved so dearly.

I was able to go back home for my grandma's funeral service. The whole family was going to be there. Mom, George, Jenny, Carlos,Tana, Lisia, Ame, & I flew from the mainland back to Hawaii for the services. Dad, Sione, & Alana were back in Hawaii already. It was really nice to have the whole family together, all the kids & their spouse, my parents, and my Aunty Betty & Aunty Annie. The funeral service was very beautiful and to see the many lives my grandmother had touched. At the viewing, I couldn't help but cry as I saw my grandmother laying in the casket. When it came to closing the casket and giving the family the chance to say good-bye one last time, all the grandkids went up to the casket and one by one stood there, each of us saying our last good-bye to our beloved grandma in our head as we each kissed her on her forehead. Watching as they closed the casket, I couldn't contain myself. The service went on and each of us gave a small talk about our grandma and how she touched our lives. As the service ended, the congregation sang "Aloha O'e". As I stood beside my grandmother's casket and the song began, the tears ran down my face like a faucet. I physcially lost someone so dear to me and it was hard to bear. However, like the song says, "until we meet again" and I know I will see my grandmother again.