PLAIN ENGLISH
Maureen N. Maratita
Thank you to the person who liked the various samples of emails that popped up in my Inbox. Just for you, the latest batch included, “Last chance to register for the exclusive Ireland Tourism webinar for the Indian market!” …
And to the reader who asked if I am not venturing out these days, but staying put and reading emails — well, yes and no.
If there are parties on the beach (which apparently there still are), I am not invited to them. …
But in my profession (and probably yours), there are times when nothing beats a face to face meeting, especially if it’s somebody I don’t know well or am meeting for the first time.
And I have met with people in the past months who clearly think the same.
But we are careful in Guam — the meetings most recently were out of doors, and either way we are masked and seated socially distant.
Those meetings require trust — but are also the basis for a new relationship of trust. …
A Zoom meeting is better than a phone call if I can see you, but the dynamics are different.
Are rules for Zoom meetings different? I don’t think so. They require the same preparation, require that you show up on time and the same dress code. If you are late, and I can’t see you, what should I think?
Probably that you were out late at one of those parties on the beach. …
But we did go out for lunch for my birthday and that was just what the doctor ordered (I am choosing my words deliberately here).
There were four of us and we were dealing with comfort zones that dictated the venue.
The staff at the restaurant were just so attentive and so concerned that we would have a good time that well, we were just obligated to order another round of drinks.
Another round of drinks felt so normal. …
Congratulations to the Guam Chapter of the American Red Cross for successfully concluding its Red Ball in a Box fundraiser. The meals from various Guam chefs were presented in some highly attractive bento boxes. I hear that participants are rather attached to them.
In the spirit of giving and sustainability we are awarding an annual subscription to the Journal for the “best use of a Red Cross bento box.” Results will be announced in the New Year. You may use any part of the box — the black case or the red and black innards, which are divided into four. For a sample, see Focus on Page 23.
Since readers who did not support that event cannot participate, we’ll also award a subscription to the cheeriest photo submitted to [email protected] by Dec. 24.
Have at it. Send in your cheeriest photo. Make my day. …
Photos will be published in January, and rules include the fact that our decisions will be completely arbitrary — but definitely not judgmental. …
As to my own holiday preparations, I took Black Friday off. Among other things, I spent the day washing our new glassware — and of course cleaning and rearranging the shelves on which the glassware is now sitting.
In a triumph of hope over experience this year, I hope the Maratitas will entertain again in 2021. One thing is for sure — we will not run short of glassware in the near future. …
In the meantime, thank you so much for the support of our publications. I wish you the cheeriest of holiday seasons.. …
— Maureen N. Maratita is the publisher at Glimpses Media. Publications at Glimpses Media include the Marianas Business Journal, MBJ Life, The Real Estate Journal, Guam Business Magazine, Beach Road Magazine, Buenas and Drive Guam.
