PLAIN ENGLISH
Maureen N. Maratita
I was a little surprised to get wished happy birthday by a company I do business with — since the message was two months late. The company in question fessed up a few hours later with a message that began with Oops!
My husband was also the ‘victim’ of a similar error some time ago, but he was sent mini cakes to celebrate. (And the cakes were delicious too.)
The worst birthday message for some recipients?
An open message with a list of birthdays so you could wish people happy birthday on their “special day” — with birth dates. …
Most of the statistics from 2020 that would interest you as businesspeople are downright depressing — and contain no new news.
Pew Research offered this: “By April, around nine-tenths of the world’s population (91%) was living in a country with partially or fully closed borders.”
Not exactly happy thoughts, especially for a region like ours that depends on travel for economic sustenance, and not a lot has changed since April. …
Pew had more good news: “For the first time since at least the Great Depression, a majority of young adults in the U.S. were living with their parents this year. In July, 52% of adults ages 18 to 29 were living with one or both parents, up from 47% in February.”
Pew has not yet updated those statistics.
I can only imagine.
We reap what we sow, so whatever bad habits those young adults have been allowed to develop are probably driving their parents crazy. …
My children are both living off-island. They have both been satisfyingly communicative through the pandemic, since the apple does not apparently fall far from the tree, as they say.
Even if their situations are not ideal — my children often make me laugh. …
This from my daughter in Amsterdam (with photos of my happy young grandchildren and teenage step-grands):
“When one is stuck inside on a rainy day in a Lockdown …
One plays bingo.”
Despite our impression that bingo is a game played only by our manamko or senior citizens on Guam (and elsewhere), it is not so. Bingo can bridge all ages.
And no judgement here on what makes for a happy rainy afternoon.
Pass it along — necessity is still the mother of invention. …
I apologize for the use of adages, which I see have come tumbling out in this column.
So I went looking for an inspiring quote that has nothing to do with any of the above —travel, children returning to the nest — or bingo.
Here’s what I found:
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead
It’s appropriate for our business communities, civic organizations and branches of government.
Now let’s see what we can do with that thought as we head into 2021. ….
All that remains is to say “thank you” for staying connected in 2020 and for your business, your stories and your jokes.
I’ll gladly take more of the same in 2021. Happy New Year. …
— 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.
