Pirate pride — 40 years in the making

• Tammy Malgesini
 

• Hermiston Herald, Community Editor

• Sep 25, 2018

I recently returned after embarking on a round-trip encompassing more than 800 miles and 40 years.

Even after getting Round-Up week off, I almost didn’t go to my 40-year high school reunion. I woke up the morning of Sept. 12 with a hitch in my giddy-up.

With my back aching, I just couldn’t see climbing behind the wheel of my Jeep and driving more than seven hours to visit with people I hadn’t seen since my 20-year reunion. However, the tides of Coos Bay were pulling me to my high school home. After soaking in a hot bath, I leisurely packed throughout the day.

The next morning, I zipped up my suitcases and rolled them down the stairs. While preparing for trips in recent years, the bags flying down in a heap has become a sort of tradition. It gets them closer to the door with less effort.

The commotion always gains the attention of the General, my 6-year-old German shepherd. From that point on, he’s my shadow — longing to know if he’s going to be riding shotgun.

One of the benefits of going to Coos Bay was getting to visit with my folks. My mom dotes on me and my pops refuses to let me pay for anything. Also, my mom loves playing gram-mama to the General, feeding him all kinds of treats — and he eats it up.

My husband — AKA Johnny Crocker — continues to endear himself with my parents. Even though he didn’t come on the trip, John sent several of his culinary creations. Dozens of cookies and two pies sufficiently covered morning, afternoon and midnight snacks.

I proudly donned the purple and gold colors of Marshfield High School before heading to the Friday night mixer. I recognized a number of faces, including Kathy, my graduation walking partner; Sally, who doesn’t remember imbibing during “Dimer Nights” when I visited her at Oregon State University; and Marcia, who recently came out as a transgender woman.

A couple of standouts — literally, they were like the Twin Towers — were Dean, a Harvard-trained retired Air Force colonel, looking quite stately; and Les, who, well, was just hot. I got a kink in my neck when talking to them, but it was worth every twinge of pain.

While catching up with fellow Pirates, I made observations to incorporate into my stand-up comedy routine for Saturday night’s gathering. It fueled a “Remember When” set, including taking note of Randy’s diminished hairline, Roger’s former profession in the mortuary business, Ernie’s booming radio voice and Marcia being a shoo-in for “most changed.”

The continuing camaraderie of the class of 1978 was amazing. After my stand-up set, Pam and Julie asked for a moment of silence for Jo, who couldn’t attend because her son was in a horrible wreck a few days before. Brian called the gesture “beautiful.” And, it was.

BJ, who served on the reunion committee, summed it up, “This reunion was everything I wanted it to be. Everyone embracing each other with love, hugs and friendship. No, cliques or drama. Just a lot of respect.”

#onceapiratealwaysapirate

Tammy Malgesini, back center, is pictured with several classmates from Marshfield High School during their 40-year reunion, held Sept. 14-16 in Coos Bay

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Tammy Malgesini is the community editor. Her column, Inside my Shoes, includes general musings about life. Contact her at tmalgesini@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4539.

Road trip leads to special moments with family

Community editor relishes in return trip to family home on the Oregon Coast.

By 

By TAMMY MALGESINI

Inside my shoes

Published on March 1, 2016 3:30PM

After returning from a road trip to visit my folks — I was reminded that there are things about being someone’s kid that really rock.

Despite the fact that I’m a college graduate, have a full-time job, pay a home mortgage and have been married for 32 years, whenever I go to Coos Bay I’m “Kidlet No. 2.”

My mom always tells me, “It doesn’t matter how old you are, you’ll always be my little girl.”

Since Coos Bay is about a 15-hour round-trip drive from Hermiston, it’s not a weekend destination. Needing to take some time off from work, I figured it was the perfect opportunity to cruise across the state to see my folks.

While talking on the phone confirming plans for the trip, I asked my mom if she’d make roast. Over the years I’ve ruined many good cuts of meat trying to replicate my favorite family Sunday dinner. One time I even got cooking tips from an octogenarian while at the funeral of a former boss’s mom. Even though I wouldn’t be there on a Sunday, my mom was more than happy to prepare a roast for her “Tammy Sue.”

I packed the Jeep and headed out last Tuesday afternoon with the General, my 3-year-old German shepherd. He makes a great traveling partner, but since he doesn’t share in the driving duties I made a pit stop in Woodburn. In addition to being about halfway to Coos Bay, it provided an opportunity to get some shoes for my husband at the outlet mall and have lunch with some old friends.

I arrived in Coos Bay the next evening just in time for dinner. And, as luck would have it, my mom had prepared meatloaf — another one of my favorites. As we ate dinner, my pops asked me what I wanted to do while I was in town. I didn’t have much of an agenda, I wanted to go to the student store at Marshfield High School — my alma mater — to get a baseball hat and do some junkin’ in second hand stores.

My mom was giddy with excitement to have me home. Sitting in the living room, we took a jaunt down memory lane — sharing stories from days gone by. I couldn’t believe my mom was still up. Oftentimes when I call, she’s already in bed by 8 p.m.

When my eyes started to droop, I finally retired to “the pink bedroom.” When I lived in that room, it had obnoxious smiley face wallpaper. If you think that sounds dreadful, imagine how I felt as a 17-year-old waking up with a hangover with yellow, orange and pink smiley faces everywhere.

The next day, my brother joined us all for lunch at a Mexican restaurant. Partway through the meal my mom’s face was beaming. “I have both my kidlets here,” she said. It had been almost four years since our whole family was all together.

That moment made the whole trip worth it — that and the roast beef dinner my mom and brother prepared.

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Tammy Malgesini is the community editor. Her column, Inside my Shoes, includes general musings about life. Contact her at tmalgesini@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4539.

Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back: Relay for Life kicks off 2016

The fight against cancer gets personal.

By 

By TAMMY MALGESINI

Inside my shoes

Published on January 19, 2016 1:38PM

Cancer sucks.

Most of the time, my column is light-hearted. However, when it comes to cancer I have a tough time. Between 2011-2013, three people important to me were diagnosed with cancer — two of them have since died from the disease.

That’s why Relay for Life has become so personal for me. It’s not a faceless disease. It has taken my friends and afflicted my pops. Actually, I don’t think there are very many people out there that haven’t been touched by cancer in some way.

The premise behind Relay for Life is to Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back — Celebrate those who have beaten cancer, remember those who have lost their lives to the disease and fight back by raising awareness and money for cancer research in pursuit of a cure.

Hermiston Relay for Life is kicking off its 2016 event with a rally Thursday from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Hermiston Church of the Nazarene, 1520 W. Orchard Ave. The event will feature information tables — including how to start a team, fundraising ideas and general information about cancer. Also, food will be available for purchase and there will be a silent auction. There is no fee to register a Relay for Life team. The actual Relay for Life is June 25 at the Umatilla County Fairgrounds.

Lynn O’Halloran, one of my old college roommates was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2011. She died just over two years later. Lynn was a great friend — a Coke drinker, yet she always had Pepsi on hand when I visited.

She kept her sense of humor throughout her fight with cancer. Back in our college days, I had several friends by the name of Lynn. To keep them straight, my mom called her “long-haired Lynn.” My mom still referred to her with this moniker even after Lynn cut her hair. And, when she lost her hair from chemotherapy, Lynn suggested my mom could call her “no-hair Lynn.”

My pops was diagnosed with prostate cancer in November 2013. He had surgery the following January. While the waiting was the hardest part, the doctor said it was best to reduce the risk of infection after the biopsies. He continues to do well and is turning 78 this weekend.

Diagnosed with lung cancer in May 2012, Judy Hayes participated in the following month’s Hermiston Relay for Life for the first time. I was privileged to be able to walk with my friend during the opening lap.

At one point it looked like she had beat the cancer and some of the herd gathered to celebrate with Dairy Queen ice cream cake. We got a good laugh about the inscription on the cake, “Cancer sucks Judy.”

Judy died Dec. 15, 2015. During this year’s Relay for Life, I will walk in her memory.

For more information about Hermiston Relay for Life, contact Miranda Hunt at 541-720-0369, mlhunt06@gmail.com or visit www.relayforlife.org/hermistonor.

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Tammy Malgesini is the community editor. Her column, Inside my Shoes, includes general musings about life. Contact her at tmalgesini@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4539.

I’m not Scrooge, four presents are fine

No need to go overboard on the holiday gifts.

By 

By TAMMY MALGESINI

Inside my Shoes

Published on November 23, 2015 11:47AM

I’ve always loved the holiday season.

However, I don’t know if I’m just jaded, but it seems society has turned Christmas into a big gift grab. Honestly, I’m no Scrooge — ask any of my friends. I love to give.

Of course, like any kid, I enjoyed getting Christmas presents. Although, I admit requesting a big ticket item one year.

As a freshman in college I asked my parents for a car. I really thought they were gonna give me the keys to my mom’s car. A decade old red Toyota Corona, we affectionately called it Little Beep Beep after the Randy Newman song, “Short People.” I figured my mom didn’t need it because my pops drove her around the majority of time.

I wondered how they would present it to me. Would they put a big bow on the car or would they give me a new key chain? Maybe, I thought, they’d make it even more fun by doing a nesting box package with each box opened revealing a slightly smaller box until I got down to the key.

Nope, it was none of those things.

They gave me a wooden car Christmas ornament.

Recently I’ve seen something floating around the Internet called the 4 Gift Christmas Challenge. Some kids might be appalled with only getting four gifts. But if you think about it, that’s one more than the gold, frankincense and myrrh the wise men brought when Jesus was born.

The 4 Gift Christmas Challenge encourages parents to limit gift-giving to four items for their children:

1. Something they want

2. Something they need

3. Something to wear

4. Something to read

Looking back, my parents could have wrapped the 4 Gift Christmas Challenge all into one with handing over the keys to Little Beep Beep. Seriously, I wanted it and needed it — remember I was a college student without wheels. Driving gloves would have covered something to wear. And something to read, well the driver’s manual would sufficiently take care of that.

And, just in case my husband needs some shopping ideas this year:

Want: A Derek Jeter commemorative baseball;

Need: A box of black Pilot G-2 07 gel pens;

Wear: Altra Lone Peak trail shoes;

Read: “Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes Unofficial Guidebook: Rail-Trail & Community Guide” by Estar Holmes (the 2015 version).

Tammy Malgesini is the community editor. Her column, Inside my Shoes, includes general musings about life. Contact her at tmalgesini@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4539.