Our Camel Adventure

Beduin to watching that I don't steal and ride off on his camel?

Chris and I have been making our lists of places to see while I'm a month here in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. At the top of the list is, of course, to get up close and personal with the camels, but not necessarily to ride a camel (although grandson Chamberlain wants a picture of me riding one!) With this goal in mind, we headed to the Heritage Village to first, become more familiar with the culture and secondly, to sit on a camel (or lean as I did). 

The two main attractions to this Heritage Village are the workers standing holding falcons for picture taking, and the Beduin watching over his camel. Keep in mind that there are no signs posted anywhere stating that if you take a picture holding the falcon or sitting on the camel that there will be a charge, like they would courteously do in the USA . They just encourage you to hold (actually hand you the falcon), and motion you to sit on the camel. Then, rubbing their fingers annoyingly together, they ask for money. Interesting. This seems to be the name of the game here in the Middle East. And that leads me right into our adventure yesterday to Al Aim to see another important thing on the "to do" list while here in Abu Dhabi - the Camel Market.

You will notice that I'm borrowing a picture from National Geographic that has some incredible pictures of the Camel Market that we spent three painfully long hours hunting for yesterday. We did finally find it - not because there were any directions or address listed on the official website - and, surprisingly, we were wrongly sent to a random residential area (no Camel Market in sight for miles) by the Google maps! (Note to self...complain to Google on this one). But we did locate it after many wrong turns and dead ends by reading a few message boards and posts about the place which was located behind a large mall in Al Ain. Also written in the posts and boards were warnings to us about watching out for the beckoning camel sellers pen - with his smiling (missing teeth), "come see my camels...come." Also take note that the picture above has been somewhat enhanced by the photographer. Enhanced as in, they appear to have clean clothing and have showered. This was not the case with the men we encountered.

We are definitely glad that we continued our search until we found this Camel Market however, because it was exciting to see. And it was incredible looking at all of the varieties of camels up close and personal with their different colors, shapes, ages, and sizes. And this trip was made more interesting (and a bit frightening) when we were surrounded by the camel salesmen. In fact, to semi-protect ourselves, when asked when coaxed and beaconed into their many camel pens to take pictures, Chris, without hesitation replied, "no camera, no phone." I, of course, went along with our sudden new place of residence and lack of any latest technologies (including Chris large camera in the backseat). And we had to hide a laugh when Chris' iPhone suddenly rang in his pocket to let him know he had just received a text from a friend. 

We finally had to stop our private tour of the camel pens when being surrounded by too many aggressive camel salesmen (not sure what their official name is), asking us for money... yikes! It was that ole' rubbing the fingers together thing again. "Money for what?" we thought. At that point, Chris pretty much threw Beckham in the carseat without totally strapping him in saying to me under his breath, "lock your doors now." And as we started to drive away, the camel market men were still rapping on our car windows trying to get money! Glad I wasn't alone. We laughed all the way home about this adventure, pretending to be Canadian with no picture-taking devises in hand, so hard that tears were rolling down my cheeks. So unfortunately, we didn't take any pictures. But, maybe when Ken gets here in a week or so we will venture there again (we now actually know where we are going), and let him do the talking. Will he also say we are from Canada?

He Loves It

Team in Dubai

As I was sitting in the basketball gym here in Dubai last night, waiting for the game against Al Riyadhi, a team from Lebanon, to begin, I reflected back to all of the gyms and games I have attended with Chris. I have understandably lost count, but it started when he was in 3rd grade at the Boys and Girls Club. And I have loved every single game. And, at this point, now have to travel half way across the world to watch him play again. Thinking about all of the places he's played as an international professional basketball player, gives me pause because I honestly would never have been able to see these extremely unique and fascinating faraway lands if not for Chris playing there. 

One example is Australia. I loved seeing the Sydney Opera House, Cairns, Crocodile Creek, and Wollongong where the arena sat right on the water. Or Seoul, Korea where the Mormon missionaries there told me that Chris playing there was good for their missionary work. Istanbul was spectacular, and Ken and I would have never ventured there on our own, but with Chris playing basketball in that very historic and ancient city, we were able to go. 

Australia was also fun where seeing the posters in the gym that read "Burgess, Fries and Coke" on the McDonalds signs made me smile. Loved Puerto Rico both times, especially the salsa dancing cheerleaders, and seeing an entire village show up to the championship game there to see Chris' team win it all was heart-warming. The radio sports commentator said that the fans called Chris "the gentle giant," because of how kind he was on and off the court. Exciting times. And although basketball is pretty much unknown here in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, due to the entire country ga ga over soccer, Chris loves it and plays with the same passion he had in high school and college. Why? Because he loves it. And ya gotta love it to be successful - at anything in life.

Three of Chris' Girls

When I teach my network marketing distributors or voice students about goal-setting, passion and vision needed to be successful, I always talk about my son, Chris. Plagued with injuries in college, Chris never gave up. Debilitating injuries that would have stopped anyone else from continuing to pursue their goals with basketball, Chris didn't stop or give up. He worked harder, went through months of rigorous exercise therapies at Egoscue Clinic in San Diego, California, and special training facility, IMG Academies, in Bradenton, Florida to just repair the damage done to his body from playing the game he loved. From bulged discs in his back, bone spurs in his ankles, bad knees, and a torn plantar fascia, a small piece of tissue on the bottom of his foot, he kept his focus on his dreams. After so many injuries at one point Chris asked me, "why me?", but he continued to do whatever it took to play. And nothing has stopped his resolve and commitment to play basketball. And he never lost his passion and love of the game. 

After all of these years (now his eleventh internationally), Chris' love for the game is still reflected in how he plays. He is currently playing on a team here in Abu Dhabi, but was brought in by Al Ahli, a team in Dubai, to replace an injured player in the Dubai International Cup. He had one practice only to get ready to play with this team, but it didn't show in his performance. As soon as he ran onto the court the passion, energy and spark was felt by all in attendance. Coaches from other teams came to me after the game had finished and in their limited English said, "he played a great game!" And although the ruling here wouldn't allow more than one American on the floor at the same time, and Chris had to keep coming in and out, he never lost that fire and focus in his eyes and energy to play the best game he could. He blocked shots, scored, and kept his man from scoring. He, as he said, "did his job." And although the entire country was celebrating a huge soccer win, it didn't matter to Chris. Chris played with the passion of a winner and showed everyone how much he loves it.

"Beckham...daddy needs to rest up for the game."

Chris saying goodbye to his family.

Right now Chris is juggling being a student at the University of Utah, Primary teacher in the Abu Dhabi 2nd LDS ward, pro basketball player and single dad. Let me explain. Chris has very few classes left to take to graduate from the University of Utah. So here in Abu Dhabi, in between practice and games, he is studying for the two online classes he is taking. Besides basketball and schooling Chris is also taking care of his 18 month old son, Beckham. His wife and the other four children spent December with Chris here, but have since returned to Utah. Chris kept Beckham and both "boys" love to hang out. Dawn, along with the Islamic "interesting" broadcast of prayers hitting the airwaves at 6am, Chris is up changing, dressing and feeding Beckham. Beckham and the Flintstone character, Bam Bam, are two in the same. In essence, Beckham is a wrecking ball. Darling, but a handful. And Chris doesn't miss a beat. His love for his family, the gospel and basketball make him an incredible man. And as a mom, that makes me happy. I'm here to cheer him on, and side benefits of seeing this incredible city and having a full month with Beckham is a dream come true!

    

I Can't Complain...

Chris playing in Korea where Ken and I were able to travel.

I flew to Abu Dhabi from Los Angeles on January 15th, and 22 hours later I landed with Chris and Beckham waiting for me at the airport. It was a very long flight starting out at 6am in Orange County getting up, then driving through 8am traffic to LAX, sitting there in the airport for nearly two hours, flying five hours to Chicago, sitting in airport for connection, flying seven hours to London, then walking for what seemed like a full hour to make connection on British Airways to fly to Abu Dhabi. Blurry-eyed, muck mouth with needing to brush my teeth, matted-down hair from attempting to sleep on the airplane on one of those connections, and a headache from blood sugar challenges. (Long enough sentence?) But I can't complain. I'm here with Chris and Beckham, and I'm loving it.

Like so many things in life we tend to look at the trials vs embracing the blessings. I met a couple of people during this marathon flight endeavor to Abu Dhabi. One very friendly gal was from upstate Virginia near where daughter-in-law Cooper was raised. She was on her way to Paris as a linguist to study up-close-and-personal the French language. She has 9 brothers and sisters, and was fascinated with the blue baby blanket I was crocheting (which, by the way took me through three full skeins enroute!) I told her that this was for my nineteenth (19) grand child, and she started asking all about my kids and grand children saying, "you are so blessed." Yes...yes I am, I thought to myself.

Kelli Jo, me and Zoey at game in Istanbul

When sitting in London airport I also met a friendly English women whose husband was involved with the promotion of the PGF Golf tour in Abu Dhabi. We started talking (after she kindly made sure I was on the right train to gate 5) where she asked about my blue baby blanket I was "still" crocheting, and somehow the conversation went to the fact that none of my five fab children, spouses and 18 grandchildren live near me in Irvine, California. I mentioned, with a smile, that I had to travel a long ways to see all of them - Pennsylvania with Ben, Cooper and their five children, Orem, Utah for Angela, Eddie and their four girls (and soon a baby boy!), to Hurricane, Utah to see Josh, Ashleigh and their three wonderful kids, to Bountiful, Utah to see Chris' wife, Lesa and their four children, to Vegas to see David and Sarah, and now to Abu Dhabi to see Chris and son, Beckham. Rather than feeling sorry for my travel schedule she said, "you are blessed and lucky to be able to pick up and go wherever they are." Wow...I hadn't thought of it that way. My response was (after contemplating that)..."yes, yes I am. I can't complain!"

I Must Have Done Something Right

Ken and I made the rounds this holiday season, leaving California with first stop in Las Vegas to spend time with David and Sarah in their new apartment. Then to Hurricane, Utah to visit a bit with Josh, Ashleigh and their three kids, from there to Orem, Utah to spend a few days with Angela, Eddie and their four girls. Chris is playing basketball in Abu Dhabi, so we couldn't visit him, but did catch a few minutes with Lesa and her three girls and baby boy, Zachary before heading back home. We left 0 degree weather and snow in Orem, Utah to a perfect 70 degree weather in California. Shedding the heavy coat and putting it back in storage, I'm anxious to get this new year of 2013 started, but wanted to jot a few thoughts about this week down.

Ben making home-made salsa from his home grown tomatoes.

Traveling long distances, whether by car or airplane, causes me to reflect on my life and focus on the many blessings that are mine. In these times of reflection I smile as I think about how much each of my children have grown and developed into incredible young adults, husbands (wife) and parents. And with that growth they have taken on responsibilities that have me saying to myself, "who knew?"  This post will focus on my sons. (Don't worry Angela, I will cover you in another post.)

Ben and Oliver

While spending a couple of weeks in State College, PA a few months ago, I loved seeing my son, Ben, working in his own gardens where one of the three (gardens) had a lovely variety of tomatoes growing. After work every night, Ben could be seen picking fresh tomatoes for tomorrow's lunch and the evening's dinner, along with tomatoes to can. Once the tomatoes were separated, Ben would work on his favorite project, that of making homemade salsa. It was delicious, I might add. And, again, who knew? This, along with growing and carving pumpkins together as a family, and seeing Ben at the tree farm chopping down a tree for Christmas warmed my heart. It's obvious tht he loves being a husband and dad.

Chris and Beckham

Chris napping with Ava

Chris recently surprised everyone (myself included) with keeping 15 month old Beckham in Abu Dhabi until May of this year when the season is complete, after his family spent December there with him. Angela and I were even stopped in the Orem Costco by a friend of Chris' who said, "did I hear it right that Chris has Beckham all by himself there in Abu Dhabi?" Funny. Chris couldn't be more proud of both of his sons and his three daughters. In fact, after having three darling girls (well, Lesa had them), Chris didn't think that having a son was in the cards. And the phone call at 4am from Turkey (or Poland - I forget where he was playing at the time), back before Beckham was born, Chris blurted out, "we're having a boy! Don't tell anyone, I want to announce it myself." Well...first, I didn't know they were expecting, and second, I can't tell Ken? I thought. And it is obvious that Chris adores his growing family. More heart warming events where I find myself saying, "who knew?"

On with the story. We stopped off after leaving Orem to say a quick "hi" to Josh and his family and found Josh cleaning the house, changing Siri's diaper, and then later sitting on the floor with Chamberlain putting together Lego's. Josh has definitely embraced fatherhood and parenting. Ashleigh was sick with a flu bug, and Josh didn't miss a beat as a loving husband. Even while juggling work, finishing school at BYU, Josh's priority was to be a good husband and loving father. 

Josh and Chamberlain

Josh, Chamberlain and Lego's

David just recently got married and he and Sarah are living in Las Vegas. And actually, David's actions this past holiday week have triggered my thinking about my son's (and daughter) and how they are growing, developing and taking on responsibilities as husbands, fathers, and productive, contributing members of society. As my mom  used to always say, "actions speak louder than words." And while watching Ben, Chris, Josh and David these past couple of years, I see continually amazing growth with all of them.

David making breakfast this morning for mom :-)

My last post shared the loving kindness of my children over the years. And added to that is this post today speaking briefly of the pride that comes when we, as parents, think to ourselves when witnessing these very responsible actions of our grown children, "who knew?" and most importantly, "I must have done something right." 

"Uncle" David reading to Jacquelynn

We pray constantly for health and happiness for our kids, whatever their age. Their dreams are our dreams. The truth is that when they hurt, we hurt even more deeply for them because we want only the best for our children. We brag about them (which is our right as mothers), we yell the loudest at the games, try to outdo the other parents with our team dinners, and cry longer than they do when something goes wrong for them. The fact is that when they were little and fell down, we were there to bandage their cut knees, kiss their "ouch-ies", clean up their messes, and sit on the edge of their bed telling them stories to help them fall to sleep. (Although, I'm told, my stories tended to scare them to death which is another post.)

My Boys: David, Chris, Josh and David

So "who knew?" will definitely continue with my children, and they will most likely think the same things while watching their children grow and develop, and so on, and so on, generation after generation. I think that is why we are encouraged to keep personal journals (and blogs). These heart-warming experiences need to be written down and shared with those we love so deeply. I didn't do the best job of journaling over the years, and I've just recently started blogging, so my posts will be more reflective. Why? to record memories as they relate to current happenings. That way not only can I say to myself, "who knew?" but with a sense of pride ( the good kind), "I must have done something right."