The Green Hills of Tyrol - Oops! - Guam!

**petrocrab** · 20th May 09, 08:13 PM

Hafa Adai, Friends!

It's a lovely day in Guam and, right now, most of you are fast asleep on the other side of the planet.

I retired from the Navy here in 1995. My job now is to stay out of most trouble (a 24/7 challenge). I attempt to do that by roasting coffee for the Mrs. and me, tracing my family history, and by staying fit. Meanwhile, my bride stays busy as Director of the University of Guam Library (another 24/7 job: when you marry a librarian, you marry all the books too!).

But there was a time when I too slept in your hemisphere. I grew up in Westchester County, NY (Tarrytown and Scarsdale) and, like fellow member Bigkahuna, learned the pipes at The Yonkers Kilty Pipe Band. Those were fine times...some of the elder members of the band had come to New York from Scotland during the 1920's and 30's. They were the last of the British Empire's "Old Guard", and they were full of fascinating stories from those days. Those fine men helped raise me, and I treasure my memories of them.

My family connection to Bonnie Scotland is from my Dad's grandmother, Margaret Duguid (Forrest) Smith, 1825-91. She was born in Tarves, Aberdeenshire, but spent most of her adult life in Kingston Upon Thames, near London.

But enough of my story! I am delighted to have your website and look forward to meeting you.