1989_05 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper May 1989

              Page 4. FEATURES
Hve Sharzhoom 10th Anniversary
Mav 1989
Adventures with
Grandpa Tex
By Jonelle Garo
Staff Writer
I remember riding downtown on bus #26
with my grandfather. We would stroll
down the Fulton Mall and talk to everyone
Grandpa knew. Our journey would start on
Stanislaus St and we would window shop
all the way to Kern St I would try to keep
up with Gramps, since his strides were
three times that of mine, but that was
useless. I really didn't mind rushing down
the mall with him because everyone that
knew him would say hello to us as we
passed. Half of these friends encluded the
winos and bums that used the shopping
area as their living rooms and parlors.
Grandma Lil always told us to steer clear
of "those types", but Grandpa was
outgoing and loved to disobey Grandma
whenever he could.
Grandpa Tex would also try to be sly
and make me believe he was actually going
to listen to Grandma's advice of not filling
me up with "garbage" at the mall. As if it
was her very request that drove us straight
into the candy department of Long Drugs.
He would talk to all of the clerks he knew
by name while I feverishly tried to choose
from all of the chocolate delicacies placed
before me. The decision was always pains
taking and time consuming, but inevitably
I would end-up with my usual U-NO candy
bar.
After this 20 minute ordeal it was off to
the Gottschalk's Garden restaurant for a
small rootbeer and a coffee.
"Don't tell Grandma I let you drink
beer," he said, "because she'll hollar at me
the rest of the night"
I enjoyed Grandpa's humor; I always felt
like I was getting away with something I
shoudln't
Although the candy and soda were great
attractions to being with gramps, I liked
the end of our Fulton Mall walk the best
The walk took us across the stone bridge
and small chlorinated stream that separated
the coffee shop and Broadway Cyclery.
Avak had a small enterprise on the end
corner of the mall with maybe 40 bicycles
in the whole store. Heavy, black, wrought
iron bars lined the front windows and
doors because of the deteriorating area. A
small counter separated the store in two,
with the showroom in front and the
"social room" in back. This dimly lit area
with greasy bike parts strewn about was
the sacred meeting domain of my Grandpa
and the rest of his cronies.
I can still remember the distinct odor of
cigar smoke and grease emitting from the
stuffy air, the walls, and the furniture. I
guess furniture was the proper label for a
few grape palettes and a lone chair in the
middle of the floor. The chair was
originally rusty brown in color, but at this
point it was shedding its stuffing from the
worn out arm and head rests. I sat there
only once; I could feel the oil on my arms
as I rested them there, not to mention the
numerous springs that were dislodged
within the seat
I remember this one day inparticular
when Avak, Martin, Hagop, and my
Grandpa Tex were all debating on which
village was the best in Armenia. Of course
they all bragged that their hometown was
far superior than any other. For instance,
there was Hagop who never travelled
anywhere without his silver engraved
pocket flask. He whole heartedly believed
that people from Erzerum could party like
no other group on earth, and he kept his
prized flask well stocked with cheap wine
at all times. Of course this prodded Tex to
action since he was from Moush.
"Everyone knows that no one can
compare to the wild and free spirited
people of Moush," Tex exclaimed.
"All of you are too frivolous. You
waste your words as well as your coin,"
said Avak. "Bitlistis are not taken by
drunkedness or being wild. We know what
we have at all times whether it be our
faculties or more importantly our money!"
"You know Avak, if I didn't know
better I would think you were half
Dikranagert by the way you run your
mouth," added Martin. "But being the
Aintab that I am I know better than to
brag aimlessly or hoard all that I possess.
All that one needs is good a head on their
shoulder-that's all-nothing more," he
concluded.
As I sat there and listened to the lively
argument I remembered I was always told
that I was a heinz 57 Armenian; one
whose origin was the result of many inter-
village bonding. For being young that was
a quite sufficient definition, but as I heard
these men talking I wanted to state my
position. So without any warning I
proclaimed, Tm the Best." The room
suddenly became very quiet as all four men
peered down at me and registered what I
had just said.
Hagop, feeling the fruit of the spirit
broke into laughter as did the others. I saw
no humor since they were laughing at me.
I had to explain: "Mr. Avak says that
Bitlistis' are the best Mr. Hagop believes
that people from Erzerum are the best, and
Mr. Martin the Aintabs, while my
grandfather favors the Moushetsi. I am
part of Moushetsi, Bidistsi, .Erzerumtsi,
Parchentsi, and Aintabtsi, so I must be the
best since I am all of Armenia and not just
one part"
"You know Tex, you've got a pretty sharp
little  granddaughter  there,"   Avak  said
"She   can   come  around   anytime   she
wants."
A day with Grandpa was never boring, but
that summer day at the bike shop will be
permanately etched in my memories.
Armenian Studies Trip
to Armenia Postponed
Hve Sharrhoom Staff
Last summer Professor Barlow Der
Mugrdechian, of the CSU Fresno
Armenian Studies Department, took a
group of students on a journey through
Soviet Armenia. This was the first trip
put together by the department upon an
invitation by the Committee for Cultural
Relations with Armenians Abroad, a
group based in Yerevan, Armenia. The
journey proved to be quite successful as
nine students participated in this month
long tour of the Armenian homeland.
Because of this success the department
was anticipating a return visit this
summer. However, according to Der
Mugrdechian, the trip has been postponed.
"The committee that invited us last year is
not inviting any tourist groups this
summer," said Der Mugrdechian. He added
that this is due to the tragic earthquake
that hit Armenia this past December.
Instead of tourist groups attending,
many organizations, such as the Land and
Culture Organization from France and the
Armenian Church Youth Organization of
America (ACYOA) are sponsoring work
programs. These programs are for the
purpose of rebuilding and reconstructing
schools, churches, and other buildings that
were destroyed by the earthquake.
Der Mugrdechian stressed however, that
he is looking to return with his students
in the summer of 1990.
ASO Peda Burger Sale
The CSUF Armenian Students Organization sponsored a
peda burger:.$aie on Monday, Aprifimh at their famous
booth in the free speech area. It was a huge success with
donations going into the ASO fund for future use.
Poem...
My Hearts on
ighland
Y. Stephen Bulbulian
Special to the Hve Sharzhoom
On Highland Avenue,
out near Kings Canyon Road,
where at night
you can see the glow
of Sanger,
in the morning
you can see the mountains
that Mother said look
like our Caucasus
and Mt. Ararat.
In the white-shingled farmhouse,
set back from the grapevines,
the family meets
for noon lunch
ofyalanchi,
pilav and borag,
where everyone
speaks loud
because the old folks can't hear,
and where spirited enthusiasm
and laughter
quenches the thirst
of all.
On hot summer afternoons
when we cannot work
in the vineyards,
we sit
under the mulberry tree
by the back porch
and dream of evening meals
and family gathered
to cool themselves,
while the grape leaves wilt
and branches grow to the ground.
Chilled grapes
and lavosh
is our dessert
our family
is our strength.
We're happy
at grape harvest time,
our toil
at yearly end,
we help the neighbor
roll his raisins
and I remember,
my hearts on Highland
in a sea of green vines.
■mi
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