HICKMAN FAMILY - Lifetime in Asia
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Taco Bell comes to Singapore

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24 November 1998 - Singapore
Those of you who are expatriates or who ever been expatriates will probably appreciate this more than those who are not.  This is all absolutely true!  

 It was a quiet Sunday morning in Singapore.  The sun was shining, birds singing etc etc. 

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There was a buzz in the Hickman home.  A different buzz.  Almost, a hum of excitement.  Showers taken, hair combed, clothes on, keys and wallet in pockets.

Phone call to a friend to see if she would like to join them for THE EVENT OF THE YEAR.  Doreen could hardly believe that they would share the moment with her.  She was awed that Joe had the pull and connections to get an additional seat to this FIRST OF A KIND EVENT IN Singapore.  She ran a couple blocks to the Hickman home, too excited to even wait for them to pick her up en-route.  She, like Joe and Gerri, had to get there NOW! 

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You could have sliced the anticipation in the car with a knife.  The occupants were to too excited to speak.  Joe concentrated on the road, Gerri double checking her make-up up over and over again.  Doreen in the back seat, biting her tongue and wishing that she had told Joe about the shortcut she had discovered only a few days before but knowing, as an invited guest, she'd best not question which way they went.  

Although it was only actually 15 minutes it seems like hours.  The last few kilometers crawled by.  Doreen couldn't sit still, Joe had broken out in a sweat of anticipation and Gerri just stared out on the road. Searching, searching for the promised destination and wonders awaiting.

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They arrived at their destination, they knew instantly that they would have to fight their way in.  There were lots of otherexpatriates milling around.  The crowd looked ugly!

They couldn't be bothered looking for a parking space in the 10 story garage.  They double parked, blocking the exit for several vehicles.  They didn't care.  They were no longer thinking straight.  The FEVER had taken over.

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Joe took lead.  Throwing all 250lbs into the crowd.  Clearing the way for Gerri and Doreen who were in hot pursuit.  An old lady was pushed to the floor.  Gerri contemplated stopping to help her but realized she would lose her place in line, so she, like the rest of the group, simply jumped over her while tossing her a sympathetic look.

The music got louder, the lights were flashing.  There were greeters and other people handing out flyers to the milling crowds.  

Joe threw his last ounce of strength into the crowd pushing and scratching a pathway to the front of the crowd.  The girls stepped over him to get in front. 

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They had made it!  They were there!  They had arrived!

Joe was too winded to speak.  Gerri was screaming violently at a very small child who had dared to get in front of her.  Doreen mustered the last bit of strength she had and screamed to the Goddess behind the counter... 

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The wait seemed like hours but finally the tray was placed in front of them.  Joe threw money at the Goddess not caring about the cost.  One couldn't pay too much for this.  

They carried They carried tray in unison to a table.  Not daring to open anything they simply stared at the contents of the tray.  Sort of lusting, almost praying and certainly giving thanks for the 6 regular tacos, 1 burrito supreme, a double order of nachos and 3 cokes that TACO BELL had given them at their first outlet in Singapore. 

Life is good, and now, more complete in Asia! 

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www.JosephHickman.com
  • Home
  • Family Photos
    • Thanksgiving in the Desert 2021
    • Cruise to 'No-Where'
    • 2020 Random Photos in the Year of COVID
    • 2019 Family Singapore
    • 2018 Hickmans in Singapore
    • Singapore 2017 Family Photos
    • Christmas 2016 Family Photos
    • Margot Geraldine Bateman
    • Alexis' Baby Shower
    • Alexis' in Singapore Sept 14
    • Hickman Ancestry
    • The early years...
    • The 70's
    • Joe & Gerri's Wedding 1976
    • The 80's...
    • Christmas 1998
    • Christmas 1999
    • Hickman Holiday Herald 2000
    • Kathy visits Singapore
    • 2001 off to a rough start
    • Christmas 2001
    • Hickman Holiday Herald 2010
    • Hickman Holiday Herald 2011
    • Alexis' Graduations
    • Alexis & Adam Engagement
    • Alexis & Adam's Wedding
    • JR & Cui Engagement
    • JR & Cui Mei's Wedding
  • Moments
    • Fight Cancer
    • Alexis writes about Cancer
    • Aquaria
    • Joe's Ankle Break
    • Taco Bell
    • A trip to India
    • Buying a Singapore home
    • Only in China
    • BMW & Cantalopes
    • The Sofa
    • Alexis' Car
    • Flying on 911
    • Unforgettable gift!
    • A very long trip!
    • Harry & Sylvia go to Hong Kong
    • Things I like
    • You get to travel
    • Pearls of Wisdom
    • Nepal
    • Travel to China & Thailand
  • Travel
    • Phuket 2019
    • 2019 April - Hong Kong Disneyland
    • Royal Caribbean SE Asia
    • Thanksgiving in the Desert
    • Trip to Fiji and Sydney
    • Yangon, Myanmar 2005
    • Angkor Wat 2013
    • Burma with Alexis
    • New York 2013
    • Gardens by the Bay
    • India 2012
    • Hokkaido, Japan 2012
    • Kathmandu 1999
    • Queenstown New Zealand
    • Alexis & Joe head to Beijing in 2005
    • Vietnam over the years
    • JR & Joe in Borneo
    • Weekend in San Francisco
    • Joe in Myanmar Dec 2006
    • Pine Lake Manor
    • Bangkok, Thailand
    • Trip to Tibet
    • Sydney, Australia 2004
    • Trip to Thailand, Myanmar & China with Kit & Darren
    • 2002 Trip to Kunming & Lijiang
    • 2002 Trip to Ho Chi Minh with Gerri
  • Videos