Stories stream from a mind overflowing with memories

By Michael Tsai

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Nov 08, 2011

~~<p>When Gloria Valera opens her mouth, it's a good bet the first words to roll off her tongue will be, "I have a story ..."</p>
<p>What follows is always worth listening to. Give her a second to gather her thoughts and Valera will tell you all about how her father taught her and her sister Pat to swim by daring them to jump off the Kaunakakai wharf, or about the time her mother chased her around the house with a broom, trying to persuade her to drop out of night school, or perhaps the time her granddaughter nearly drowned in a pool, then woke up speaking in tongues.</p>
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When Gloria Valera opens her mouth, it's a good bet the first words to roll off her tongue will be, "I have a story ..."

What follows is always worth listening to. Give her a second to gather her thoughts and Valera will tell you all about how her father taught her and her sister Pat to swim by daring them to jump off the Kaunakakai wharf, or about the time her mother chased her around the house with a broom, trying to persuade her to drop out of night school, or perhaps the time her granddaughter nearly drowned in a pool, then woke up speaking in tongues. Login for more...