Wednesday, May 27, 2009

RESET

Aloha Everybody!
“Each morning sees some task begin, Each evening sees it close; Something attempted, something done, Has earned a night's repose.”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow




“If you can speak what you will never hear, if you can write what you will never read, you have done rare things.”
Henry David Thoreau

Thank you, Drum Major, for these lei.
We all appreciated them, though Kitty refused to wear hers long enough for a photo. The rest of us savored them!


“The biggest reward for a thing well done is to have done it.”
Voltaire


Thanks to EACH one of you for your kind comments and your support.


My dad passed last Thursday afternoon, May 21st.
He was 82 years old, a WWII veteran, and a retired small business man.


He always swore that the first thing he had ever seen upon opening his eyes for the first time was a telephone pole outside of the window.
The last image in those eyes was his son and daughter standing by him on either side. It was a good death after a long struggle.


We woke my mom and my sister in law from their well deserved naps so we could all be together in the moment. My niece and nephew returned from a surf session to join the family in some private time before alerting the proper functionaries.


Things have seemed unreal. My mind refuses to focus.


Your comments on this blog really touched me though!
I have to say that our friend Walking Man (see my blog roll) was a standout with his choice words in English AND Hawaiian.


"Drum Major" a VA nurse from Kansas City, and generous fan of my writing, arranged with Cindy's Lei Stand here in Honolulu for an abundance of floral lei for my family; I was surprised and cheered by the bounty of blossoms! Mahalo, Dear.


Yesterday, Honolulu celebrated Memorial Day with OVER 50,000 donated lei adorning the graves at Punchbowl and our other veteran's cemeteries. The whole world seemed to be mourning with us.


I happened to be having my first solitary moment in my parent's apartment (after the passing) yesterday.
Suddenly, the F-16s setting up for the "missing man" salute flew by right outside the window!


Then, last evening, an armada of floating lanterns was launched from the beach park nearby with solemn ceremony. They carried prayers and fond wishes for those who have passed this year.


So you see, the world really has seemed to join us in our grief.
But grief is nevertheless exhausting.


Death hits the "Reset."
Struggles and hurts transubstantiate into warm aloha.
The arguments, heck the WARS that he & I fought are over.


Now, a sad gratitude grows.
Yet, the world appears more beautiful than ever.


Tomorrow,
or the next day,
my muse will return.
Something will catch my eye and my mind.
An opening phrase will emerge
and I will run home to share it all with you.



Till then,
I want you to know that I'm alright.


A L O H A ! Cloudia



28 comments:

claude said...

Happy to read you feel fine. Happy about your coming back to the blogworld. I wish you the best, Cloudia. ALOHA !

Anonymous said...

And the post made me cry.
I remember dad. He left us few years back.

Anonymous said...

Well 82 years seems like a pretty good run to me. I trust he lived well and got everything he wanted out of life. That's all any of us can hope for.

Wil Harrison.com

Sepiru Chris said...

Liebe Cloudia,

What lovely words and ideas.

Take your time.

The air, I'm sure, is still electric around you.

A cloud buffeted by strong winds can regroup--you will; take your time.

I, like everyone else, send only the best and warmest wishes to your cloud.

And whatever you're feeling, obviously, is right. And appropriate. For you.

The whole e-world whom you touch, I am sure, is behind you and supports you. Not to mention all the powers and dancers in the dark that you talk of. I am sure that they welcome you and yours, too.

All the best, again.

Tschuess,
Chris

the walking man said...

In that as long as the memory of him remains within the minds of them left behind he will live a few more generations yet. Be well friend and savor this period as one of the singularly unique common experiences of all mankind.

Anonymous said...

"A good death." When that is the conclusion of a good life then what more can anyone expect of this journey? My best to you my friend.

Dave King said...

I wouldn't doubt it for a moment. I look forward to reading your next.

Dina said...

Baruch dayan emet, blessed is the righteous Judge.
Shalom dear Cloudia, my sympathy to you for the difficult days you have all gone through. May our merciful God comfort you in your mourning and grief.
You are fortunate, though, that for you your father's death hit the reset button.
Zichrono livracha, may his memory be a blessing.
Love and light to you from Jerusalem. Shalom and aloha from Dina.

Akelamalu said...

My dear Cloudia I am so sorry for your loss. Of course your Father will always be with you, never more than a whisper away. I will send Reiki to help him on his journey home and to you and all your family to help ease your grief. xxxx

Anonymous said...

Glad you "checked in" with us, and glad you're alright. I love the "reset" heading....I must push that "reset" button more often. Just do what's comfy for YOU for awhile...no hurry...no explanations due to anyone...what a contrast between the F-16 flyover and the serenity of the floating laterns. Get some rest for YOU. Aloha, DrumMajor

Brother Tobias said...

Cloudia, I've been neglecting my favourite blogs, so have not picked up on your news. I'm so sorry to hear about your father; so glad that his loved ones were around him.

(I have finally got arund to putting my few words of review for your wonderful book on Amazon. Only the ones from my comment, which you have already seen, and the main site wouldn't let me, so only on the UK site.)

Feisty Crone said...

My prayers and thoughts are with you all today, dear Cloudia. Your book is amazing, by the way. I finished it last night, with tears in my eyes, as I taught myself a new phrase: "Mahalo ke Akua."

Daryl said...

My deepest sympathy to your and your family .. may he rest in peace .. and may the good memories serve to being comfort. Aloha xo

Anonymous said...

I am happy to know you are back to blogging again. I wish you the best.

SandyCarlson said...

My heart goes out to you on the passing of your dad. That's quite a post. God bless.

Anonymous said...

What a nice, loving gesture from DrumMajor! You have many friends, Cloudia. God bless!

Deborah Godin said...

Thank you for sharing with us like this. We all have and/or will go through such passages in life, and it's an honor to be included in yours. The things you mentioned, the plane and the lanterns, the lei and the personal notes were all very moving. Blessings to you.

Bubblewench said...

Good to hear you are ok. Am very sorry for your loss. Have been thinking of you every day.

I'm glad he is at peace. What a long wonderful life.

nonizamboni said...

I miss you! How are you doing?
You're in my thoughts as ever.

laughingwolf said...

stay strong, cloudia... my dad died one year ago february... leaving yet another huge hole in my soul, never to be filled... so i know yours will be the same....

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you for letting us know that you are alright, Cloudia. You've been in my thoughts each day. How beautifully you describe the floating lanterns.

Cloudia said...

WOW!
All these kind comments from worthy people just touch my heart!

I know that he is OK, and am even more grateful for this life.

Still feel a bit pshychedelic, though. My focuse is un-focused.

But I'm glad to be easing back into the daily.

Those of you who's email addresses appear have already recieved my Aloha - but I send it out agian, unreservedly to you my playmates & friends. Warmly,

David Cranmer said...

My thoughts and prayers remain with you and your family through this difficult time. And my deepest thanks for his service during WWII.

Heff said...

Best wishes, and you just can't beat Henry Wadsworth Longfellow !

Anonymous said...

Your back! YAY

Elizabeth Bradley said...

Bless his heart. May he rest in peace.

Charles Gramlich said...

I'm sorry for your loss, but glad he died with his family around him.

Barbara Martin said...

My blessings to you, Cloudia, in your loss. Take your time in the days that come.