"Be pleasant until ten o'clock in the morning and the rest of the day will take care of itself."
Elbert Hubbard
"There is no snooze button on a cat who wants breakfast".
Author Unknown (Sepiru Chris?)
"Luxury is an ancient notion. There was once a Chinese mandarin who had himself wakened three times every morning simply for the pleasure of being told it was not yet time to get up."
Argosy
Friends on a walk
"The miracle is not to fly in the air, or to walk on the water, but to walk on the earth."
"The miracle is not to fly in the air, or to walk on the water, but to walk on the earth."
Chinese Proverb
It seems an important article of my faith to prefer the individual, the unique, and the "one-off" over the mass produced and the popular.
Perhaps that's what I love about the cacophony of the blogosphere - it's the individuated voices that all of YOU one-offs bring into my world!
Then again, routine can be a balm. Like my habit of looking in on YOUR blogs as often as I am able. So even though I'm no fan of the world-wide uniformity (or food choices) of McDonalds, it seems that breakfast at the Golden Arches has become a some-time morning ritual that grounds me in my day - and in a particular time and place.
This morning I walked Waikiki beach, stopping for breakfast at "Micky D's" on Kuhio Avenue. Spearing a slice of only-at-McD's-of Hawaii pineapple, listening to the babble of Japanese tourist families, and humming along with the piped-in Hawaiian music, my mind went back to other mornings long ago. . .
The Philadelphia of almost 30 years ago was very different from the Waikiki of today. And the struggling young Me was certainly very different from the Cloudia writing this today. I lived then with my gelical cat, Jennifer, in a hundred year old church bell tower. Looking back now, I realize that I was a sort of "project" for the intellectual, Epicopalian congregation. Eating take-away McMuffins and gazing out over the wide stone parapets
was a peaceful moment for kitty & me in an otherwise hectic time.
Resources were thin, and the ultimate recognition of my genius uncertain, but I had a few, dear, twisted friends, and my favorite used-book store was open till midnight. The city of my birth was then a playground of bohemian possibility. One block from the over-stuffed couches of Book Trader, a young guy named Bruce Springsteen was packing them in at a tiny South Street bar called Grendel's Lair.
Struggle is romantic in retrospect. But at least one close friend was hip to the jive even way back then. "Life is such a struggle, Jim," I said to my partner in crime and hope. "Better days are sure to come."
"Cloudy," He said,
"These are the good days!"
Who would have guessed, all those struggles ago, that someday I'd be wielding my plastic fork here in the 21st Century? That I'd walk in Waikiki and look back over my many, many Egg Mc Muffins. . .
. . . Thinking of a dear friend many years gone. . .
"They're ALL good days, Jimmy," I thought with deep gratitude,
sipping not- bad hot coffee.
"But you were right all those breakfasts ago. Those days of doubt, discovery, struggle & ecstasy were in a real sense our "Glory Days."
I wouldn't have missed it for the world!
Here's to many more - with thanks to all of YOU for strolling along.
A L O H A! Cloudia
Why Cloudia I do believe we may have been in Philadelphia at the same time (1973-'75) for me. Now if you can find five steps to be connected to Kevin Bacon I am there with you as my sixth.
ReplyDeleteThat's such a beautiful piece of sky :)
ReplyDeleteSwaminarayan Temple in Dwarka
Few writers could turn a story that includes Micky D's and Egg Mc Muffins into a banquet, but you did it perfectly.
ReplyDeleteIs that a dog-walker or do all those big dogs live with him??
ReplyDeleteA beautiful and wise post, this is. You make me think I should reflect on, and maybe even write down, my own early struggle days instead of trying to forget them.
Was your tower abode a WORKING bell tower? Bong!
Hello Cloudia
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't mind being beneath an Hawaiin sky any time of the day - or year - again.
Loved the islands (not just Oahu) each time we have visited, saw many different things and learn't so much more each time.
I do hope to come back again
Take care
Cathy
Really enjoyed this Cloudia! I love the 'wielding my plastic fork here in the 21st Century'!
ReplyDeleteAlso the quote about being woken three times is magnificent!
What beautiful prose. I am fortunate to wake up, roll over and turn on the lap to, and enjoy such loving thoughts from someone so far away. Blogging is a part of my routine just because it is packed with variety! I hear you, Waikiki Woman!
ReplyDeleteSuch thoughtful happy relections........
ReplyDeleteloved your happy quotations.
Very philosophical, Cloudia. But very true in what you say. I shall be in Philadelphia shortly - so shall think of you there all those years ago.
ReplyDeleteThe Chinese mandarin sounds like a person after my own heart.
ReplyDeleteThere was once a Chinese mandarin who had himself wakened three times every morning simply for the pleasure of being told it was not yet time to get up
ReplyDeleteThat will be me for the next two weeks - I can get up at whatever time I like because I don't have to go to work and enjoy a leisurely breakfast. :)
That story of the chinese Mandarin really hit home. I LOVE that feeling, like this morning, waking up and realizing that I don't have to GET up.
ReplyDeleteWell, David and I had a Breakfast Jack with lettuce and tomato this morning. Yum!
ReplyDeleteWalking Man: This does not surprise me. I have felt a kinship for sometime. If we dated 30 years ago, I'm gonna freak!
ReplyDeleteKevin went to an alternative school of the Philadelphia Distict called "Parkway Program."
We were both in the first hundred students, though I never played cards with him and the other players in the stairwell. Class mascot: Fellow student "Suzy Creamcheese" who blossomed (we all did) in the heady freedom of the school...... One degree?
Bhavesh: Aloha Kind Sir. Namaste.
Tricia: Pungent comment. YOU are a poet! Thanks much
Dina: The dogs are strangers, I don;t know their story. But yes, I got to ring the bell, including at midnight on Haloween! Bwaaaaahhh!!
Cathy; Pleasure meeting you, Dear!
Mr. Neckman: You, Dear, are an appreciator of life - therefore living a magical existence that is very very authentic. I love being a part of it!! Your blog & art inspire-
Sandy: What a lovely gift your comment carries! You folks in Conn are six hours ahead of me, and I've wondered that you are sharing a moment with me here at Comfort Spiral even as my body lays snoozing in Waikiki @ 1:30 am.
Viva the Future!
Elizabeth: Mutual, Sistah! Your blog makes me smile.
Weaver of Grass: Such a pleasure to read your comment here! Phila is a very different city today - tall buildings overshadow William Penn's staute atop the French Rennaisance City Hall (the worlds largest example of the style, and largest, free-standing masonry bldg. A wonderful pile - especially for the colonies ;-)
Your blog is a master work!
David: I like the cut of your jib.
Ake, Dear: Don't waste a moment of precious idleness!!
Charles: Saturday!! First day of Summer vacation! Yes, a wonderful feeling.
GiGi: You two enjoy yourselves admirably!
What a great story! Glory days indeed, all of them :)
ReplyDeleteIs there anyplace Mickey D's DOESN'T have a spot?
Cloudia..Now I am two degrees from Kevin Bacon...now I know that guy got around.
ReplyDeleteI doubt we dated unless your name was Lysurgicdiamethelyde or Suzy Shroom...