Getting Personal

Aloha!

C'mon in.

How are Y O U today?

click on photos to enlarge!

OOOO! Perspective at da jetty!

“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.”
Marcus Aurelius



“Our loyalties must transcend our race, our tribe, our class, and our nation; and this means we must develop a world perspective.”
Martin Luther King Jr.

Limu (sea vegetables) washed up by da surf.

“My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep. The more I give thee, the more I have, For both are infinite.”
William Shakespeare

Patient Surf Pup Between Gnarly Rides

"There is no psychiatrist in the world

like a puppy licking your face."

Ben Williams

When I began exploring the blogosphere I wondered why complete strangers, leading average lives (like mine) would want to share the "minutia" of their existence on the web.

I have published a few things; played music (and sang backup) in a few bands. My aspiration as a blogger was to share "quality" content, not to do social networking. Guess I also wanted to send out my messages corked into floating bottles to the world out there:

"I exist. I am creating something of value. Hello?"

To be honest, I also wanted to promote my sweet little novel/self-help/Hawaii guidebook, cultural history book, "Aloha Where You Like Go?"

Many of you are beginning to smile a bit.

I see you there.

Because you know what happened next.

I discovered a realm of interesting people from all over the world, many of whom write beautifully, and/or are talented photographers as well.

I just wanted to express my viewpoint, my accrued life-wisdom, and share this Hawaii home that is so much more remarkable than "travelers" understand.

But

Your kind comments over time have become a "paycheck" that has nothing to do with money.

What I never expected was that I would make authentic friends.

Shannon, Pearl, Daryl, Deborah, Chris, Charles, Mark, Joe, Sandy, Barbara, Dina, Tricia, Thelma, Dave, Travis(s);

You know who you are

And please forgive me if you know that we are pals, and I've neglected to mention you here. I will wake at 3 am and slap my forehead when I think of YOU and all we've shared. I appreciate you very much!

One thing I have definitely learned on this path is that often it is EXACTLY the "merely" personal that has been the real, glimmering, web-based treasure that I have found.

Struggles with health, death, circumstances, dark depression and the blues, as well as the weddings of people I'll never meet. Your seasons, travels, musings, and of course dear pets. We've shared them all.

And it is those confessional posts (with their poignient apologies) that have made of you my real friends,

people I care about.

So, though you all post content of free-standing value (and I will endeavor to do the same) I pledge to you that I will try to follow your example. I pledge to be somewhat less of a "narrator" and occasionally just blurt out something deeply quixotically personal.

I actually feel a lot of warm aloha for your folks.

Oh, and I went to the laundromat and ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich today.

Aloha! Cloudia