Monday, June 10, 2019

Old Friends Book Ends

A  L  O  H  A !
Walking on Saturday evening 
to meet friends, I crossed 
the Kalakaua Avenue bridge.

Around me, our pocket sized 
city of Honolulu
with all the hustle and excitement
anyone could wish for - but no more.

All confined, EMBRACED! between
the rolling Pacific surf and these
glorious, forested, tropical mountains.

I in cool shadow, beheld Awaawaloa
gleaming above in the last full rays of the sun.









I came to Honolulu as an
immigrant from the continent. 
Knowing nothing but 
full of attitude! 
Working the bars, 
as a cleaning lady, as a taxi driver,
taught me this town 'mango tree mailbox'
as the old taxi driving 'uncles' used to say.

Now it is me: I know what used to be there,
 and the name before that. Through hard work, and love, and refusing to leave, 
I made this my town. Now
I am a holder of memory and culture here.
A Kupuna, a 'senior'.




I love this man's native Hawaiian features!
Being an older person here
is very different that what I
saw in my California sojourn.

Here we mix all ages, we never stop
singing, performing, telling dirty jokes,
dancing hula, and holding raffles for
some charity. Saturday night we sent off
an old friend of decades, Gladys, to live
in California with family. 

It's too common a story here. 
Folks built their whole life
and memories in the islands, 
contributed MUCH as Gladys has 
done more than most, yet 
cannot afford to remain as seniors.

I am a VERY lucky duck

that managed to return!






We honor them,
 and we do not spare
the emotion!








Gladys spoke what was on her mind,
surrounded by those she has loved.
 and been loved by for decades







Remember that the most 
valuable antiques are 
dear old friends.      
       H. Jackson Brown



Linking To

ꡤꡤꡤꡤꡤꡤꡤꡤꡤꡤꡤꡤꡤꡟ

Glad YOU
are my friend!
            Warmly, cloudia






Aloha `Oe








G did great in his first
concert on Saturday too!






14 comments:

  1. Great harmony in the song.



    Fa U? Is that a Phags-pa insult?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gladys will be missed. I am so glad you were able to return. You obviously missed it each and every day.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hello,

    I am so happy for you, you are in your happy place now. Wishing you a happy day and a great new week!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm glad that you are home, Cloudia!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Beauty, in the pictures, and Simon & Garfunkel to header. Its been a long time, I am so glad your back again.

    ReplyDelete
  6. How wonderful that you are back where your heart belongs :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Such a beautiful warm relationship! Aloha!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Lovely shots of people and their warm connections.

    ReplyDelete
  9. You are home again Cloudia 💜💙💕

    ReplyDelete
  10. The sensible amongst us, must make smart decisions. Whether it be money or health, we have to change it up to have a better life. It's a tough decision.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Back where you are meant to be. Yes, one lucky duck.
    Why is it so hard for seniors to stay, why must they move to a place away from Hawaii? Is it the cost?

    ReplyDelete

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