Day 26 The Memory of Taste

I was walking by the EMS ramp on my way home and I saw this beautiful pineapple. Suddenly, my mouth watered and the memory of taste transported me.

I was in my grandmother's farm. Scattered in random spots were pineapple plants in different stages of ripening. My cousins and I would pluck them regardless of whether they were ready or not. I remember how the young and unripened slices, when dipped in vinegar, tasted so wonderful. That luscious taste brought me back happy memories of my childhood, of the laughter I shared with my cousins, of the guilt we felt at taking the pineapples without permission from my grandmother, of the fun we had carousing in the open fields and exploring the mountains, of the countless varieties of fruits that my grandmother grew and the fun times I had climbing the fruit trees.

I remember the avocado tree. It was difficult to climb because of all the moss that grew on it. The avocado fruit, in my 10-year old hands, were massive.

I remember the cherry tree. I remember the thorns that always got me; but the cherries were worth it - sweet and juicy.

I remember the guava trees. I remember that burst of sweet flavor with every bite. I ate so much once and felt sick for a day.

And the green mangoes . . .

Even now, as I think of the fruits that I've eaten in my childhood, I close my eyes and nostalgic memories flood me.

Tom brought some strawberries this morning. I think I'll savor them slowly and enjoy the memories of childhood that will come with each bite.

Day 25 Visual Noise

I walked with Gwynn around the neighborhood today, admiring the colors and textures of Hawaiian Paradise Park. Our yard was abloom. Kaloli Street, Beach Drive, and that lava road access to Kaloli Point was verdant and picturesque. The rain just moved on somewhere else and the world glistened and smelled fresh. I took lungfuls of air and enjoyed bursts of running on the rough and uneven lava rock road. Gwynn continued her exploration. A few feet away, a rooster made a mistake of walking out of the bushes. With a burst of energy, Gwynn gave chase. I called her back. I was afraid she would fall into some lava hole hidden by the thick underbrush. Obediently, she came back grinning and panting with excitement.

I took short rests to snap pictures. When I got to Kaloli Point and sat on a lava shelf watching overlooking the ocean, I looked at the photos I took. Some I snapped in black and white. Then I wondered . . .

With the advance in the art and technique of photography, we can manipulate colors and reduce or increase their vibrancy to get different effects. Why is it that black and white images still hold so much drama? They pull at emotions and thoughts that cannot be explained easily.

Black and white photographs create mystery. Doesn't it make you wonder? Doesn't it make you ask questions? What color is it? What would it look like if it's red? or blue? or yellow?

Stripped of color, we notice details that we, otherwise, would not have noted.  In this instance, color would just be visual noise.

Looking at the black and white photos I took and the thoughts that ran through my head made me smile; then, I took a leisurely walk back home with Gwynn enjoying the real life color around me.

Day 24 - Dedication

“Seems to me that there is a fine line between insanity and dedication…

I call that line commitment” 

― Jeremy Aldana

It was 5:30 am. It was a blustery 60-degree morning at the Aloha stadium. My friends and I, along with thousands of others, were lined up to board the buses that will take us to the Aloha tower to begin the Great Aloha Run.

We were in shorts and thin t-shirts. There was no respite from the chilly breeze that mercilessly blew in spurts playfully nipping at us. People around us were stamping their feet, rubbing their arms, jogging in place, stretching, and blowing into their cup hands. I saw some who had cut holes through garbage bags for their heads and arms and wore these like cocoons. What a great idea that was! It kept their body heat in and provided protection from the wind. Once the need is no longer there, the garbage bags can simply be discarded. What a great idea! I'll have to do that next year.

And yes, this was the Great Aloha Run, but we walked. My friend, Marisa, had coaxed me to go with her. Her husband signed up for the run but was deployed so she took his place. Except she didn't train for it since she wasn't expecting to go. I agreed to walk with her and we did. Inspite of stopping every so often to take pictures, we completed the 8.15 mile course in 2.5 hours. Next year, I'd like to run it.

I hear there were 20,000 people who participated. What a great experience!

At the finish line, a group of firefighters were resting. Some were still in full gear including their tanks. Some have already unburdened themselves and were sitting sipping coconut water and eating bananas. Their gear lay on the ground and I was awed.

Much of the course was shaded, but much of it was also in the hot sun. Still . . . 8.15 miles in all that gear and their fireman's uniform . . .

Day 23 Potential Lemonade

The sun beats hot on the lava rocks. Clouds float like cotton thinly scattered in the sky. The tradewinds playfully pass through.

Our lemon tree is heavily laden with fruit. Some almost touch the grass. The shiny lemon skins turn white under the sun.

I think about the amount of lemon juice we could get, then  immediately wondered how long it would take to pick and squeeze them. It's a tropically hot and lazy day. Lemonade sounds good, but I'm too hot to to pick lemons and too lazy to squeeze a hundred of them. So, I sit back and admire them from my comfortable papasan on our downstairs lanai and sip water instead, book in hand.

Day 22 Market Diversity

The Makuu Farmer's Market is always a great place to be on a Sunday. For $30, we had several bags full of green, leafy vegetables and fruits that will last for days.

I love the market! It is so full of life and interesting people. There are so many varieties of food that one can be quite stuffed very happily before leaving the place. The vendors seem to multiply each Sunday.

I made stir fry with chicken and bakchoy for dinner. We sat down and enjoyed a good homecooked meal. It's been a while. I've been too busy to cook healthy meals.

The market not only reflects the variety of fruits and vegetables available but, I think, it also reflects such a diverse group of people. Sometimes, I find a seat somewhere and enjoy watching people.

Going to this market always reaffirms my motivation to eat healthy. It also always makes me appreciate human diversity . . . if you've been there, you know what I'm talking about :-) It's a good thing. One appreciates being just like everyone else but, being unique, all at the same time.

Day 21 Morning Promise

"With each sunrise, we start anew"

I woke up to the chirping of birds and the golden glow of sunrise bathing our bedroom. The morning was crisp and brought a slight chill.

This picture was taken on May 15, 2012. We have been living in the house for 2 weeks. At that time, we were still renting from Jim and Sonja, who owned the house prior to us.

We wanted this house so much but there was so much red tape to go through. There were some scary days when we thought the deal would not happen and we would have to sadly go and find another house.

Every morning of the three months that we waited to put the final signatures on the house purchase was a beautiful gold bringing with it hope and new beginnings. Those mornings fulfilled their promise.

Now, I enjoy this sight from our bed as a homeowner every morning. I couldn't feel more blessed.

*********************************************************************************

Project Life 365 Weekly Challenge for February 3-9, 2013. Day 1: #Bedside

Day 20 Persistence Pays

Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty, and persistence.

Colin Powell

I was ecstatic when I saw this on my school dashboard. I have finally managed to get into the Practicum course, the last one I have to take before I graduate with my Masters in Science in Nursing Education. 

I started on this degree in the fall of 2007. As I close down the last remaining weeks of Advanced Pathopharmacology, I look forward to starting the last leg of this journey. I'm getting there, however, slowly.

At my BSN graduation ceremony in 2001, a student who was, I think, summa cum laude, gave a speech that stuck in my mind all these years. She was in her 40s and just completed her Bachelor's Degree. She said that she knew it was going to take 4 years of her life, maybe more, to get her degree. 4 years! Then she said, 4 years was going to happen anyway whether she chose it to or not. So, might as well do something with it. That struck me so hard that I have used that as one of my driving personal mottoes in life. The years are going to happen no matter what. It's what we choose to do with those years that matters.

This is gonna happen! The Practicum course is split into two parts of 8-week sessions. By the end of June, I will be done with school!!!

Well, at least, for now. Until I start the Doctorate in Nursing Practice Program . . .