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Old sidewalks and a Rat's Ass

1/30/2014

Every time I walk to the post office I pass by an inscription on the sidewalk about half a block from our house .. 1956. Every time I walk by that inscription I want to know each and every detail of the moment ... and I will never know anything about that moment. 1956 etched on the sidewalk of Pe'e Road in Kalaheo, Kauai will remain a mystery for me .. forever. That place, that action, that entity of concrete and specific indentation is, and always will be a source of wonder and fantasy and "what it might have been".  No matter what my mind creates or conjures up, it is what it was, and what it was is not for me to know. No amount of intellect nor any manner of imagination can cause me to know what occurred on one day by one person in 1956. This knowledge is not frustrating to me, though one might think it could be, but has instead become a source of unique emotional stimulation .. providing pleasant and poignant thoughts as I walk to and return from "checking the mail".

I know Charles de Gaulle said "Great circumstances bring forth great men" in 1956, and I know Elvis Presley made his first television appearance in 1956 on the Dorsey Brothers TV show .. causing a very conservative Ed Sullivan to state he was "unfit for a family audience". Sullivan, later in the year, hired Presley for an unprecedented $50,000.00 for three shows, but only allowed him to be shown on camera from the waist up.  Was Sullivan the pure definition of a greedy man or a world class hypocrite .. or both?

I know these things because they are recorded, written down, filmed, captured forever since they were deemed "news worthy".

Behind our ReMax office in Kalaheo is another old piece of concrete. This concrete is hidden from view unless you walk out the back door and onto the lawn for a breath of fresh air and some peace away from the computer screens and screaming telephones. It was there I had another "concrete epiphany" and recorded the following photo which captures another moment in time that will forever remain a mystery.

I used to think it was cool to declare "I don't give a rat's ass" ... I won't be saying that anymore.   I've learned that everything past is now precious ..

Everything ...

from Kauai to Paris ... and all places between

Aloha et Au revoir,

Bill

everything past is now precious ... everything

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Whale Watching

1/27/2014

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A couple of days ago I met with good friends at our favorite outside gathering place in Poipu. We congregated late in the afternoon as the frenetic beach energy of daytime activity was softening.  Everyone was vacating the warm waters to enjoy a refreshment or snack before the Kama'aina went to their homes and the visitors made their way to hotel rooms or condos. This time of day is absolutely breathtaking.  Soft evening light combined with the soothing sound of gentle waves brushing across the sand, all the while being gently caressed by warm trade winds .. this is the hypnotic, compelling, and unmistakable allure of Kauai at her very best. This is the time for contemplation and peace within oneself .. perfection in nature personified.

Because evenings and sunsets are so incredibly beautiful on Kauai .. there is always a time of complete awe and silence among human witnesses to the event. As I sit here attempting to come up with some parallel experience or anything synonymous to sunset on Kauai .. I simply cannot .. it is breathtaking. The evening shown in my photos was no exception. The crowds were still, the sun was slowly departing the scene, Tiki Torches were lighted ... and we waited for the magic of darkness and stars and dreams of legends and magical happenings long, long ago.

It was still light when the first scream of joy emitted from a couple not so far away from where we were sitting. Then others joined the chorus, and before many seconds could tick away, the energy was instantly transposed from that soft and quiet time of magic to a new and joyful outburst of elation.  The whales were visiting.

Nothing sparks the imagination more than watching a huge leviathan gracefully slide through the water .. slowly and with more dignity and peacefulness than any other creature on earth .. nothing compares ...

We all watched, every single one of us, and each of us had our own thoughts attached to the event. The yelps and exclamations gave way to an even more meaningful silence than what had preceded this appearance. Our "collective awe" immediately became a bond amongst us, and when the beautiful behemoths were mysteriously vanished from our sight, we looked into one another's eyes with a shared experience, enhanced by a greater reverence for all living beings.

Every time I see a whale it is beyond absolutely wondrous. Their energy is so gentle and powerful .. their presence so wisdom filled.   They are indisputable  Masters of their domain, yet they leave no footprint and display no malice. They are perfectly balanced with the pure nature of planet Earth, as are their fellow creatures ... except for one.

Humans would all be wise to go Whale Watching ...

from Kauai to Paris ... and all places between

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Whirling Dervish

1/21/2014

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My Craftsman lawn mower resides in it's designated spot until nature works her magic and the yard cries out for aesthetic renewal. I realize it may sound somewhat hokey, but pushing that little red machine .. that diminutive "whirling dervish" .. out of my carport, then pulling the start cord and listening as the engine "whirs" to life, is the beginning of a wonderful afternoon for this man .. every single time.   I am happy and alive from the moment I realize there is time in my day to go out and mow the yard.

Once the "dance" begins, I am transported away from all problems and cares .. clearly focused on the grass before me and the task at hand. I don't believe I've altered the original mowing pattern since the first day I pushed my little red mower around the yard in 2006 .. it was "right" then and it is "right" now. Every single nuance of the act is positive;   I receive the gift of non-thinking for a couple of hours .. sweat pours from my body in a cooling flood of cleansing .. the sunshine kisses me .. I receive instant gratification as me and my machine slowly trudge along the newly manicured path provided by blades below, constantly accompanied by the sure and steady  soothing hum of a trustworthy engine.  For a few short and special hours every two weeks or so, my dull red Craftsman and me .. we are the "whirling dervish" .. bound together in a thoughtless and impassioned ritual which consistently  produces the desirable entities of rejuvenation and beauty.

Yeah, the act of mowing my yard is good stuff .. but I didn't sit down to write about pushing the mower.  This post was inspired by that "after" thing .. that soft afternoon glow which magically appears as golden dusk .. the complete silence immediately after the engine ends and before frightened birds and Kauai chickens return to fill the air with their sounds and songs, once again trusting they are in no danger.   A unique and comforting sensation overcomes me at that moment in time,  the marriage of many emotions;  satisfaction of completing the task .. joy of feeling the newly created ethereal beauty which surrounds me .. security and pride attached to the knowledge "this is my place .. my refuge", and pleasure in knowing the yard is now very pleasing to anyone who may walk or drive by and glance in this direction.  This time immediately after mowing purges every negative thought from my being.

The dance is over, the dervish in repose, and I occupy my favorite lawn chair with a plethora of thoughts, no doubt stimulated by the immediate clarity and pure joy of the moment. I am at peace .. Je suis très content ...

Tomorrow morning, as the sun awakens and shadows are still long and soft, I will walk the yard and be touched by yet another unique sensation .. the crisp and clean look of newly cut grass, crowned by morning dew ... and then .. it is over.

Once the morning is gone there is nothing but anticipation. Craftsman and I watch the grass grow and anxiously await another dance ... while our yard Angel quietly contemplates the beauty of a Rose.

C'est la vie ...

from Kauai to Paris ... and all places between

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Learning from the "Baby Mama's"

1/19/2014

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DEANN AND IVY

Sitting at my desk, immersed in my work, yet hearing and feeling a conversation across the room between two single Mothers .. both whom I like and admire .. that was a "wow" moment for me yesterday. They could have been my own Mother, divorced with three children in the '50s .. they could have been my Son's Mother after we were divorced .. in fact, they could be two of the millions of women who take on the task of raising their children without a man in the picture. It dawned on me, as I listened to their very frank and telling conversation, that the circumstances leading up to them being single with children simply don't matter .. what does matter is they are doing it.

I asked Deann and Ivy if I could take their picture, because I already knew I was writing this "piece" ..  they said "yes". They said "yes" like millions of women who nurture their children during stressful times. My own little sister came to mind ...

It would take a book to describe my feelings during and after the amiable conversation between those two single Mothers who sat in the office and shared.  Neither of them will ever know how deeply this man was touched by their innocent banter.

I dedicate this post to you, Single Mothers, with respect and empathy for the task you perform.

Yesterday I spent some quality time ... learning from the "Baby Mama's".

Mahalo, Obrigado, Gracias, et Merci Ladies .. I wish you peace and happiness ...

from Kauai to Paris ... and all places between

MY WONDERFUL SISTER SALLY AND MY INCREDIBLE MOTHER HEIDI

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Pretty Stuff/Lovely People

1/16/2014

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Driving home from Poipu yesterday, I was amazed by the beauty, power, and majesty of the sunset shown above. Of course photos never capture the complete intensity of nature, but I do hope you can tell from my roadside attempt .. it was incredible.

That sunset marked the end of a wonderful day. Every human being I met yesterday enriched my life. From the moment I walked into my office in Kalaheo until the moment I walked into my home in the evening, life was a series of pleasant exchanges with people who were seemingly put on earth just to make me happy. That sunset caught my attention, made me stop, and allowed time for me to reflect and be thankful for the rare and uplifting experience of the preceding hours.

It's a shame I didn't take photos. I would love to have shared a picture of Ashley, one of the front desk persons at Aston .. she was beaming from ear to ear as she showed me her newly acquired engagement ring. Nothing is more beautiful than a person in love. You would all enjoy a shot of the smiling maintenance men at Poipu Sands condos as they trimmed the hedges and mowed the lawn .. taking a moment of their time to smile and share an "Aloha" with me as I walked into the condo I was showing. The couple staying in Poipu Sands who were so nice and gracious to let me interrupt their vacation .. I can't even begin to tell you the inner beauty emanating from them. And that's how my entire day "played out". Not one negative moment nor even a glimpse of another human being who was anything but happy. A rare day indeed.

I love them .. every one of them. Too bad .. I so want to share photographs of them with you. I know you would "feel" all of them, just the way I felt them .. magnificent creations that they are. The best I can do is convey to you the fact they were each even more beautiful, powerful, and majestic than that sunset. They .. You .. We .. are truly the spectacular achievement.

I wish a day for each of you like the day I experienced yesterday .. filled with happiness and joy, courtesy of your fellow human beings .. the greatest creation of all ...

from Kauai to Paris ... and all places between

Aloha et Au revoir,
Bill

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Papaya, Baguette, and Brie

1/13/2014

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Today I bought Baguette and Brie. The brie was from France .. the baguette was not. I brought my prizes home and hurriedly unwrapped them, anticipating the experience to follow.  After taking the photo above, complete with the enormous papaya picked from one of our trees this morning and a newly acquired bag of Anahola Granola .. one of Kauai's culinary treats .. I sat down to enjoy.

It was about three o'clock in the afternoon when I smeared a liberal amount of brie onto the freshly cut baguette and settled into my favorite chair in the living room.   The neighborhood was particularly quiet .. in fact all I noticed was the melodious refrain of a few songbirds and the intermittent clucking of a chicken as it fed on insects and seeds around our yard.   It was a beautiful day on Kauai and I was at peace when the first bite of baguette and brie touched my palate. It was good.

You will understand this .. this phenomenon has happened to you. The moment I placed the baguette and brie into my mouth .. the instant it was recognized by my body .. it was immediately identified by spirit and soul. I leaned back in my favorite chair and images of moments in France flashed through my mind at blinding speed.  I was there .. I was tearing a piece of baguette from it's freshly baked form and smearing it with cheese, or soaking up that last bit of luscious sauce au poivre, or I was simply enjoying the taste, feel, and texture of the bread alone in my mouth. I was there .. watching as beautifully clad and coiffed French citizens created the parade that is inherently unique to their culture. I was there .. feeling the warmth of an afternoon sun in the midst of Les Vendages in the Vaucluse as tractors drove by pulling wagons full of grapes, bound for rebirth to a bottle and their second life. I was there .. in the home of my dear friends .. in my favorite restaurants .. in the early morning line at la boulangerie, anxiously awaiting my turn to select from the treasure before me. I was there .. on the Air France flight from Los Angeles to Paris, the first place le pain Francaise touches my lips when I fly to the other home I love so dearly, half way round the world.

I know you understand. There are tastes and smells that take you to times and places in your own life. Fantastic "stimulators" which instantly transport you back to your Grandmother's kitchen .. or a place you adore .. or even a magical moment in time with a special friend or lover.  What an incredible gift we were given .. what an incredible gift ...

Tomorrow morning I will enjoy some Anahola Granola and an incredibly sweet papaya from a tree in my own yard, in the middle of January, on the most beautiful island on earth .. and one day I'm certain I will taste a papaya somewhere in France and it will transport me back here .. to beautiful Kauai. I will be here .. walking through my yard, enjoying the beauty of our orchids. I will be here .. marveling at the fact I can harvest papaya while wearing my shorts and "slippah" (flip flops) as an icy winter holds other places in it's grip. I will be here .. talking with friends and loved ones. I will be here as my mind's eye watches blue water gently slide back into the ocean with that inimitable soft and soothing reverberation.  I will be here as Air France lifts off the runway in Paris and heads for Los Angeles, as I probably sip on a good ol' Coca Cola .. or possibly a Perrier, if I'm feeling melancholy about leaving.

When it's all "said and done" and I go to that promised place where this body no longer serves a purpose. When I finally gain the ultimate gift of understanding and all the secrets of the universe are unfolded before me .. when all that transpires .. if I have gained enough favor, I have but one request:

"Please .. bless me with a round of brie, a ripe papaya, and a fresh baguette .. so the memories of these two places are mine for eternity.   I'm certain what's to come is truly incredible, but I'd be ever so grateful if you'd honor this lowly being who simply requires papaya, baguette, and brie."

Dear Reader ..
Whatever your dreams may be .. I wish you Papaya, Baguette, and Brie ...

from Kauai to Paris ... and all places between

Aloha et Au revoir,

Bill

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Viagra and the Empty Chairs

1/8/2014

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Lawn chairs are placed strategically around our yard, just in case the perfect moment for contemplation and relaxation might present itself. I wonder how many perfect moments I squandered last year .. how many in my lifetime? Before leaving home tomorrow morning I will take a seat in one of the empty chairs you see in the photo above. Upon my return, I will once again take a seat in an empty chair, where I will contemplate, relax, and attempt to capture that perfect moment.

One positive action that will certainly happen while sitting in a lawn chair tomorrow is giving some love to Baby and Vicious Bitch. Our two Kitty Katastrophies are certain to appear the moment I lower myself onto the seat .. likely surprised I haven't continued to the car and abandoned them for a few hours. There is also positivity in the beauty and calm of the morning .. enhanced by soft filtered light and bird songs that seem custom tailored for early sittings only. Evening brings it's own gift as the light of day dissipates .. leaving me with a calm feeling unique to the warm softness of twilight.

Yes, the decision is made .. tomorrow I consciously make the effort to occupy.

No longer do I pass by the lonesome plastic yard sentinels.

No more squandered moments.

You may be wondering what Viagra has to do with two plastic lawn chairs, contemplation, relaxation, and gifts we might receive for sitting and watching the world go by. Viagra hasn't got one damned thing to do with it .. I just liked the Title:

Viagra and the Empty Chairs

Yes, I'm smiling .. C'mon, ya gotta' give a boy a little Poetic License!

No doubt my title idea came while sitting in the yard, stroking a cat, contemplating, relaxing, and capturing that perfect moment. Possibly you have that place .. that special place where you are elevated and enriched by thoughts enjoyed while capturing your perfect moment. I know it's cliché', but there is only today and our chairs are waiting. I hope each of you will take time to sit and capture a perfect moment in your special place ...

from Kauai to Paris ... and all places between

Aloha et Au revoir,
Bill

* Viagra not recommended for deep thinking .. it may cause empty chairs ..
Yes, I'm smiling

KAUAI .. LOOKING MAUKA (INLAND) FROM KUKUIULA BYPASS

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Just like a Cat

1/3/2014

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MY FRENCH FRIEND GAZING INTO MY EYES AND GIVING A KITTY MASSAGE

It was seven years ago when cats came into my life. If you are new to my blog and have never read the introductions to Baby and Vicious Bitch, I invite you to Click Here and again Here for a couple of quick reads that will give you some background. Prior to Baby coming into my life, I never spent any time with cats. I was a "dyed in the wool" dog advocate who found no interest whatsoever in our feline friends.

Today I understand .. I wasn't ready for cats. I wasn't ready to sit quietly, be patient and let some other entity dictate the course of events. I wasn't ready to slow down, tune in, and share the experience as it unfolded. Understanding and enjoying a creature that didn't respond to commands escaped me. That I might actually have to acquiesce for the subtle dance required .. the give and take needed to establish a bond with le chat .. this was outside my realm of thinking.

Whether it is on Kauai with Baby & Vicious Bitch, in Paris with the beautiful black kitty at my friend's home, or on my Father's deck overlooking the San Juan River in Colorful Colorado with "Stinky", the yellow cat from next door .. cats have come to me.

Having a warm kitty snuggle up is such a wonderful gift. This feline recognition and acceptance is empowering self validation that I have grown, improved, and become a better man than I was before. I'm learning to hold back and be more receptive to the energy emanating from the other side of a relationship (aka the cat). What a great discovery this is .. carefully suppressing energy so the other party feels comfortable approaching. How fortunate I am to receive a priceless lesson from these beautiful creatures I hardly noticed before Baby came along. One must earn their love and respect with patience and self restraint .. leaving the pathway clear and open for them to approach ... fascinating.

I want to be just like a cat ... dancing that wonderfully subtle dance of understanding until we all feel comfortable to trust, love, and purr, purr, purr ...

from Kauai to Paris ... and all places between

Aloha et Au revoir,

Bill

STINKY IN COLORADO

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