My friend, ABC is back. Yes, those are her real initials. She just left the island 15 months ago to live with family when her husband deployed to Iraq. Now she is reacquainting herself with island life, waiting for her husband to arrive. And she is remembering island life is different than mainland living.
A friend picked ABC up from the airport and shuttled her to my house. She stayed with us for 5 nights before her condo was ready. I didn't bother to give ABC directions, and she didn't ask. She has been to our house plenty. Near my house she watched the streets whiz by, and after several minutes she figured she passed our house. All the streets are in the Hawaiian language. The language consists of twelve letters, and after awhile, the street names start to sound and look alike. She called Hubby twice within a mile of my house. She said she forgot how similar all of the street names are, and how they all sound so alike. She unpacked and realized she needed some slippers. Life without them is impossible, especially since no one wears shoes in their homes. Those are flip flops to you on the mainland. No one calls them that here. T.I. H.!!!
I asked her if she had seen the movie Blood Diamond. She had not. I explained the mantra that is stated in the film, T.I.A.,"This Is Africa." Africa is so beautiful with majestic creatures and vistas, and at the same time is unique in its lifestyle. So I coined the phrase "T.I.H." This is Hawaii.
We went the next day to get her car out of storage to the ends of the earth. We had no idea how long Barber's Point really is until we drove past the gravel roads. We drove and drove and followed limited directions and sparse signs. Uh huh....T.I.H. That happens a lot here.
As in Africa, you will find much here that you will not find other places. There are the obvious...white sand, red sand, and black sand beaches, incredible marine life, beautiful and lush land, crisp rainbows, and delicious local food. Life moves slower and people are less high strung. Life caters a lot to the keiki (children). Strangers are quick to help quiet, distract, or entertain a baby. Our ohana (family) enjoys every minute with our hanai (those you consider family, though not related by blood), and "talking story" with our local friends. We are forever changed by living here and the spirit of aloha.
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Wow, the little guy is able to sit up on his own already! Does he crawl?
ReplyDeleteHe sits up briefly on his own. Nooo he doesn't crawl.
ReplyDeleteWow for a moment there I thought, “is that an old picture of ABC with Joshua that you took before she left the island?" Then I realized it is son 2 - man does he look like his big brother, who of course as we all know looks just like his dad!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry but as soon as you explained what TIH is I thought of TIS "This is Sparta" from the movie 300 (it is Abe's favorite line). I wouldn't recommend the movie to most of our friends (especially the women) b/c it is extremely graphic and bloody but if you have the stomach for it - it is also a very inspirational movie & the cinematography is amazing. Those who haven’t or wouldn’t see Saving Private Ryan, Black Hawk Down, We Were Soldiers or Troy b/c of the graphic war scenes etc... should avoid this one as well. So consider yourself warned ;)