Friends in Far Places
Tonight I returned to the cafe, always a social occasion. Tonight E, the cafe's owner, wasn't feeling well, as she's been overdoing the exercise. That's actually according to plan, she explained, as she is in the fifth week of this P90X program.
I spent most of the evening happily chatting with Bill and Judy, Michiganers that spend about 3 months of the year on the island. E introduced me to them as being from nearby in Canada. I said that I'm really located closer to Montana or North Dakota, but since we were all staying within a few blocks of each other on the south part of the island, "hi neighbour!" We all chuckled warmly at that...
They said that for 48 years they've wanted to move to Hawaii, but still call Michgan home. Besides, their kids are spread out across the mainland, from a daughter (with very young kids of her own, their grandkids) nearby in Michigan, to a son in Denver, to a single daughter in Seattle.
Bill's a 73 year old ukelele enthusiastic (he plays with several bands and suggested I try to track down a CD from Jake Shimabukuro, the celebrated Japanese artist), and former financial advisor. Judy told a story about how he came to own 3 ukeleles, "can you believe it?"
"Well, I suppose that's reasonable," I said, "I have 3 guitars after all, an acoustic, two electric."
"Yes," said Bill, "they each have their own unique sound. Two have four strings, one has six." He went on to explain the tunings, and how he was thinking about getting an eight string.
I also learned that his first time in Hawaii was in 1956, on his way to Korean military duty. He was originally slated to do something mundane in an army base in Wisconsin, but requested something more adventurous. He was told that it may be possible to go to Europe, or East Asia, likely Japan. He was in luck, and was able to swap destinations, although obviously with the slight change to a tour of duty in post-war Korea instead of Japan.
He spoke of the classic artists such as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, and how they were a dying breed, and I said that there were always more on the way such as Justin Bieber (Judy had heard of him), and the Facebook/YouTube sensation, that Lady-Ga-Ga-covering high-school prodigy. Arguably neither may be Frank Sinatra-esque, but pop stars are always rising.
Time and again we shared and echoed a positive outlook on life (something that perhaps seems ironic given my more common themes when blogging)... his mantra was that one should not take oneself too seriously, while I think I went on the most about how one must actively live life in order to life a long life.
All in all it was a good evening, the kind I can pretty much count on when I visit E's cafe. It's just a uniquely friendly place...
I spent most of the evening happily chatting with Bill and Judy, Michiganers that spend about 3 months of the year on the island. E introduced me to them as being from nearby in Canada. I said that I'm really located closer to Montana or North Dakota, but since we were all staying within a few blocks of each other on the south part of the island, "hi neighbour!" We all chuckled warmly at that...
They said that for 48 years they've wanted to move to Hawaii, but still call Michgan home. Besides, their kids are spread out across the mainland, from a daughter (with very young kids of her own, their grandkids) nearby in Michigan, to a son in Denver, to a single daughter in Seattle.
Bill's a 73 year old ukelele enthusiastic (he plays with several bands and suggested I try to track down a CD from Jake Shimabukuro, the celebrated Japanese artist), and former financial advisor. Judy told a story about how he came to own 3 ukeleles, "can you believe it?"
"Well, I suppose that's reasonable," I said, "I have 3 guitars after all, an acoustic, two electric."
"Yes," said Bill, "they each have their own unique sound. Two have four strings, one has six." He went on to explain the tunings, and how he was thinking about getting an eight string.
I also learned that his first time in Hawaii was in 1956, on his way to Korean military duty. He was originally slated to do something mundane in an army base in Wisconsin, but requested something more adventurous. He was told that it may be possible to go to Europe, or East Asia, likely Japan. He was in luck, and was able to swap destinations, although obviously with the slight change to a tour of duty in post-war Korea instead of Japan.
He spoke of the classic artists such as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, and how they were a dying breed, and I said that there were always more on the way such as Justin Bieber (Judy had heard of him), and the Facebook/YouTube sensation, that Lady-Ga-Ga-covering high-school prodigy. Arguably neither may be Frank Sinatra-esque, but pop stars are always rising.
Time and again we shared and echoed a positive outlook on life (something that perhaps seems ironic given my more common themes when blogging)... his mantra was that one should not take oneself too seriously, while I think I went on the most about how one must actively live life in order to life a long life.
All in all it was a good evening, the kind I can pretty much count on when I visit E's cafe. It's just a uniquely friendly place...
posted by v @ 11:47 PM
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