Jiji (grandpa) and Baby Champuru (December 2009)

My father is 75 today.  3/4 of a century old. Holy smokes!  To his credit, he is a “young” 75. He stays active and is quite healthy.  Baby Champuru enjoys spending time with her Jiji (grandpa) and it’s so fun to see them interacting.  She definitely has him wrapped around her little finger!

Dad is a generous, kind, and thoughtful man. A wonderful father and now a terrific grandpa.

Happy birthday, Jiji! Looking forward to celebrating many more with you.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

My parents, who grew up in the small plantation towns of Wahiawa and Lanai City, had fond memories of living in communities where residents were not just neighbors, but they were also friends.  They shared vegetables from their gardens or fresh eggs from their chicken coop.  Men gathered under the shade of a neighbor’s garage sharing beers after a long, arduous day of physical labor.  Women swapped recipes and fresh baked goodies.  They got into each other’s business. In a good way. Most of the time.

It’s unfortunate, but since I moved from Wahiawa (years ago) into a newer development, the residents were of a different ilk.  Young families, busy between working and whisking their children to and from soccer games in their minivans, never seemed to have the time or inclination to make friends with their neighbors.

Even in the land of Aloha, I’ve never lived next door to folks that I could honestly call my friends beyond “hellos” across the fence.  Until now.

I am blessed to live next door to a phenomenal couple who have become fast friends. Jan is generous to a fault and truly embodies the spirit of sharing. We are prayer partners, interceding on each other’s behalf, and we touch base daily — not always in person, but often by e-mail.

Jan has influenced me in many ways. Her sweet, loving heart reminds me how to seek the best in others.  Her positive, prayerful spirit demonstrates the power of making our requests known to God. Her kindness and long-suffering encourages me to be a better mom, wife, and daughter.  Her artistic talent inspires me to tap into my creative side.

You may have seen my previous entry about Jan’s upcoming class to teach us how to make a Friendship Star for Valentine’s Day. (If you are on Oahu and are interested in attending the class, please visit this entry for details on how to sign up.)  But I wanted to give her art blog, Pictures with Words a quick shout-out, too.  As a professional watercolor artist and calligrapher, she creates beautifully inspired artwork regularly and shares them on her blog.  It’s a fabulous way to keep her skills honed and a venue to share her art with the world.  And if I may toot my own horn for a moment here, I introduced her to the wonderful world of blogging. But honestly, I can’t take any credit for the way Jan seized the medium and ran with it, making it truly her own.  It is my hope that more people will discover her blog and enjoy her artwork.

Jan is hosting a giveaway right now and all you need to do is visit her blog at http://jancalligrapher.blogspot.com and leave a comment on her Giveaway entry.  She will be drawing a name from those that leave a comment and the lucky person will receive a set of Thank-You cards featuring her artwork and calligraphy. (The photo above is one of the designs that you can choose from if you win.)  If you have a Blogger or Google account, please be sure to become a follower, too!

To learn more about Jan’s artwork, please visit her website at http://www.jandesigns.net or her Etsy Store.

Shari’s wedding day (2009)

On Saturday, October 24, 2009, Shari and Darren tied the knot and I had the pleasure of being the Matron of Honor at the ceremony.  It was a lovely outdoor wedding at the Hale Koa Hotel in Waikiki, followed by a reception in their Banyan Tree Showroom.  The non-denominational ceremony was officiated by the Reverend from her mother’s temple, short and sweet, concluded by a touching sand ceremony to signify the uniting of two lives.

The reception was fast-paced and went by quickly, at least for us in the wedding party.  Before I knew it, it was time for me to give my Matron of Honor speech.  It took me some time to warm up, but about halfway through I felt more comfortable and started ad-libbing and depending less on my written notes.  At the end of my speech, however, a wave of emotion took my by surprise and I found myself tearing up at the end as I wished Shari and Darren well as they embarked on their new life together.

Shari’s wedding also became a mini-reunion, extracting the girls from our respective busy lives to bring us together to celebrate this joyous event.  It doesn’t happen nearly often enough.  I also found a photo of us at Bari’s wedding back in 2004!

Congratulations, Shari & Darren!

Bari’s wedding day (2004)

Mom and Grandpa in the 70’s
(Pre-Donna Days)

When I close my eyes and think of my parents, my mind’s eye envisions them when gray hair had not yet encroached upon their heads, wrinkles were few, and bodies were strong.

Mom will be turning 78 in less than a week and Dad is 74.

Dad in the 70’s

Aging is such a difficult subject, especially when it comes to your own parents.  Dealing with it as an only child can be overwhelming, as I shoulder the cares and concerns mostly by myself.  I am grateful for Hubby’s ever-present help and comfort, but sometimes wish I had a sibling to share in the responsibility of caring for my parents as they age.

I believe it’s because my heart has not allowed my parents to age past their prime as I knew them as a child, I sometimes expect too much of them on a physical or emotional level.  When I find myself getting impatient or aggravated, I have to remind myself that they aren’t in their 40’s anymore.  Heck, I’m pushing 40.  Who are we kidding here?

Mom (Baba), Dad (Jiji), & Baby Champuru in 2009

To their credit, Mom and Dad are doing well, having lived through some pretty rough times in the past.  I am grateful that they are here to see Baby Champuru, their first and only grandchild.  I have very few memories of my grandparents, since all but my paternal grandmother passed away when I was very young.  I pray that my parents will be healthy for many more years to come so that Baby Champuru will be able to grow up with fond memories of them that she can cherish for a lifetime.