A date which will live in infamy

69 years ago President Roosevelt broadcast those words following the attack on Naval Base Pearl Harbor and the Pacific.


Fast forward to 2009 . . . . . .

When we finally received our housing on Hickam, I was bummed to say the least. It was OLD. Ugly. Tiny. But. . . . "Historical".We set out to make the rounds of our new neighborhood to gather our bearings.

At first glance, I saw chunks of concrete missing from walls of buildings and idly thought there were definitely parts of this base could sure use some work.

I knew of the history of Hickam Field, but had never come this close to it.

I eventually opened my eyes and really took notice of the damage that mars the building. My mind instantly went to thoughts of those who had meandered these same sidewalks before me so many years ago. 

The sight of the many pockmarks and bullet holes serve as a constant reminder of those 2,402 people who lost their lives Dec. 7, 1941. More than 130 medals, including 16 Medals of Honor, were awarded to those who fought most valiantly to defend against the attack.

At every opportunity, our little family earnestly took visitors to take a closer look at those pockmarks and bullet holes. We scoured the plaques and remnants on Ford Island, playing on the same banyan trees that carefree military kids had played on December 6, 1941 - shoving history into our visitor's vacation framed minds.

Being able to attend and witness the ceremony last year made me realize how very few survivors are left.


It's so important to our nation's history to tell the story of Dec. 7, 1941. It still relates to 9/11 and the world's current events today.

I don't want future generations to not understand the battle cry "Remember Pearl Harbor".

It's all so overwhelming . . . .

I need to figure out how to keep the island mentality we've come to love and embrace over the past 6 years and apply it to living back in the 24/7 world.

Where the wild things are . . . .

... Hickam Edition

My Mother's Day Lei

I know how hard it was for Dave to find "just the right one".

But he did.

May Day is Lei Day

Now who doesn't love getting a lei (besides my dad).

Saturday marked the 83rd annual Lei Day here in Hawaii.

I've always been fascinated by this beautiful adornment that to me is such a tangible expression of Aloha.

I couldn't wait to receive my own lei our first time visiting Hawaii.

Growing up I was always intrigued by Polynesian families that would adorn their family members with layers and layers of leis around their necks at graduations or celebrations. I've since learned that leis are so much more than a circle of pretty flowers. They are cherished gifts that used and given to show love, joy, sympathy, as greetings and farewell.

"He Mo`olelo o ka Lei" is said as a reminder that lei tells a story, perhaps of farewell, of return, or a job well done. . . but always, the story is of love.

While living on this side of the Pacific, I've been able to take part in this tradition that I had always adored from afar.

Soon after learning of Grandma Green's rapid decline in her health and her waning eyesight - I was excited to bring her the most wonderfully scented ginger lei during one trip home from Guam.

I had the most beautiful leis specially made for my mom and Aunt Kathy for Grandma Hart's funeral.

The week before my mom passed away - David was able to deliver a colorful crocheted lei that the kids had picked out for her to have at the hospital. I heard it lit up her eyes.

I wore that same lei to church today - in honor of lei day.

"Giving a lei lets someone know you love, respect and honor them. Even though a floral lei lasts a short time, the thought behind it lingers." Marie McDonald, renowned lei specialist

Aloha.

Take time to smell the frangipani

I just came in from our nightly cockroach dive with Molly. While we were outside enjoying the evening chill I noticed this wonderful familiar scent. The plumerias are in full bloom! The scent of that tropical flower is incredibly intoxicating. (And I'm not referring to the body lotion type)

I've had a love affair with this particular flower that dates back to our first visit to Hawaii many years ago.
I was so excited when we arrived on Guam to see plumerias everywhere! I thought I had landed in paradise (a ghetto paradise, but still . . . .)

In 2005 while I was in Hawaii having some ugly skin cancer removed, my sweet David planted a plumeria tree directly out our back window in Guam. It was one of the best welcome home gifts a girl could have ever imagined!

Like I said - it's a beautiful and exotic botanical.

And unfortunately there aren't any in Colorado Springs!

As I came back in the house tonight, I decided I need to go back for a brief re-sniff; just for those of you who aren't able to enjoy it for yourself right now.

If you can't play with the big dogs . . . .

.... Don't go to the beach!
(a typical Sunday at Dog Beach on Hickam. Molly actually loves it!)

Sending some Aloha . . . .

. . . . .To snowy Korea.

. . . .and xo's

So there was this Tsunami thing . . . .

Our Tsunami Saturday began in the wee hours of the morning - just like everyone else.
Knowing David was out of town, my friend Tara pondered long and hard about calling me in the middle of the night to let me know there was a tsunami coming.
"You know we've been through a tsunami advisory before, right?" I mumbled.

"Yes, but I think this one's a little more serious." she countered.

Knowing that she is the least dramatic person in the world - I decided to wake up and pay attention.
The tv went on and the laptop came out.

By that time I knew that a tsunami was headed across the Pacific; that an official tsunami warning had been issued for Hawaii; that coastal evacuations would begin at 6 AM; and that the tsunami was projected to reach Hilo minutes after 11AM on Feb. 27.
So now what? . . . .what do you do when you know that in 8 hours things will go either really smoothly or really bad!

Remembering that a friend had arrived for vacation on island just hours before, I sent her a text trying to give her a heads up for what was about to come. (Those sirens can really give you a jolt!)
Thinking I could get an hour or two of sleep before things got ugly, I started to drift off. . . . .

And then the phone really got going. Phone calls and texts from family, friends, and church. Neighbors who knew Dave was out of town came over to make sure I was awake.
Promptly at 6 AM -- right on schedule -- the civil defense sirens around the island began to wail their warning. Those unmistakable sirens warbled again, each hour on the hour.  The "Giant Voice" announced tsunami warnings and evacuations throughout the base.

Coastal evacuees traveled up to Tripler, Pali and Tantalus; Navy ships from Pearl Harbor headed out to sea to wait in open water; Members from our ward headed up to the church building near Camp Smith.
In the meantime we kept the tv on, made a run to the commissary and gas station, filled anything fillable with water (thanks to years of typhoon training) and kept our phone calls to Tara regular (her husband happened to be out of town too).

Throughout all this, I never felt the "panic" many of the national news channels were reporting.
In fact - I had a nice little chat with the gas attendant; an older lady, wiping down the gas pumps with her cleaning rag and Windex. She reminded me that at 10 AM roads along the coast, as well as those that lead into and out of the inundation zones would be closed.

We sat tight at our house, while the neighbors across the street had been evacuated hours earlier.
At 10:30 AM the final warning siren sounded. I have to admit, it was a bit nerve-wracking. My brother Tyler's texts were a good distraction - "Is there any danger? If not take some video!" "Anything Yet?" My reply at 11:43 AM "It's as if Molly knows something . . . She just went crazy!" 12:05 PM: my final text back to him from our incredibly long morning "From what the NOAA guys are saying this IS the tsunami. It seems Molly was the only one that noticed I guess."
We survived yet another exercise in Mother Nature's Weather Phenomenons!

Perspective

There were nights in Guam when I would audibly gasp at the amazing expanse above me. We would lie on the trampoline in the backyard for hours just star gazing.

Tonight was one of those kind of nights here in Hawaii. A beautiful clear evening giving me pause to look up in wonder at the skies.

When the lights are off, the stars are easier to see.

Galileo admitted, “I've loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night."
I find comfort in this space.
I've concluded that “in the dark” should no longer be a synonym for ignorance and confusion. Tonight, it’s my doorway into clarity.
Reflection is all I have to do.

I have been reflecting on how my mom influenced our lives; on how the family celebrations will now change; and on the legacy we leave when what matters least takes a rightfully distant back seat to what matters most in life.

It's natural to resist Life's Tragedies with everything you have, but when you are inside them you get a different sense of what is important. What is sacred.
Some would say moments like these are a break from reality, but I have it the other way around.
I think life's real moments are those when we're sometimes brought to this place of pain.
I think we have a way of getting a certain perspective.
You want to hug your kids and be home when you can.
That to me, that's reality.
We just forget it when we get caught up in what it takes to get through every day.
Life has a way of toughening us up so we can do what we need to do, but we pay a price for it.

Light reflects on the memories contained as our family's faces smile out into the un-familiar future.
Shadow streaks alongside light, reminiscent of the woman whose presence will appear this upcoming year only in memory.
It's time for me to count the stars.

If mangoes were money . . . . .

. . . . .There would be no need for Furlough Fridays in Hawaii!When my friend told us that a tree was bearing fruit in housing - I thought maybe we'd scavenge one or two off the ground. What we found was an ample amount to fill our large green commissary bag - still leaving plenty for any other family that drives by.
My one bum kitchen is overrun with mango juice, pulp and peels as we've made lassi, jam, and butter.
We're going to be so sick of mangoes - we won't want any from our own tree next month!

Bah Hum-BUG!

I need a break from this parasite, I mean paradise!

I ventured to the storage shed to do a pre-inventory for Christmas decor.

You know, see how the tree survived the move - check on lights, that sort of thing.

I'm sure a few squeals (mixed in with a few slangs) caught the attention of our new neighbors when I realized these ants had decided to take their own type of inventory.

Crap - they'd set up an entire community - birthing center and nursery included!

. . . .My own ant farm!

Those little buggers even ate the nose off my Mickey Mouse ornament!

After 2 days of meticulously going through the ornaments - salvaging what memorable ones I could, we finally came to the bottom of what I thought was my airtight Rubbermaid.

Seriously - can I be done with these critter challenges?!?!?

Our Lanai DIY

One of the challenges of this transient lifestyle is coming up with creative solutions for each unique house we live in. Our current dilemma - how to cover the windows in the lanai.

I haven't had a problem leaving those lovely louvered windows bare until just recently. I love the greenery of the yard. But after a neighbor applauded our pajama karaoke session - I figured it was time to come up with a plan.

Only 7 months left with these windows - so I wanted to keep the budget . . . .well basically at $0.

Madi and I rummaged around Constance.

In keeping with the island feel, we came up with grass mats (like the kind from the ABC Store). We jimmied them up and and tried rolling them up each morning with ribbon I had sewn on - but that was getting old and the mats weren't holding together very well.

Enter Plan B . . . .

We succumbed to spending the $12 for mini blinds and $5 on new grass mats at the B/X.

Who knows - we may just splurge on a tiny bit of trim/bling. If not - I'll be o.k.

Not too shabby!

Chicken Skin

On our way home from a mediocre day at the beach*, Madi announced completely out of the blue, "I need April to come visit. I think the house is haunted and she's in to that kind of stuff."
Quit giggling - she's DEAD serious! (At least that's what I was told)

Apparently my sister is now dubbed the family exorcist.
*We need WAVES! Guam was beautiful - but wave less! Today's visit did not have the adequate amount of waves to constitute a good beach day.

I think it's about time. . . .

. . . . .You were officially introduced.

Meet Constance.  Otherwise known as 302B Julian Ave.

I don't normally make it a habit of naming inanimate objects, but my dear friend Misse does. She names everything down to her cell phone!  I figured I may as well give it a whirl - trying to form somewhat of an attachment that has so far eluded me.

So why Constance?

Because she is constant.

She's been housing military families just like us since 1938 or so. We as families move on - but she's here waiting for another family to move in and make their memories.

Can you just imagine all the birthdays that have been celebrated within these walls?

Deployments waiting for Dad to come home for what seems like forever.

The morning of December 7, 1941.

Definitely a work in progress, but she is starting to grow on me.

Bellows, Boogie Boards & Buddies

What a great kickoff to the weekend by boogie boarding at Bellows Beach.

Dave's command had a picnic at Bellows Friday afternoon. The timing was great! Friends from Guam had just arrived Thursday afternoon for a few days on their way back from 'Camp Cousin'. How could we not invite them to come along?

The car was loaded with our extended ohana (the Lallatin's), all our newly purchased beach gear from Costco - (because of course all of our old beach stuff is packed with our household goods - waiting to be claimed) as we picked up the Grants in Waikiki.

The breeze was blissful as we chatted on the beach.

The water - just a tad bit chilly (compared to Guam of course).

The waves were WONDERFUL.

The traffic - well that was just H.E. Double. Toothpicks!

Throw in a bashed bloody nose, box jellyfish, and burgers . . . . . .

To sum up - not a bad way to spend the day.

The Suite Life

Today marks our two week anniversary on the island.

What better way to celebrate than by moving . . .

. . . . . to a new room!

Moving up in the world of lodge living gives us 2 tv's AND a couch! Not to mention 2 additional chairs at the little bistro size table. Bliss I tell ya!