HispageTONOway

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou (Happy New Year)!

 

There has been no change in my Mom's condition so far, as of this posting, just to start off for those who are wondering ...

 

As 2013 ends, I was hoping to get my top 7 personal stories written and posted.  But just like most of my life, work projects that I have created for myself has taken most of my time.  I want to say it will be coming, soon, I hope.

 

I would like to wish all of my friends and family a Happy 2014 New Year!  It is my prayer that the new year will bring all that we need, and blessings to another interesting year.  Thinking back a year ago, I wouldn't have thought some of the conclusions of what has happened at year's end.  Let's see what the next year will bring!

 

Mahalo this Holiday Season for those with Empathy!

After yesterday, let me say a warm Hawaiian Mahalo to all of you who have expressed support and prayers during this time after tomorrow would be two weeks since my Mom had a stroke.  If you haven't been informed or read, my Mom is in a hospice and is there to comfort her during the closing days.  We don't know how long it will be, though.  As many of you may not understand, it's in His hands, in His timing, and in His plan.

This really is my inner mood expression ...

I do know one thing for sure.  This time has really opened the lines of communication with my families, and people that I know in passing, who have come up to me and talked with me and offered their support.  I have no doubt that when we think about all the problems in the world, the ability to communicate with each other, the willingness to empathize, and the humbleness, at times, to compromise, is what the full design of what life is all about.  It's not about what we possess, where we hang out because it gives us a higher status in life, but it's the ability to relate to one another.  As with many lessons in life, the encouraging words of support during this time has really helped me appreciate what empathy does on the receiving end of the personal struggles of a loved one.

I know that I have a lot to learn about this, even at the age of 50!  I hope that everyone out there in my family and friend land that you all had a memorable Christmas.  Always remember, it's about the people who matter to you and who you want to make a difference in their lives that is more important than anything else!

As I work on my top 7 personal stories of 2013, this theme will be prominent in the year's stories.  Stay tuned for what those stories will be!

Thoughts on this Christmas Day 2013!

As my day comes to almost to an end, I wish you all on a cold mid-40 high, mid-20 low a Mele Kalikimaka!!!

This year, as I get continue update on the condition of my Mom in hospice, the two things have happened that has gotten me thinking about the length of our lives, and the dreams that we all have when we are younger.  I remembered when I was younger and always liked dreaming about the magic of movie making--stories of possibilities. 

And, this year, visiting all the historical memorials, I realized that there is so much to appreciate with the warriors who have sacrificed, at times, with their own lives.

I have just finished updating pictures from my visit to DisneyWorld from April 2013, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Memorial.  I have the two links in my photo gallery from the blog, expressing the two feelings.  This year, it's a feeling of mixed bag of emotions.

Standing by ... Next trip to Hawaii

Last Friday evening, I was informed that my Mom had a stroke.  She is still holding on, however, it's a matter of time before her contribution in society, being a wife to my Dad, raising my brother, sisters, and myself will come to an end.  It looks like the next trip who-knows-when to Hawaii will be the burial of the last of my parents--my Mom.  It could be today, tomorrow, next week or ...  I will update you all when that happens.

I knew that this day would be coming.  I didn't think I had to face it this soon, but that's life, since she is 83 years of age.  I thought I would handle it much more composed, but this incident, has brought to surface another event sometime in the future--hopefully, it doesn't happen.  I pray that this period with my Mom prepares me for when the time comes for my Aunty Olive.  She has been the one who has supported and helped me when I was growing up in Hawaii till the day I left the islands.  I am who I am because of her, especially her GIVING and selfless spirit for me to look towards as a role model.

White House visit: Surprise! ... Pictures can be taken ...

We sure live in a different world.  There is no doubt that the security at the White House was none like anywhere else.  We had to show our identification twice, get sniffed by a dog, and pass through a metal detector to visit the White House.  Now, that is security.  It was the least amount of stuff that I carried on me: a cellphone, my hotel "key," and my driver's license.  Upon entering the White House, we saw a sign that said that pictures can be taken, however, videos will not be allowed.  I was happy!

The only picture of my Sunshine...

 

At the White House at the State Dining room

Ten Historical places in one day! ... Washington Monument closed

I can't believe that even taking the Washington Metro around town, we took over 20000 steps walking around Washington DC yesterday.  We ending up visiting nine memorials and one building in the Smithsonian.  When visiting Washington DC, take the Metro.  It's convenient.  It reminds me of growing up in Hawaii riding The Bus.  These are the ten historical sites:

• Arlington National Cemetery
• Smithsonian: American History Museum
• World War II Memorial
• 56 Signers of Declaration of Independence Memorial
• Vietnam Veterans Memorial
• Lincoln Memorial
• Korean War Memorial
• Martin Luther King Memorial
• Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial
• Thomas Jefferson Memorial

Pictures will be uploaded sometime in the future.

I was disappointed to see that the Washington Monument was under construction because of the Virginia earthquake of August 2011.  

There is surely another visit years from now in the future to Washington DC! 

Meeting US Congressman Fleischmann

I walked into my US Congressman's Washington office to get US Capital gallery passes, and he was there, remembered me from working at Cracker Barrel. He wanted to sit down and talk with me about how I am being affected by the federal government.  I didn't expect him to be in his Washington office, but he was--just as I opened the door. He invited me in to talk with him one-on-one with him in his private office for about ten-fifteen minutes. He asked what my future plans were.  I said that I am presently pleased where I am, willing to retire from restaurant management, but hoping that one day, perhaps, able to own my own business.  It was an interesting conversation.

Disclaimer:

The views expressed on this blog is solely the opinions of the author and does not represent the present or any past companies to which he has worked in the present or past.

 

Wife almost passed out ... Tours for first day in Washington DC

The day started late, because both of us were tired from the long drive and the night before being busy packing for the trip.  The late started didn't help the plan of trying to find breakfast for my wife before walking around the Gardens at the Smithsonian.  I thought that during our walk from our hotel to the Smithsonian area we'd find a few food places where my wife could get something to eat.  I was wrong.  Most of the places that were open on a Sunday were north or east of where we were walking.  My wife wasn't up to walking without anything to eat that she had to sit down (this about close to noon time) while I went ahead to scout out a place in one of the Smithsonian places, at the National History Museum to see if they had a cafe or something.  Fortunately, they did!  Of course, the cheeseburgers there were already made with the onions, which my wife couldn't eat because she is allergic to them.  She had to settle for a good turkey sandwich.

Sunday's weather forecast is the lowest temperature of the week.  And it looks like the rain will arrive in the area the earliest on Friday, which we are planning to spend most time indoors at the Smithsonian.  Today, it's to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the US Capital, and the Pentagon.  Fortunately, my wife is getting breakfast before we head out for our tours.