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Tuesday, November 12, 2013

"LOVE THY NEIGHBOR..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Classic Wednesday)

Bettejo Dux has live on kauai over 40 years and is a columnist for the local newspaper along as being the author of the famous Novella, "The Scam." www.bettejodux.com

Did anyone ever wonder why 'devout non believers' like myself always get such a bad rap? Hey, I'm somebody's neighbor, too.

I 'm so lucky, in my green bowl of fresh air, to have the most wonderful neighbors in the world. Two legged. Four legged. Feathered.

There are six houses on my side of the one lane bridge that crosses a recently dried up-stream, and two houses on the other side. When you start down the hill, on a two lane, narrow, twisty old road that was once a side road off the main road to Waimea-by foot or horseback or truck or car or bicycle 0r motorcycle or running in a marathon-you are surrounded by open fields and a jungle growth of buffalo grass and hale koa which Ari loves to munch on. I warn him too much hale koa will make his tail fall off- honest- and I can't afford to buy him a fake one. No vain roan horse wants to be seen without a tail.

On the mauka side of this stretch is a vast all-encompassing vista of everywhere and everything north-eastward. Cloud capped Mt. Kahili reigns supreme and no civilized distraction-house, highway, telephone pole-insults the eye of the beholder. A jungle growth and tottering fence claims ownership of this side. Inside the fence, on a bank that once grew pineapple- the old cannery is just around the corners-I can walk and watch dark rain filled clouds slug slither down the mountain side hell-bent on drenching me, and everything in the valley, to fullness.

If Ari and I and Boots catch sight of this forthcoming disaster we race back to the barn post-haste.

When you reach the bottom of the road and make the hairpin turn you're in paradise. Open pasture-where Duke made his runaway flight- now full of horses...

...horses!

The property was purchased by a mainlander- fenced and harshly gated-with intent to build. But something changed. An old Kalaheo horse- loving family equipped with gorgeous kids leased the property and filled it full of horses. Ari and they talked horse story back and forth across the air space. I love to hear horses talk to each other. They were getting acquainted. I was eavesdropping.

I thought I sensed a jealous speak in Ari's voice. Here were new friend in lush green pasture, which he doesn't have, so quickly made contact with my wonderful new neighbor who gave me permission to let Ari roam and graze. I could hardly wait to turn him loose.

When that day came, first light, I led him over. Opened and closed the gate and told him to go run and jump and play. No other horses were in sight. I kept a vigil. Watched him. And guess what? He careened back down to the gate and called.To me.Paced. He wanted to come home. He loves his home.

Okay. But I love my new neighbors and they love me. if Ari wants to be standoffish that's his problem.

11 comments:

KimoRosen said...

I think Bettejo is really a closet believer, she pretends to be a non believer to get conversation going.

KimoRosen said...

I'm actually saying the above to get a conversation going with someone besides myself too! ;D)

Rick Comstock said...

Aliens do exist! Your living proof.....

KimoRosen said...

Yes, excuse me while I polish my antenna'a...

Rick Comstock said...

Your like everyones favorite martian....

KimoRosen said...

dat's me! ;D)

Rick Comstock said...

This is what happens. So many wars, so many versions. Religion, more people have died from my Gods better than yours in history and it's still going on. Creation, teach it in school....never we have no facts to place it anywhere but in the fiction area of the library. wait a minute Limbo doesn't exist anymore?

KimoRosen said...

Although I do believe in God, I believe evolution along with the study of different religion's should be examined and taught in schools, after-all they say know your competition.

Rick Comstock said...

They do it's called Theology, off during college. Not as curriculum next to science in public secondary level schools. So believe in God or the tooth fairy, and santa but creationism and darwin. One is fact based the other faith based. You can have your faith but show me the facts.

KimoRosen said...

just like the painting needs a creator the artist so does earth... how else can you explain all the beauty and complexities.. It's like the air, you can't see it, but you know it's there..

Rick Comstock said...

"After 30 feet under water everything is back and white...a painting is a product of a physical person, identifiable by style or signature with physical properties. Show me proof, style or signature your God created anything on earth. We can prove how the atmosphere came of being through science and fact and it's physical attributes. Many natural disasters occur that is destructive, violent or deadly, just who was responsible for that. Many people died during the Inquisition and religious wars....You can always have your faith to believe but except the good with the tragic. I just say proof and facts that God exists, do not exist, not one. But I feel fine with your faith and love enjoying 4 billion years of earths natural development and the 14 billion years sense the big bang."