"Love..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Classic Wednesday)

Bettejo Dux has lived on the cosmic Garden Island of Kaua'i for over 40 years.Bettejo is a regular columnist in the Garden Island news and is the author of the
famed novella, "The Scam."

Love

Isn't that a beautiful word? Four letters. One syllable. The hard vowel-v-softened by the 'la' and the 'oh'.  People  love words. And they're free, you know. You can write them, or speak them,  or  hear them.

Some people love words like superccalifragilisticexpialidocious.

The word has been defined as follows: super- "above", cali- "beauty", fragilistic- "delicate", expiali- "to atone", and -docious "educable", with the sum of these parts signifying roughly "Atoning for educability through delicate beauty." It is defined as 'something to say when you have nothing to say'.

I think that says it all. Bernard Russell said, "Beware the guy who cannot say it simply." But note, please, some people 'love' words like that. Love is the key. The subject, here. This simple word can be a verb, "I love you". A noun,"Love is all." An adjective, "A love nest." The subject of a proposition, "He did it for love."

Forgive me, that's a bettejo. I love to be a 'creative' writer. Break all the rules.  Full speed ahead.

The point is, you can love anything. Everything. You can love books. You can love cats. You can love people. Oe a people. People  belonging to a place, religion, nation, race, language, class or culture. People  living on Kauai.In Hawaii. Golly, you can love all people. That's a happy, healthy  thing to do.

"All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need"

I think I'll write a song. Oh, darn it,  somebody already did.

The world is so full of such beautiful things, I think we should all sing and let love praises ring.

I think we can grok love to fullness.

I think we can dance love.

I know you can fall in  love with the scent of honey. Or Night Blooming Jasmine. Or plumeria.

You can fall in love with a forest glade, a seascape, a mountain peak, a cloudy sky, a desert in bloom, a field of poppies, a green meadow full of contented  cows or frolicking goat or horses or mules.

You can get lost in  a reverie of love in the shade. Under a tree. On a ski slope or a garden path. Riding. Swimming. Sailing. In a class room of  happy children. In a restaurant of satisfied  diners. In a theater  filled with laughter.

I think laughter is almost always the sound of love.

Find a comfortable chair, grab a cushion, sip a chilly cold drink-Chardonnay  goes well here, with crackers= and cheese= and read a poem.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee ..........

Watch a fun love film. Some Like it Hot. A classic.

I think we should have a happy love hour-not just in a pub-but  in the schools, at job sites, in the work place.

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"Deposit returns, a win win for everybody..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen' (Best of Dakinetalk)

This blog originally appeared  as dakinetalk
blog #146 on 08-08-10
http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2010/08/deposit-returns-win-win-for-everbody.html

Deposit returns, a win win for everybody

When I was a child you could buy a bottle of soda and the corner store or grocery store and return it to the same store yo bought it at for a deposit. many state have started this procedure again.

Most people living in Hawaii do not even know where to go to recycle, and why drive 20 miles to receive a $1.00 refund, it costs more in gas. The solution is not more deposit money to be collected but to have the store that sold the item accept it back.

OK, you say it's going to cost the store too much money having to hire someone to do this job? My sister who lives in Buffalo N.Y. told me every convenient type store and grocery store has a Kiosk type machine, available 24-7, that scans your returns and gives you your deposit money back on the spot. Many states have adopted this user friendly procedure.

I hope our state and local government's can adopt a similar procedure, it would be win win for everybody, the consumer gets his deposit back at his next visit to the grocery store and the grocery store has people returning more frequently,hopefully they stop in and buy something.

The only problem I see is that the current way makes it easy for the state to keep the deposit since most don't bother with returns.

Could it be our politicians just don't want to improve the system?

..Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook.

"Sadly, antisemitism is still alive...." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday)

Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst New York and has worked in

the ophthalmology field of medicine for over 30 years.

Sadly, antisemitism  is still alive

Being born in the 1950’s just 10 yrs after the end of WWII our world still remembered what happened in Europe and specifically Germany all too well.  The wave of antisemitism was still fresh in
every ones’ mind  and most Jews in this country were mindful of not making their heritage stand out. 

I remember when starting public school I did not speak of my ethnic background, wear any jewelry announcing what my faith was and tried to blend in.  Even though the war was fought in Europe, there was plenty of antisemitism in the United States and across the world. I remember well our anti-Semitic neighbors when I was a small child and how scared I felt.   

It has been over 60 years since the War in Europe ended where my dad fought with many of my friends parents and we all learned that History could repeat itself if we did not keep the past in the present.

  I married within my faith, raised my children as such and made sure they knew  about the past and what happened to our people,  and how they almost became extinct.  They were raised to become proud of their faith and did not grow up feeling the same fear I did as a child. I am horrified about what I am now hearing in Ukraine and how once again the Jews are being singled out and counted just as they were in Nazi Germany so many years ago.  How can history  be repeating itself again?  Why is it that in hard times we single out a race to be the scape goat  ?

Antisemitism has never left our world; it only waits for an  opportunity to rear its ugly head when an opportunity  presents itself.  There will always be followers and there will always be leaders;  have we become any smarter, any more educated as to what the right thing to do is? 

When I hear things like “you must sign up to identify yourselves”, as they are trying to do in Ukraine, I get a sick feeling  once again as I did so many years ago.  The survivors from the holocaust in Germany and Europe are disappearing and ageing out and although they have tried to document their stories to be preserved for all time, there are still many disbelievers of the event despite the evidence that remains in Europe.  I can only hope and pray  that people have become more intelligent and humanistic over the years and come to realize that we are all God’s children ; we  are a melting pot of humans that can coexist  with some effort.  We all have gifts to offer, we all have a right to live on this earth – The
Jews have a saying, “he who saves a life, saves the world”.  We live by that mantra – it is the very thought that kept people alive in the concentration camps; the will to live and survive.

Despite all the hatred that still exists among us today, I still try and believe there is some good in everyone.  No one person is born with hate; hatred  is taught and nurtured by those that only have hate
in their hearts.  We as a human race have come a long way from the antiquated thinking of decades behind us; we are now more accepting of same sex marriages and freedom of expression that could not have taken  place in the 1950’s.  

We still have a long way to go in accepting peoples beliefs;  I am hoping that in my lifetime we can show no tolerance for persecution of peoples beliefs and become more accepting of peoples differences.  

How boring life would be if we all believed in the same thing and could not exchange different ideas.  I pray for peace and acceptance in our next decade of life on earth.

P.S.
Sign the petition,
Ensure Ukraine  Jewish registry is not enforced!
http://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/secretary-of-state-of-the-united-states-ensure-ukraine-jewish-registry-is-not-enforced-and-does-not-escalate


Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook....

This blog originally appeared on 3-17-10 Dakinetalk blog #66

Blogger's addiction


Some people are addicted to alcohol, some to drugs, others to caffeine, sugar and junk food.

A person can be addicted to anything from bubble gum to sex and places in between.

There is one addiction I am trying to overcome which is the most addicting of all addictions, blogging  addiction. I am faithfully a member of  blogger's anonymous and am trying to curtail my blogging . Like any addiction,  blogging  need's support of fellow friends and associates.

So please try and help me curtail my addiction, or else you will need to continue reading my most inner thoughts, or is this addiction incurable? 

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"IN THE FRAY AGAIN..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Classic Wednesday)

Bettejo Dux has lived on the cosmic Garden Island of Kaua'i for over 40 years.
Bettejo is the author of the famed novella, "The Scam."
www.bettejodux.com

IN THE FRAY AGAIN

I had an interlude. Interesting. Fun. Difficult. A new ‘personality’ was born. In May last year I became a ‘columnist’ in the Wednesday Garden Island Wellness section. I had 32 columns published. I loved the wonderful full color  picture Carol Ann Davis took of me.

Photo of Bettejo by Carol Ann Davis.

A black and white copy – a  photographic piece of art- was displayed in a local art gallery at Kukui Grove Mall. I also had the distinction of having the most ‘recommends’-108-of any columnist since ‘recommending’ columnists began in the Garden Island.

My healthy ego was busting out all over. My self-esteem soared to pinnacle heights. To gaze in the mirror was to see stars in my eyes. I walked on air.

But it wasn't me. I am, and always have been, one who loves to rock the boat. Make waves. Stir the pot. Rattle the cage. Shake things up and scrawl a Bettejo.

So many topics on Kauai went unstung. GMOs. Milk factories. Christian mafia types galore. Too many grizzly patriarchs to shake a stick at. Cell towers. Jesus camps. Jesus!!

Greedy landholders.

Greedy? A rogue by any other name should smell so skunk. And that’s insulting skunks.

Why is it so few on Kauai see another vision of Kauai? A different future? All they see is the same old same old. More suburban sprawl. More Malls. More cars. Buy one get one free. They go home and breed. Everybody loves his car. Cars. We need more super highways to accommodate them.  More traffic jams.  Everybody loves the smell of CO2  in the morning.

Metropolitan Kalaheo is going to get an ABC store. Walk to this convenient store and buy cheap junk food and stuff for higher prices. Walk don’t waddle.

Love the sound of traffic rumbling by.  Drones and helicopters spying by.

Love vast fields of Franken corn to feed  Franken cows who produce  Franken milk. Franken ice cream. Franken yogurt. Franken cheese. Even Franken Tee shirts to sell to  tourists. Surfers and swimmers and kids and tourists swim in Franken cow poop, which-like old fashioned humuhumunukunukupua’a-goes swinning by.

Swimming bye bye.

Everybody needs more war games.More profit for pubs and bars and grass shacks of ill repute. More forbidden beaches.

More dead whales and dolphins and seals and other living things.Collateral? They get in the way. Who needs ‘em?

I’m fed up with cutsey wootsy. Think positive thoughts. Be agreeable. Get along. Meditate. Hide under the bed and all the bad sick old stuff  that doesn’t work, never did work, will go away. Maybe if you close our eyes or keep them glued to the boob. Buy ear plugs and strap a fresh air tank to your back. Buy a cheap one at Walmart and breath through a hose in your nose.

Remember to kill all the chickens. Barking dogs, prowling cats, bleating  goats. Let the hills be alive with  the sound of Musac.

Don’t dream of a different future. Don’t express it or write about it. It’s a mess but be happy.

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"Dog and God..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen' (Column)

James “Kimo” Rosen is a retired professional photographer living in Kapa'a
with his best friend Obama Da Dog, Rosen also blogs as a hobby...

This blog was published in my bi-weekly column in the Kaua'i Garden
Island news on 04-21-14 titled " God and Dog." Please click on
the link below and check recommend...
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/guest/god-and-dog/article_a44eea30-c911-11e3-95b1-0019bb2963f4.html?_dc=976351797347.8883

Dog and God

There are 26 letters in the English alphabet.

Every writer has the same ingredients to write anything from fiction and  non-fiction, to poetry,songs, great recipes and  newspaper columns.

Some writers can write best selling classics, just as some chefs can create 5 star  gourmet dishes.

Just as the constitution states that all men are equal, all writers are also equal, given the 26 letters they have to work with.Once you have use of the ingredients of the 26 letters you need a few other key elements. A vivid imagination, aesthetic enthusiasm and  the desire  to share part of your soul with your readers.  

I hope you enjoy my story created with most of the 26 letters of the alphabet.

Once upon a time lived a grey haired and gotee bearded man with his best friend a dog, on the cosmic Garden island of Kauai.
The man realized his only true friend was his dog, however his dog had many friends. People always said hello to the dog and not to the man. People would buy presents and give treats to the dog and never to the man. The Dog was not only the best friend to the man but made people feel good, even made strangers laugh and smile. Strangers would  always come up to the dog wanting to kiss and pet  the dog, yet nobody wanted to do the same to the man.

This dog was actually a rescue dog that somebody wanted to discard.

This  dog is also very smart, when asked what is on top of the house? She always replies, "roof, roof." When asked the opposite of smooth, she says, "rough, rough."    

This dog just happens to be my dog. She  is so smart I named her  after the 44th president of the United states, 'Obama.'What's so ironic is that I have friends that can't even call my dog by her name, since they dislike President Obama with a passion. Obama therefore  has taken on the moniker of 'Bommers' or 'Boms.'

When I am out in public and call my dog's name or say, "Obama get over here,"  people look at me with strange eyes, like I am crazy.They think I am calling the president, they don't realize my dog's name is Obama.

Upon realizing it, they usually smile and say something to the nature of, "we can tell our friends on the mainland we met 'Obama' on Kauai in person, or should we say, in dog?"

If you are single there is nothing better than a cute dog to attract members of the opposite sex. I cannot even count the number of times someone of the opposite sex has asked the metaphoric question, "can I pet your dog?"  E-harmony and J-date, move over.

To anyone battling depression or just in need of a true friend, may I suggest getting your own 'Obama,' your own rescue dog or even a cat.  I know the fifty dollars I spent to  acquire a best friend is the best $50.00 I ever spent. The dog also came with a bag of dog food, a training video, all shots, a leash, discount coupons and a heart of gold. 

 I would like to quote the chorus of  the song "God and Dog" by Wendy Francisco, it goes like this;
"I look up and I see God, I look down and see my Dog."Simple spelling G O D, same word backwards, D O G." "And in my human frailty...I can't match their love for me."  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H17edn_RZoY

The expression goes, "Dogs are man's best friend."Please visit your local  ASPCA  or humane society and  adopt a dog today, or better yet have the dog rescue you as was my good fortune.  I like to tell people, Obama rescued me, that is "Obama Da Dog! 

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/guest/god-and-dog/article_a44eea30-c911-11e3-95b1-0019bb2963f4.html?_dc=976351797347.8883

P.S.  Watch this heartfelt YouTube;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syUSmEbGLs4#t=148

This week marks the 69th anniversary of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen, one of the most violent and fatal Nazi camps. Watch the video above in commemoration.


Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Facebook...

Great T-shirts!   ;D)

"New beginnings..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday)

Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst New York and has worked in

the ophthalmology field of medicine for over 30 years.

New Beginnings

As we celebrate this week with  the coinciding holidays of Passover/Easter we reflect on how the holidays intertwine; each one observed for different reasons, different causes, they both are based on faith and symbolism;  they are celebrated together with friends and family. Both holidays occur in the Spring of the year and celebrate the common celebration of life.

Happy Passover/Easter to everyone; enjoy the coming of Spring and new beginnings for everyone.

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Watching cars go by..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen' (Best of Dakinetalk) 62-1271

The best of Dakinetalk!
Blog #62---"Watching cars go by..." originally appeared on 03-01-10

Watching cars go by

For cyclists, congestion is bliss...

When I ride my bicycle in traffic I enter a euphoric state of mind.

On any given day there are thousands of cars on the Kuhio Highway between Safeway and The Coco Palms. Every night between 4:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m., I ride my bike with my dog along galloping along side...

The traffic is bumper-to-bumper, which for a bicyclist makes for safe and comfortable driving on the shoulder.

The experience of passing car after car after car after car is mind stimulating; the cars are at a standstill in their lanes, and I am passing 36 cars every minute. The safest time to ride a bike is during peak traffic.

I am hoping everyone reading this buys another car or two, and I encourage the convention and visitors bureau's to never stop promoting Kauai.

Like a surfer catching a wave, my wave is caught when my own power is more powerful than the giant refineries and petroleum companies.

I beg of everyone to do nothing to stop this wonderful traffic.

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"Self CPR..." 'Chester "Unc" Lau' (Source)

Dakinetalks favorite Uncle (Chester Lau)

'Unc" talks  about  a way to potentially save your own life!

"Unc" is a retired cinematographer currently living 

on the Hawai'ian Island of Oahu & giving the politicians a bad time...

Self CPR

Since many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack, this article seemed to be in order.

Without help, the person whose heart is beating improperly and who begins to feel faint,

has only about 10 seconds left before losing consciousness.

However, these victims can help themselves by coughing repeatedly and very vigorously.

A deep breath should be taken before each

cough, and the cough must be deep

and prolonged, as when producing sputum

from deep inside the chest.

A breath and a cough must be repeated

about every two seconds without let up

until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be beating normally again.

Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and coughing movements squeeze the heart and

keep the blood circulating.

The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm.

In this way, heart attack victims can get to a hospital.

Tell as many other people as possible about this, it could save their lives!

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook...

"SUNSHINE CITY KAUA'I..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Classic Wednesday)

Bettejo Dux has lived on the cosmic Garden Island of Kaua'i for over 40 years.Bettejo is a regular columnist in the Garden Island news and is the author of the
famed novella, "The Scam."

SUNSHINE CITY KAUA'I

I picked her up at the airport. She wore a backpack. This lady knew how to travel. We circumnavigated the Mall, taking  off for the golf course and a narrow  neck of suburbia. When the road turned, we were  in wilderness Kauai. Jungle growth, tall fields of green  grass. The narrow two lane road wound, dipped, and curved.

At a stop sign, where we turned right, my passenger gasped. It was heaven on earth. On either side of another narrow two lane road acres and acres and acres, on either side of the road, bloomed and blossomed and billowed with life. Natures’ patchwork  quilt of  green and gold sunshine.

“We grow lettuce and carrots and spinach. Maui onions. Tomatoes. We’ve got several citrus groves. Lemons, oranges, limes. Kauai oranges are ugly but  they’re delicious. Papaya and coffee and coconut groves. We’ve an apiary with the sweetest bees in the state. Their honey is sweet, too. They’re happy here.

We’ve  a large wind farm up by the highway under which a herd of  Angus graze in green meadows.”

“Oh, grief. They’re out. Someone left their gate open. They’ll be in the carrots.”

Suddenly  two bovine, contented Belle and Boss, appeared and ambled down the road. Vendors spilled from their road side stands trying  to turn them back.

“The guy who owns them is  eccentric. They’re his expensive hobby. They reside on ten acres.  He milks them himself. Sometimes he sells the milk. Sometimes he gives it away.We can do all this because the guy who owns this land  leases parcels yearly-at a reasonable rate-to those who are serious about growing organic food to feed people.”

When the road disappeared my passenger gasped. “What happened?”

“Underground parking. No automobiles allowed topside.”

I parked the car in the  expanse and we took an elevator up. When we stepped out my passenger gasped again. “Where did this come from?”

I laughed. “It’s huge. It’s high. It’s completely self-sustaining. It also snuggled into the cliffs. Camouflaged to blend. Greens.Purples. But the import thing is everything you need is within walking distance. Shops. Restaurants. Post Office. Banks. This is kind of the mall lobby. Offices are on the second floor. Studios, two and three bedroom apartments above.  The rich guy lives in the penthouse  but he walks around like a mortal. There he is. Looks like Robert Redford, huh? Wave. He loves to see people like you. You come from all over the world to see this.

Rich. Poor.  Young and old.  Black, white, yellow and brown walk around in here. Work. Play. Tennis courts. Pools. Miles of paths. There are quaint cottages, kind of old plantation style, clustered about. Affordable. We’ll visit one after lunch. Wanna buy some Kauai perfume?”

“Ladies,” the Robert look- alike called, “may I join you for lunch?”

When the rooster crowed at the break of dawn-I swear the thing was on the roof-I woke with a start. “I’m gonna grock you to fullness, bird. That was a good dream.”

 Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Facebook...

"Next year at Taco Bell..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen" Best of Dakinetalk-Happy Passover!

Happy Passover everyone!
 "Obama Da Dog a recent convert to Judaism celebrates Passover, the Jewish holiday celebrating freedom from Egyptian bondage and slavery..." This blog was published as an opinion article on 04-07-12 in the   Kaua'i Garden Island news; "Next year at Taco bell..." http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-saturday-april/article_7269225a-8071-11e1-8efb-0019bb2963f4.html
This blog originally ran on 04-24-11, Dakinetalk Blog #268 & on 04-06-12 Dakinetalk Blog #626
http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2011/04/next-year-at-taco-bell.html
http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2012/04/happy-passover-next-year-at-taco-bell.html

Everyday of the year is someones birthday, and with all the religious and secular holidays, it gets hard  deciding which ones to celebrate.

Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday, since it is an American holiday, and not a Christian or Jewish holiday.

The rules of holidays are what I question.  For the  Jewish holiday of passover, Jews (my people) are not suppose to eat leaven (bread or anything with yeast for 8 days.) This tradition started with the Jews escape from Egyptian bondage and slavery. While on the run they had limited time, only time to make a quick flat bread, that didn't have time to rise. therefore we eat Matzo as a remembrance of hard times. (Matzo is  a bland  cracker with very little taste consumed  during the  8 day long holiday of Passover.

We celebrate Passover with humbleness by abstaining from  bread, however we prepare huge holiday meals of a roasted brisket with pan fried potatoes, matzo ball soup with chicken,  elaborate salads and special cookies made from matzo meal instead of flour. I don't believe the Jews had time to make those items either if they didn't even have the time to bake bread?

The other irony is when you mix flour and water in a warm environment it creates sourdough, which is a sour yeast. I therefore believe that the matzo cracker would had risen in many cases.

The Jewish people  eat matzo and have elaborate gourmet meals to remember the days of slavery.

Why not just enjoy a nice spontaneous meal on the move, as most probably did during the exodus?

How about going through the drive through at Taco Bell, after all tortilla's are unleavened. This would sure make one humble and  an appropriate way to remember hard times.

Next year at Taco Bell! 

Happy Passover, Happy Easters and Happy April showers.

(editor's note,  the last words at every passover Seder are next year in Jerusalem, next year at Taco bell is a play on words and my attempt at humor)

Editor's note, Dakinetalk guest bloggers do not necessarily represent the opinions of dakinetalk. Guest bloggers are given space to express their beliefs and or opinions. We feel there are many roads and like to give people space to express their thoughts,after-all that's what dakine is...Aloha, James "Kimo" Rosen, Publisher.

"We the Sheeple..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen

James “Kimo” Rosen is a retired professional photographer living in
Kapa'a with his best friend Obama Da Dog, Rosen also blogs as a hobby... 

We the Sheeple

They say when you put one hundred grandfather clocks in the same room after time they will all tick in harmony.

People act likewise, people act like sheep when it comes to so many things. We the sheeple should be the  opening line for most doctrines, religions or otherwise.

This same concept applies to most of our lives. religion works that way. People going to church, synagogues, mosques or any place of worship after time will start to think spiritual alike.

Non smokers whom hang with smokers many times will become smokers themselves.

Young people whose parents are alcohol or drug addicts have higher tendencies to become the same.

And those including myself whom live amongst crazy people will eventually become crazy too.

Be careful who you hang with.

To young people reading this, the lesson to be learned is to hang with with smart, healthy and wealthy people. The choice is yours.

The old expression goes, "birds of a feather flock together."

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"Embarking on new adventures..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday)

Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst New York and has worked in

the ophthalmology field of medicine for over 30 years.

Embarking on new adventures as a milestone approaches

This will be the year that I turn the big 60. Never before have I spoken of retirement or options for the 60s until this time in my life.

I have always worked, whether it was a part-time position as a teenager, or full time, since the 1970s. Work has always been a part of my life, not just for the satisfaction in my career but for the monetary benefit as well.

I have always been able to jump out of bed at 5 a.m. and organize my life and its responsibilities in an orderly manner. Even as my children were growing up and in school, I was always willing to go the extra mile to ensure that they did not sacrifice because of my full-time positions in the workplace. Activities never suffered, dinner was always served and family life never took a back seat.

Ah, to be young and energetic once again.

Time does take its toll. As I have gracefully aged, I have found that I can still learn new things even faster than ever before. I have the wisdom and grace to deal with situations and have found the secret to sort out that which is important in life from those inconveniences that don’t really matter anymore.

I find that I need more time to enjoy my surroundings and more time to enjoy my life. I still work full time, but I need to take little vacations more often and do more things that bring happiness to my life. Now that my children have long moved out, I can be more selfish and do what I want to.

But a 60-year-old body is not what the 30-year-old expected. Getting out of bed in the a.m. is a little more difficult; those creaking bones need to adjust and never have I enjoyed looking forward to resting on the couch after a long day on my feet as I do today.

After much thought, I have decided it is time to slow it down a bit, maybe go to a four-day work week. At this age there seem to be more doctor appointments coming up and more things that need my attention, such as an aging parent. Spending time with the people I love is at the top of my list. Taking more trips to visit my son on the West Coast and enjoying friendships has taken precedence. During these last 10 years I have realized more than ever how tenuous life has become and that taking one day for granted is too many to take. Losing friends and family over the last decade has taught me that lesson.

There is comfort in knowing that as I age, so do those around me. We can commiserate about our aches and pains, family and friends, and look back fondly on the wonderful memories we have made and plan those we are about to make. Life has been an adventure. I have learned from many lessons and have soaked up what life has to offer.

So here’s to the next decade of adventures. God has been good to me and I plan on giving back as much as I can.


This blog also appeared in the 03-29-14 edition of the Buffalo news;

http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?avis=BN&date=20140329&category=LIFE&lopenr=140328972&Ref=AR&profile=1336

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Facebook...

"Vote for Good Old Harry..." 'Chester "Unc" Lau' (Source)

Dakinetalks favorite Uncle (Chester Lau)"Unc" is a retired cinematographer currently living 

on the Hawai'ian Island of Oahu and giving the politicians a bad time..Thought you'd enjoy this!It's one you want your Children and Grandchildren to read.

 They won't believe this happened, but it DID.

Harry & Bess Truman

Vote for Good Old Harry

Harry Truman was
a different kind of President. He probably made as many, 
or more important decisions regarding our nation's 
history as any of the other 32 Presidents preceding him. 
However, a measure of his greatness may rest on what he 
did after he left the White 
House.
The only asset he 
had when he died was the house he lived in, which was in 
Independence , Missouri . His wife had inherited the 
house from her mother and father and other than their 
years in the White House, they lived their entire lives there.

When he retired from office 
in 1952 his income was a U.S. Army pension reported to 
have been $13,507.72 a year. Congress, noting that he 
was paying for his stamps and personally licking them, 
granted him an 'allowance' and later, a retroactive 
pension of $25,000 per 
year.
After President 
Eisenhower was inaugurated, Harry and Bess drove home to 
Missouri by themselves. There was no Secret Service 
following them.
When offered 
corporate positions at large salaries, he declined, 
stating, "You don't want me. You want the office of the 
President, and that doesn't belong to me.. It belongs to 
the American people and it's not for 
sale."
Even later, on 
May 6, 1971, when Congress was preparing to award him 
the Medal of Honor on his 87th birthday, he refused to 
accept it, writing, "I don't consider that I have done 
anything which should be the reason for any award, 
Congressional or 
otherwise."
As president he 
paid for all of his own travel expenses and food.
Modern 
politicians have found a new level of success in cashing 
in on the Presidency, resulting in untold wealth. Today, 
too many in Congress also have found a way to become 
quite wealthy while enjoying the fruits of their 
offices. Political offices are now for sale (ie. Illinois ).
Good old Harry 
Truman was correct when he observed, "My choices in life 
were either to be a piano player in a whore house or a 
politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference!
We ought to have 
cloned him for telling it like it is and being frugal with our tax dollars!
If you agree, 
forward it. If you don't, delete it. I don't want to know one way or the other. By me forwarding it, you know 
how I feel. 

Enjoy life 
now -- it has an expiration 
date!

"Unc" back in the day he served in the Korean war... Top and bottom.

P.S.
Please vote for my dog Obama in the Hawaiian Telcom photo contest. Winner gets $250.00!

http://bit.ly/OL1coZ


Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Facebook...