"The truth about Santa Claus..." 'Douglas Dunn' (A holiday tradition, 5 years and counting!)

Guest blogger Douglas Dunn on the beach with his daughter JoAnn back in 1981. Doug runs a small publishing consulting business in San Diego county and is a  certified American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter (for Deaf people),  last but not least he has been a Democratic Party media spokesperson and has had  the good fortune to work with Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Doug also drives a Nissan Leaf !

Santa Claus and JoAnn Dunn back in 1977, "Yes there really is a Santa!" By the way JoAnn is now   married and a  Mom to two lovely granddaughters.

Editors note;
This blog originally ran as dakinetalk blog # 520 on 12-23-11 and on  12-24-12, blog #888 .also on 12-23-13, Blog , #1185  and # 1439. It was so popular our Blogger-n-chief decided to run it again for a  5th year in a row, allowing more people to read this beautiful touching holiday story.

The truth about Santa Claus

When my daughter JoAnn was eight years old, she came home from school one December afternoon, very upset. Some kids had been teasing her because she still believed in Santa Claus. Her Dad had told her there was a Santa Claus, and she knew that Dad would never tell a lie.

“Daddy,” she said, “I’m eight years old. I’m old enough to know The Truth. Is there really a Santa Claus?” Parents dread this question almost as much as, “Where do babies come from?”

But when a child asks for THE TRUTH, it is time to be straight with them.

“Okay,” I answered. “If you’re old enough to know The Truth about Santa Claus, then you’re old enough to know the truth about the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy as well.”

“I want THE TRUTH.”

“Well, your Daddy is really the Easter Bunny. And your Daddy is really the tooth fairy. [Pause] Santa Claus is real.”

Her eyes grew big and round. “Santa Claus really comes each Christmas Eve and leaves presents?”

I said, “The Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy are mythical characters, made-up for holiday fun. Santa Claus is real. He really lived and is based on a real person. But it is often difficult for very small children to understand about the real Santa Claus, so over the years a lot of make-believe and fantasy have been added to make it more fun.”

We talked about the historical figure, St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, who used to go out on Christmas Eve with gifts for poor children who would otherwise have no Christmas. But like all real human beings, he eventually grew old, and died at the age of 73 on December 6, 343. But after Nicholas, others took up the role. We read together stories from newspapers and magazines of people up to the present day who spread joy by giving Christmas gifts in secret. There are lots of them! Santa Claus is not only real, but alive and doing very well in the modern world.

“If you’re old enough to know THE TRUTH about Santa Claus,” I concluded, “maybe you’re old enough to BE a Santa Claus.”

“BE a Santa Claus?” she asked, brightening.

It was too close to Christmas to make extensive plans for the current year, but we talked about ideas for the next year.

The following year JoAnn and I contacted our local Post Office and arranged to receive letters that underprivileged children had sent, addressed to Santa Claus. We found that the Post Office believes in Santa Claus, too, and takes its role seriously, and does deliver letters from children in need to real Santa Clauses.

We were able to identify three needy families, and deliver a real Christmas to each one. Instead of random gifts through large organizations for “boy—age 9” or “girl—age 6,” we responded to specific requests from individual children. What fun we had shopping, wrapping, and planning a Christmas Eve delivery route — just like any real Santa!

We felt our adventure that first year was successful. All of the children we found were in difficult situations, and it appeared they would have had no Christmas without us. But much of our energy had been spent screening the letters to choose which children were most needy. We also considered that poverty alone is no indicator of whether or not a child will have Christmas. Many families, poor but loving, will make sure their little ones enjoy holiday magic.

The following year JoAnn and I tried a different approach. We located an agency that provides care for children who had been removed from their families on account of child abuse or neglect. A social worker helped us make arrangements to be Santa for six children in a group home who needed a Santa Claus. Over lunch, she told us about the personal stories of each one of these special children who had endured terrible experiences that few others can ever imagine. We learned that the real “truth” about Santa Claus is that the “naughty” and “nice” list is part of the fantasy myth. In reality, there are no “naughty” children; that problematic behavior only represents troubled pasts cured with compassion and caring, not further deprivation. The real Santa Claus gives unconditionally. The social worker gave us each child’s list, and told us what each child had requested from Santa. Again, we provided the items on their lists, and enjoyed our merriest Christmas ever. We were hooked. We continued this tradition for several years, adapting our routine when my wife Thelma joined our family, and trying different variations such as sponsoring “Santa Claus” for children at Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity orphanage in the Philippines.

I appreciate the lessons Santa Claus has taught my daughter, and the values he has shared with her. Our Christmases are celebrations of true joyfulness, and in the truest possible measure of true value. I do believe in Santa Claus! I especially appreciate the opportunity Santa Claus gave one father to pass on his values to a young daughter.

Note, epilogue; My approach to telling my daughter “The Truth about Santa Claus” was adapted from another true story that had inspired me several years earlier. It was an article in Reader’s Digest about a little Jewish boy who had grown up in New York City, feeling left out of Christmas, but felt he could not celebrate a holiday that might betray his religious and cultural heritage. But he did feel he could, in good conscience, give a gift to those who do celebrate it and BE a Santa Claus to children in need. I was so moved by the story of how he became a real Santa Claus, that I was inspired to hold it in my heart and, at the right time, do something similar. The pointed question -- demand! -- from my daughter for THE TRUTH gave me the opportunity to act on that. Just as those who come from a Christian background celebrate Christmas to remember the birth of a Jewish boy who grew up to become a great rabbi, my story about my daughter is also inspired by a modern Jewish role model.

P.S.From Seinfeld; YouTube; Happy Festivus day!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQFLqMyo0fo

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Happy Holidays!

"A Bad Influence..." ' Chester "Unc" Lau' (Source)

Dakinetalk's favorite Uncle (Chester Lau)

"Unc"  is really passionate about creating a national Caregivers day.

Any help , support or ideas would be greatly appreciated...

'Unc' currently resides on the Hawai'ian Island of Oahu. 
He is a retired cinematographer,
 and  enjoys giving the politicians a bad time...
"I am PRO-CHOICE ON EVERYTHING WITH RESPONSIBILITY..."

A Bad Influence

Unc back in the day as a cinematographer!

Unc as a young man in
the Korean war...

A lady goes to her parish priest one day and tells him, "Father, I have a problem. I have two female parrots but they only know how to say one thing." "What do they say?" the priest inquired. "They say, 'Hi, we're prostitutes. Do you want to have some fun ?" "That's obscene ! " the priest exclaimed, "I can see why you are embarrassed." He thought a minute and then said, "You know, I may have a solution to this problem. I have two male parrots whom I have taught to pray and read the Bible. 

Bring your two parrots over to my house and we will put them in the cage with Francis and Job. My parrots can teach your parrots to praise and worship. I'm sure your parrots will stop saying that...that phrase in no time." "Thank you," the woman responded, "this may very well be the solution." 

The next day, she brought her female parrots to the priest's house. As he ushered her in, she saw this two male parrots were inside their cage, holding their rosary beads and praying. Impressed, she walked over and placed her parrots in with them. After just a couple of seconds, the female parrots exclaimed out in unison, "Hi, we're prostitutes. Do you want to have some fun ?" 

There was a stunned silence. Finally, one male parrot looked over at the other male parrot and said, "Put the beads away, Francis, our prayers have been answered! "

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"Who is Lester Lopes..?" 'James "Kimo" Rosen' (Kimo's world #104)

James Kimo Rosen is the Blogger-n-chief
of dakinetalk blog and lives on the cosmic
island of Kaua'i with his spiritual advisor
Obama Da Dog!  

Who is Lester Lopes?

Editor's note;
This blog also appeared as an opinion article in the Christmas 2015 edition of The Garden Island News!
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-dec/article_48cdcaaf-4b0b-5719-b4c8-ed35b0f9a60e.html

I go to Kapaa Burger King 3-5 times a week to get a diet coke,and one of those times I will treat myself to french fries and use the free WiFi and just relax. I find it one of the most inviting places on the cosmic Garden isle.

They have an area of which I refer to as the 'VIP lounge,' there are four large easy type chairs and a couple small tables located away from the main seating area.

This area is highly attractive to the homeless, maybe that's why I like it, after all, I too was house-less for 7 years.

There was this  man named 'Lester' that hung out there on a daily basis. I would talk story with Lester and he always had something to say about everything, usually negative.

Lester had disability for something from the VA and said  he could afford  a  $500-600 a month to rent a room. I told him check Craigslist. He doesn't know how to use the computer and had to much anxiety to ask the librarian for assistance on the free computers.

I started printing out Craigslist rooms for rent,  he would call but the room was always taken, so he said?

The last time I saw Lester, he  did not look good and was complaining he was tired. I said do you want me to call 911 for you? "No!" I said you need to check into Mahelona, (the closest hospital.) He had a negative excuse, "you can't just check into a hospital," he said.

My friend 'Lester' at Burger King
 3 days before he passed away.

I said, brah, you don't look good. I gave him a few coupons I had for a free french fry  and ice cream.  I  was looking for a cop on the way home to tell  them they should check on this guy, I never found the cop.  

I did find on the front page of the Garden Island news on Tuesday December 8, 2015, that a 62 year old homeless man was found dead in front of a business he slept at.
http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/body-found-in-kapaa/article_1c4a0906-9d6f-11e5-a627-4750d068739d.html

That man was Lester. I wish I could had done more, it was so obvious this man was in need.

I am not a trained professional, this man was highly visible in the public eye--if only myself or someone else had stepped up. I am starting to think what Lester really needed was a friend.

I am going to try and step up and make someone in need my friend. I cannot bring back Lester, but I can shed a tear, hoping he knew somebody cared.

  Lesson learned;
All of us need to step up and make someone in need our friend. Many times they don't want money or food , just someone to talk to, who will will listen and care.

This meme was published on Facebook
to help promote this blog!

Editor's note,
Lester's name was officially released after contacting the next of kin;
http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/kapaa-body-identified/article_be61452c-be7b-5407-a2c5-45a4014e4493.html

James "Kimo" Rosen ~ 1976~ Santa Barbara~
Photo courtesy of  John Franssen

P.S.
Editors note, The photos below were created with photos I took on an iPhone using an app called PIP!

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"Security scanning beyond the airlines..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday)

Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst New York

( A suburb of Buffalo, N.Y.)

 and has worked in the ophthalmology

 field of medicine for over 30 years

Security scanning beyond the airlines

In an effort to keep our sky's safe; several years ago we implemented a rule that every suitcase and computer that went on a plane had to be scanned for dangerous items and unsafe contents.  Everyone is scanned - no matter what race, creed or color you are.

We are living in unsafe times today and since our country is more of a  melting pot for sure, which adds to a rich and diverse country.

 Why not scan items that come through mail order like US mail, Fed Ex, UPS etc.  

It may be a huge effort to accomplish however packages that repeatedly come to the same address filled with such items as contents to build bombs can be monitored and followed up on. 

 Maybe we can avoid some of the tragedy that is happening today  that could have maybe been averted.  

As the airlines  have shown--if a passenger has nothing to hide in their luggage they don't mind the extra few minutes to do a scan.

Why should people mind having their boxes scanned?

"Judy, Judy, Judy!"

Editors note,
This blog also appeared in today's (12-19-15) Buffalo News--Everybody's column;
"Perhaps U.S. should scan packages before delivery."
http://www.buffalonews.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/letter-perhaps-us-should-scan-packages-before-delivery-20151219Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Facebook...

Fart contests in Japan..." 'Chester "Unc" Lau' (Source) ~ Thanks for the info Unc!~

Dakinetalk's favorite Uncle (Chester Lau)

"Unc"  is really passionate about creating a national Caregivers day.

Any help , support or ideas would be greatly appreciated...

'Unc' currently resides on the Hawai'ian Island of Oahu. 
He is a retired cinematographer,
 and  enjoys giving the politicians a bad time...
"I am PRO-CHOICE ON EVERYTHING WITH RESPONSIBILITY..."

Fart contests in Japan

Unc doing what he loved. 'Cinematography.'
Editor's note; Unc was recently
contacted by a major publisher because they
saw his dakinetalk bogs on the original Hawaii-Five-0.
The blogs featured Jack Lord and James MacArthur.
Unc is telling  all he can remember for an upcoming
book about that time in TV history!
Congratulations, Ho'omaika'i 'Ana and  Mazol Tov To Unc!
Can'twait to see the book!

 

Farting Contest In Ancient Japan...
http://www.interestingfacts.org/fact/farting-contest

In ancient Japan public contest were held in which the person who can fart loudest and longest could be the winner of the event.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/He-gassen

All around the world there are many weird and bizarre contests, like the Extreme Ironing championships or the Chess Kickboxing; but one contest that has recently caught the public?s eye is Japan's Farting Contest. It is a public contest which is more bizarre than any of the modern day?s extreme contests.

Check out this Youtube of a modern day public farting contest in Japan!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYfH-Sa0_fo

Japan which is regarded as ?The Land of Rising Sun? and ?The Land of Samurais? do a have comical side too. Although in African tribes, of Malawi, farting may be considered offense but in old Japan public farting contest were held regularly and the person who could fart loudest  and longest was considered as winner. The winner receives great commendation and prizes.

This fad? also seems to have quite some impact on other countries too, and not just Japan in particular. These contests have begun worldwide, but on a smaller level. To end this on a high note: Greet your guests by farting. It's considered a greeting by an Indian tribe in South America.

Check out Unc's memories from the Original Hawaii Five-0. 
These were Googled , a  publisher contacted me about getting info from Unc. I  then set Unc up with this world renowned publisher!  
James "Kimo" Rosen,publisher & CEO dakinetalk blog.
Jack Lord;
http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2015/06/tales-from-original-hawaii-five-o-jack.html
James MacArthur;
http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2015/05/tales-from-original-hawaii-five-o-james.html

 A note to Unc from Jack Lord star of the original Hawaii Five-O,
where "Unc" worked as a cinematographer.

"The ultimate way to start the day, with a Kaua'i Sunrise!

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"Dogs and Gods and Coexistence..."'Bettejo Dux' (Vintage Bettejo)

Bettejo Dux has lived on the cosmic Garden
 Island of Kaua'i for over 40 years.

Bettejo is a regular opinion writer in the Garden Island news

 and is the author of the famed novella, "The Scam." 

 Her latest fiction"Children of extinction"

 is now  released and available on Amazon!
Bettejo has a gift of mingling
 the present, the past, and the future. 

www.bettejodux.com

www.amazon.com

Dogs and Gods and Coexistence

I have a darling friend who has a darling car that sports a darling bumper sticker DOG IS MY COPILOT.

It makes so much sense. I mean you befriend and feed and house a puppy, who will grow up to be a  dog–loving and faithful– to help you safely navigate your way through modern-day life’s singular peculiarities.  ‘Specially if you’re driving a 2015 Toyota Prius Hatchback on Kauai.

Grown up and seated beside you in the bucket front seat, with eyes searching the road as you travel, she’s happily  checking out the scene . It’s getting dark. The sun sets early.  You’re stuck in traffic. It’s a four  lane strip and a guy, in a  goofy big-wheeled rig that looks like its slumped through too many muddy cane fields to harvest too much illegal ganja, gives you the eye. The guy has  dingy greasy-blonde  hair.   He’s as fat and sloppy as his Kauai muddy  red-bottomed pick-up  and  snorting a joint and slurping a beer. Takes talent. Both hands are busy. Guess he’s steering with his knees. He likes your looks. He likes your car.  He doesn’t like your copilot who sticks her  shaggy wolf gray  head  out the window–which you’ve power rolled down allowing Verdi’s  Triumphal March from Aida  from your CD player to drown his heavy, harsh,  and savage  Home is Where the Hatred Is–and bares teeth that look long and sharp enough to do in at least one of those ridiculous over-size tires with the first bite. She has better taste then to bite this bugger in the butt.

You pull ahead.  He falls behind.  You wave and roll up your power window.

The point is: if God were seated in the bucket seat your buddy in the dirty rig couldn’t see Him–why is He always a He– I seriously doubt your most fervent prayers would save the day. Or the night. Or you or your Prius or even Verdi.

Don’t you just love The Triumphal March?

The domestic dog has the distinction of being the only known animal to be domesticated by humans prior to the advent of agriculture.  Dogs are not only man’s best friend,  but also his oldest one. Though the precise origin of dogs was a mystery in Darwin’s day, Darwin drew on them as an example of artificial selection that would be familiar to his readers, since the practice of shaping breeds over time was familiar to his audience.

Every dog today–mastiff or mini, pointy nosed or baby- faced, long-haired or short, floppy ears or perked, is related to the wolf and new breeds are still cropping up. Don’t you just love it? The mini-husky is the latest new breed of artificially selected dog worked up by an Alaskan native from 1970-1988 before it became a breed of its own. It has been considered an official breed by the UKC since 1997.

Everybody needs this kind of coexistence. ‘Specially if you drive a Prius on Kauai.

May dog be with you in 2016.

Bettejo breaking bread and
 discussing life with her friend
and mentor, Richard Dawkins.

Bettejo endorses Steve Saylor for President, Check out his Youtube videos'.
Mr. Saylor lives on Kaua'i 6 months of the year....
Video #1;
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PPMPsVJoz4
Video #2;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKV8lFyv4e0
Video #3;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOoER6zcLZo

Bettejo's new priceless possession is Richard Dawkins' "Brief  Candle in the Dark."

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---Blogger-n-chief, dakinetalk blog---

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"Kaua'i faces multiple problems..." 'Glen Mickens' (Special to dakinetalk)

Glenn Mickens has lived on Kauai  with his wife Ruth for the last 26 years. Born July 26, 1930 in Wilmar, California, USA) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched in four games (two of which were starts) for the 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers. He also played for five years in Japan, from 1959 until 1963 for the Kintetsu Buffaloes. There, he compiled a record of 45–53 with a 2.54 ERA.  Glenn also  served in the Army for 2 years and coached baseball at UCLA for 25 years. 
Last but not least Glenn would really like to see Kauai give the county manager style of Government a chance.

Kaua'i faces multiple problems

Mr. Mickens is locally known
as one of Kauai county's
political watchdogs.
Mahalos Glenn!

A recent guest columnist in The Garden Island News, Kathy Sheffield (TGI Forum 11/25) does an outstanding job of enumerating the multitude of problems facing our Island. 
(Editors note, guest columnists are not included in the online edition of  The Garden Island News,therefore no link to share.)

Her plea for no increase in the excise tax is valid since it is regressive and hurts those in the struggling class of our population far more than it does those who are doing well. Yes cities like Los Angeles have higher sales tax rates than Kauai but, as she says, they do not tax professional fees, rent, medical expenses and groceries as we do which probably brings our rates near or above theirs. 

And she makes another truthful statement that everyone knows but no one in power wants to admit to:
The infamous "bike path" was built for alternate transportation (later changed to a "multi use" path since it was never used for transportation to lessen traffic"). And the bike routes along our highways and streets maybe have one or two riders on them each day while traffic is bumper to bumper on roads that need widening. 

Also we are going to spend $12.5 million to beautify Lihue---proposing to again make Rice street 2 lanes from the 4 lanes it is now only to exacerbate our traffic problems. From 2 to 4 and back to 2--Planning?????

To do this the "planners" are proposing to put bike lanes on each side of the street (for phantom bikers) and making 12 foot wide sidewalks for the phantom walkers who want to see the beauty along that street! Who are these planners that don't have a clue to what this Island needs for the long term? Are they the same ones who we have paid huge dollars to that have gotten us into the mess we have today? How hard is it to prioritize our needs BEFORE spending millions on projects that are worthless.?

Then Ms Sheffield wisely says, "What you need to rethink is cutting the budget and bring responsible contractors for the millions of dollars spent on projects that are supposed to be enhancing our lives on Kauai."

And finally, in her closing statement she says, " It's time for a professional county manager." Please keep that thought in mind, Ms Sheffield and make sure all your friends hear your words. 

Now that Councilman Chock, Kualii and Kaneshiro along with Council chair Rapozo are working hard to push this manager issue forward, there is a good chance that Kauai will finally have a Council and a Manager who are responsible and accountable for all actions taken on Kauai. 

Editors note,
This blog also appeared as an opinion article (LTE) in the Sunday 12-13-15 edition of The Garden Island news titled, "County plans won’t solve traffic woes."  Listed Below;
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-dec/article_47108dd8-550e-5e84-9595-da1325afae04.html

P.S.
Check out Glenn's Wikipedia page;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Mickens

With all the stress of the world, don't forget to
watch the sunrise or sunset, it's free! 

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