Life continues

I do love a good sunset!

and then later the same evening, the moon was full!

Little treats like these from Mother Nature remind me that life does go on, with a little emptiness perhaps, but the universe does continue to turn!

Kimo (Jimmy) is gone

I am devasted to the depths of my soul by the loss of my very special friend, Jimmy Millikin, who I was so fortunate to visit on Maui just last month. He succumbed to the horrible injuries he received when fire raced thru his old plantation house two weeks ago. I can't imagine the world without him.

His daddy and mine were best buds from The War. We were little kids together in Hawaii. This photo was taken at my birthday party in 1950. I'm wearing the lei and he's the littlest tyke - and he loved to tease me about being 'the older woman' in his life. My family left the Islands when I was just five, but I spent much of the summer with his after I graduated from high school. Jimmy gave me my first surfing lessons.

We stayed in close touch thru the years, when I moved back to Honolulu, and even more in the last 20 or so. He was doing some business on the Mainland (the Badlands, as he called the contiguous 48) while I was building my little house in the country in southern Arizona, and he visited often to lend a helping hand. Jimmy was one of the very rare men who could see something that needed to be done and would actually do it without being asked! I've never known another like him!

He opened my mind to many things - among them, the psychic possibilities of the mind beyond simple reason, which he had learned traveling in the Far East. He expanded my joy of cooking, by wild experimentation, almost always successful!

He was 'of the Old School' where his word and his handshake were a bond. He was of the earth, the 'aina' in Hawaiian, and nurtured Mother Nature's offerings. He could read he skies, the sea, the creatures.

Jimmy was an extremely private person, hated to have his picture taken, and I don't think any one person knew much of the entire man. He was incredibly charismatic and could get along in any setting . . . which is probably why he could just laugh, and later share the story, when I left him to fend for himself crossing the Mexican border on one visit - Jimmy was very tan, swarthy even, with longish black hair and a bushy mustache, and could easily pass for a latino (until he opened his mouth), so the border patrol folks were VERY skeptical when he claimed to be from Hawaii!

He offered his respect to all people's choices. He traveled a lot, and one of his greatest joys was to 'go holo holo' - hop in a car, a boat, a plane, and go off on a new adventure, big or small.

I was lucky to have shared a part of his life, and I miss him desperately already.

Aloha, my friend.

Fire!

Friday was an awful day! When I stumbled out to my RV kitchen that morning to put on some water for tea, the stove exploded into fire!


Sweet timid Misha screamed and ran for the bedroom! I knew that wasn't a good idea - the last thing we needed was to get trapped in the back of the coach! So I grabbed her (and my purse - a lady can't go anywhere without her purse - and keys) and headed for the car - in my short black nightie and gray wool socks. Tossed her in the car and moved it out of the way.


My phone was on the charger in the bedroom, so I had to start knocking on doors for help. The park here in Show Low is getting pretty empty now as folks head for warmer spots. Plus it was 'free donuts and coffee' Friday morning at the rec center, so it was three doors before someone answered.


My very nice neighbor called 911 and brought over his fire extinguisher - I hadn't been able to break mine loose from its brackets - and he braved the smoke and fire and put out the flames before the fire folks even arrived.


Three cop cars came flying in with sirens blaring, then two fire vehicles, and finally a fire engine, but by then the fun was over. Except the smoke - OMG the smoke - it was ugly, smelly and horrible on the eyes, noise and throat. RVs are made of plastic and fiberglass, you know. And the fire truck "wasn't the one with the air evacuation unit" - of course.

We still have no idea what caused the fire. I had tried to turn the furnace on some time earlier, and it didn't kick in as usual, so I turned on my little space heater and went back to bed. There was no smell of gas when I went back into the kitchen area, and the propane detector was silent, so I had no idea there might be anything wrong.

Damage is minimal, relatively speaking. RV fires are known to be fast moving and deadly. My cooktop is toast, the cabinetry around it is burned, and the floor beneath it is charred.

Insurance? I have $1000 deductible, so it'll be interesting to see if I get any help at all in repairing the mess. Spoke Friday with the company, yesterday with a senior claims adjustor who assigns the claim to an inspector, and to the inspector this morning on the phone. Since I have to leave here on Sunday (the park closes for the winter season), the inspector is unable to see me until I get set up again in Tucson (where I plan to spend the winter). Dandy.

What about my kitchen?? Well, I have my BBQ, I have a toaster oven, and my microwave was not damaged! I'm amazed at how many times already I've wanted to cook something on the stove. Oh well. That's why there is pizza delivery, right?

I've spent almost every minute of the last four days cleaning up the mess - and the smell. I had a raging headache for the first three days, presumably from the smell and the chemicals. The fire extinguisher was one that shot out a chemical powder - that tiny fine light powder that covered every single thing in the RV and in the drawers! I've shampooed the carpets three times, used most of a bottle of Spic 'n Span on the rest of the floor, gone thru two full bottles of Febreeze and an entire bottle of Windex. I've used Pledge three times on the wood cabinets and trim, cleaned the air filters and done 9 loads of wash. So far!

And now I find that I won't even SEE a claims adjustor for at least another week? And then who knows how long before I can get repairs? I'm going to take up drinking.

I did have an RV mobile mechanic come by to inspect the propane system before turning it back on. He couldn't find any leaks. So, who knows what it was all about.

And this on top of the fact that one of my dearest friends, my Maui friend I just visited, is now in the hospital in very critical condition after his home (that I just stayed in) burned to the ground last week. I'm not sure I ever want to see a flame again, anywhere, ever.

"da kine"

Having just come from a wonderful visit to Paradise, I had a good giggle when I saw this description of one of Hawaii's favorite expressions in this month's Hawai'i Magazine:

"Da kine" is not Hawaiian. It's a widely used expression in Hawaii pidgin English.

Roughly translated, it means "the kind," similar to the pidgin expression any kine, which itself means "any kind." But da kine's meaning is more complex.

You can use it when you can't think of a word - sort of like the English words "thingie" or "whatchamacallit" (I can't find "da kine.")

But da kine can also be an adjective. It can refer to a person as well as a thing (Are you bring da kine to the party?). And it can be a sometimes abstract concept (I wish he didn't act so da kine.)

Da kine sounds like the speaker can't think of a word. But, really, it implies that the speaker and the listener understand each other so well there's no need for unnecessary da kine words."

That is a terrific description of a very popular term. And should you be curious, "pidgin" English is the slang English that is widely used in Hawaii. It's an accented and a shortened form of our more 'proper' language, and is almost unintelligible to many. It has a charming lilt and I get a chuckle out of it!!

Maui No Ka Oi

Hawaii is still there - and is still beautiful - and still holds my heart and soul!

Took off on August 30th for Vegas. My sweet pal Liz offered to care for my little Misha for the duration. No way I could put her in a kennel, and I was even worried about leaving her for two weeks. She is finally becoming a doggie, not so afraid of everything around her, and suddenly her mom leaves her? At least she knows Lizzie and her crazy Chihuahua, Misty, and big ferocious black kitty, Charlie!

Flew Hawaiian Airlines to Kahului Airport on Maui, via a quick plane change in Honolulu. I knew I was 'home' as soon as I smelled the air!


Did a whole lot of nothing while visiting my old old pal Kimo (Jimmy). We played on the beach together, naked. Don't get the wrong idea - that was about 60 years ago - our Dads were best buds - when both families lived there.

We took long drives, ate my favorite Hawaiian foods and fresh fishies and sashimi, enjoyed the weather immensely, even though the mosquitoes thought I was manna from heaven! His doggie, Kulana, didn't remember me from my last visit - understandable I guess, as she was just a puppy 4 years ago.

She's grown into a big gorgeous girl - a bit kolohe (rascal - trouble maker), with a mind of her own, and she went with us almost everywhere!

Made it to a couple parties and a one-year old baby luau with old and new friends.

We drove up thru the rain forest to Hana, where we had a five-star dinner at the Hana Hotel, and then all the way around the island back to Jimmy's a couple days later (there was no road around when I lived there).

Saw a lovely pheasant strolling on the side of the road for our viewing pleasure.

This is one breadfruit tree in an large orchard of 120 varieties of breadfruit.

http://www.canoeplants.com/ulu.html

The original Hana jailhouse!

Through the rainforest, where we found some gorgeous white ginger to carry for luck and the wonderful scent!

Out of focus waterfall - one of many! That's one of many waterfalls, not one of many out of focus waterfalls!

Love this little island with palm trees on top! And lots of black sea birds of some kind circling it!

Tiny tiny ferns growing out of the lava rock walls!

You've heard of black sand beaches??

VERY nice little 'cabin' in Heavenly Hana where we stayed for a couple nights!

The Palapalo Ho'omau Church and Cemetery in Kipahulu, on the Hana Coast, where Charles Lindbergh is buried.

Sunsets from Kimo's place on the mountain were unbeatable! And we even saw the legendery 'green flash' a couple times!!

A couple horses drop by every afternoon for sunset and pupus (snacks)!!

And of course I had to satisfy my craving for Island flowers! These are just a few of the magnificent flowers and trees!

Had lunch in Lahaina with an old girlfriend at the historic Pioneer Inn (now Best Western Pioneer Inn), where I had my requisite Mai Tai - a great drink when made correctly - definitely done right here!

One was enough!!!

A bunch of us went fishing the day before I had to leave. Didn't catch anything, but who cares?!!

It was absolutely grand to be out on the water!

The launch ramp was controlled by several free roaming roosters and their many hens!!

Kulana went with us, of course, and brought along a friend. It was Thunder's first time on a boat, and he wasn't too sure about it at first, but he quickly got into the spirit of the day!

Headed back to the island from a circle around Molokini, a small crescent shaped island in Maalaea Bay, about 2.5 miles off the south coast. It's the tip of an inactive underwater volcano crater - the rest has collapsed and fallen into the sea. It's been designated a Marine Life and Bird Conservation District, and is popular with tourists and locals alike for snorkeling and scuba, and fishing in the area is usually very good! That's Kahoolawe in the background - a great history of this interesting little island can be found at http://kahoolawe.hawaii.gov/history.shtml

The water is so clear and such a grand color!!

Jimmy's place is up in the trees in the upper left center of this picture.

He lives in 'paniolo country', to take a phrase from one of my favorite Melveen Leed songs . . . cowboy country! (which I'm listening to as we 'speak'!!) There are three working ranches on Maui - Hana Ranch, Kula Ranch and Haleakala Ranch, which is where his little plantation house is located.

Jimmy has a small little ranch in the middle of Haleakala Ranch. In case you can't spot it, maybe this is why...

It's in there, I promise!

And this is what little Molokini (mentioned above) looks like from his place on the mountain!

Hopefully these pictures, only a few of the several hundred I snapped, will show that Hawaii is, in fact, still there, and is still paradise!

Left the Islands with tears in my eyes, and about 70 CDs of Hawaiian music to add to my collection!

Was delightfully surprised to find that Liz had found us some tickets for a couple of my favorite Hawaiian entertainers, The Brothers Cazimero, for Friday night in Vegas.

A great end for a perfect trip!

Seed Spitting anyone?

HAPPY NATIONAL WATERMELON DAY, y'all!

For recipes and games and other ridiculous stuff, check out 'the only website devoted to the watermelon' - www.watermelon.org

What a treat!

I received a phone call late yesterday from one of my best pals from Green Valley - Roger asked where I was - Show Low! "Where do you eat?" "You're here???" What a treat! Four of my pals drove up to get out of the heat for a couple days - wondered what places were good and would I like to join them for dinner!!

I haven't been out at all since I arrived up here, 'cause I've just been trying to get well. So, YES, I'd be delighted to join them for dinner! Where? Who knows! We played in the phone book and decided to take a gamble on a Thai restaurant. Mountain Thai was wonderful! The most fun I've had in a couple months! I'm alive again! And it was so neat to see friends after the last abominable several weeks!

It, of course, was the warmest day since I've been here, and they had a long, rough, detouring, road construction drive up, but by the time we were done with din-din, it was glorious out - stars, cool breezes, a terrific evening!

And now that I'm feeling better, I realize I'm overdue including some pictures in my little reports! So, the following is a brief picture-log of my trip up here, starting with my return from Rio Rico, where I stayed when I went to my doc in Tucson, thru the Salt River Canyon into Show Low.

One of the things I loved about Santa Cruz County when I lived there was the lovely pastoral scenes, grazing cattle with all their babies, and the gorgeous fields of cow ponies!

This place was closed up, but is another sign of the country that I enjoy traveling so much!

And the countryside on the drive up from Globe is just gorgeous - rock formations, scenic winding roads, and the sudden cool breezes and sweet smelling pines!

and glorious cloud formations, promising coming rains and light shows!

and this colorful little house, now an office, is the welcome into town. I'm sure there's a history to the building, but I haven't learned what it is yet!