Who Knew?

Who knew that someday I would attempt writing a book?  This idea all came about after attending a career guidance course at a local community college.  After retiring, I dabbled in going back to college.  The career counselor suggested that I take this course.  I was very hesitant about spending 2 full days in a class.  At the age of 62, what could they tell me about a career?  Heck, I'm retired, what's the use?

Well, after spending over 20 years in real estate, I was told that sales was the worst thing for me!  Wow....that was quite a shock!  Being the old resistant me, I just couldn't believe this.  I don't even like to write!

What I've come to believe in life is that there are living angels that intersect your life with a gift for you.  That little angel suggested that I write a blog.  A blog....what is that?  The seed was planted.  Thanks, Denise.

Then life happened....I moved to a different state and reconnected with another angel that first came into my life back in 1994.  As fate would have it, he was writing a blog....no coincidence!  He gave me the logistics of how to create this blog.  My goal in writing this blog was to stretch myself by writing about fun.  I was always so serious, what did I know about fun?  Lo and behold......this blog has been all over the world!!  Thanks, Geoff. 

Then again....life happened.  I took a job at a property management firm and now I write every day.  I send emails to owners and tenants.  This is like learning to play the piano.  You start off practicing the scales.  My boss tells me all the time how great my emails are.  She gives me a lot of assurance  and spurs me on.  Thanks, Judy.

Last month my world travelling friend blew into town.  Besides other activities, she asked me to join her in attending a mini seminar.  The guest speaker was Patrick Snow.  It was about "Creating your own Destiny."   He gave us some really great tips on how to self-publish.  What a dynamic speaker.  He kept us mesmerized for three hours.  The time just flew by...we all felt as though we wanted more.
Thanks, Maureen.

Since taking that seminar, I've submitted another piece, for consideration, to O Magazine.  While the very first one I submitted about a year ago, didn't take, I've made up my mind that one of these days, if I keep writing and submitting articles, someday I may be able to say that I had something published by them.

Another great thing is that I've now got a writing coach.  She keeps me on task.  I'm submitting 2 written pieces a week to her.  She gives me great feedback.  Some day, I'm hoping that she will design the cover of my book.  She is so artistic.  She is my secret angel.  Thanks for all your support.

Moral of the story?  Have you met any great angels lately?  They are out there.....seek and ye shall find.

Hawaii No Ka Oi

A friend shared this video of various artists from Hawaii.  It really makes you feel homesick for the Islands.

Many years ago I worked with Palani Vaughan's dad, Frank at TheoDavies.  What a treat it was to listen to Palani, his dad and brother sing together.  That was priceless!

While at TheoDavies, (formerly known as Theo. H. Davies) in 1973, I also had the opportunity to meet the Tai Pan, Simon Keswick.  His family's business in Asia, called Jardine Matheson, was a far eastern trading company founded in 1832.  They purchased TheoDavies and diversified by adding Pizza Hut, and the Taco Bell franchises, as well as Mercedes Benz and Jaguar. 

The video features several local artists and the various sights in Hawaii.  I especially loved the Ipu's (not Ipo's - as my daughter corrected me).  Wouldn't mind playing that instrument.  It is made from gourds that have been hollowed out.

I hope that you enjoy this video as much as I did:

http://www.youtube.com/attribution_link?a=w9aaYCsQC6I&u=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DbhibLQFebpQ%26feature%3Dshare

This song was written by Eleanor Kekoaohiwaikalani Wright Prendergast as a patriotic song for members of the Royal Hawaiian Band who protested the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalni and the annexation to the United States.  The members of the band walked off their jobs after the bandmaster tried to force them to sign an oath of loyalty to the provisional government, which later became the Republic of Hawaii.  They felt that it was not right to sell one's loyalty to their country for money.

For a long time the song was considered sacred and was not used for hula dancing.  Today this song is usually danced by graceful, mature women.

The words and one interpretation is as follows:

Kaulana nā pua aʻo Hawaiʻi Kūpaʻa mahope o ka ʻāina Hiki mai ka ʻelele o ka loko ʻino Palapala ʻānunu me ka pākaha	Famous are the children of Hawaiʻi Ever loyal to the land When the evil-hearted messenger comes With his greedy document of extortion
Pane mai Hawaiʻi moku o Keawe       Kōkua nā Hono aʻo Piʻilani Kākoʻo mai Kauaʻi o Mano Paʻapū me ke one Kākuhihewa	Hawaiʻi, land of Keawe answers The bays of Piʻilani help Kauaʻi of Mano lends support All are united by the sands of Kākuhihewa
ʻAʻole aʻe kau i ka pūlima Maluna o ka pepa o ka ʻenemi Hoʻohui ʻāina kūʻai hewa I ka pono sivila aʻo ke kanaka	Do not fix a signature To the paper of the enemy With its sin of annexation And sale of the civil rights of the people
ʻAʻole mākou aʻe minamina I ka puʻukālā a ke aupuni Ua lawa mākou i ka pōhaku I ka ʻai kamahaʻo o ka ʻāina	We do not value The government's hills of money We are satisfied with the rocks The wondrous food of the land
Mahope mākou o Liliʻulani A loaʻa e ka pono o ka ʻāina     [alternate stanza:      A kau hou ʻia e ke kalaunu] Haʻina ʻia mai ana ka puana Ka poʻe i aloha i ka ʻāina	We support Liliʻuokalani Who has won the rights of the land     [alternate stanza:      She will be crowned again] The story is told Of the people who love the land

Aloha to all of you that read this!

Source:  ref:  Wikipedia Kaulana Na Pua