Magnificat woman

I was sharing with my SD today the many blessings I received when I was on vacation.

How things I desired years ago and never thought possible came to fruition, in ways I never expected. Now when I look back at things in totality, I marvel even more.

Fr. A. reminded me that “the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His name” as he encouraged me to be a Magnificat* woman.

While much of the Magnificat is a paraphrasing of prayers found in the Old Testament, it is extremely significant contextually.

At a very dark moment in her life, the young Mary is affirmed by her loving cousin and she is able to utter such a beautiful song of her deep and constant faith – truly she was full of grace, as the angel Gabriel proclaimed.

The joy of these two women of faith sharing and bonding through the miracles God has wrought in their lives is moving and certainly worth emulating.

I can only pray that “my soul magnifies the Lord” to all I meet every day.

* Luke 1:46-56 Mary’s song (canticle) of praise in response to her cousin Elizabeth’s greeting when they meet.

Love songs

Last night Mum and I attended Engelbert Humperdinck’s 40th anniversary concert. When she first mooted the idea, I balked.

Engelbert Humperdinck? No!!! Watch a geriatric who has probably lost his voice singing songs that are so passé was not my idea of fun. But it was what she wanted so… we went.

I enjoyed myself. He was the consummate entertainer who made the audience laugh at his jokes and sing along as he sang. And yes, he could still sing, sounding very much like the cassettes we used to listen to in the car.

Listening to him croon his love songs transported me into the past. I was once again that nine-year-old, sitting in the car with my brothers and my mother, as my father sat in the driver’s seat.

I could see us on a road trip in Malaysia, heading towards the ocean and loads of fun in the sun. As Dad drove along the narrow roads, we were all bubbling with excitement and the joy of being on vacation. We sang along with each familiar, loved song as the miles sped by. What a joyous time.

In that instant, I really missed my Dad, who was our rock, our provider, our fun-loving father who introduced us to the simple pleasures and the finer points of life.

Music is such a powerful evocator of childhood memories, nostalgia’s second cousin. As Engelbert closed the show with his rendition of My way, I was reminded of Dad, who was a maverick, a man who marched to the beat of his own drum, and therefore not easily understood. That song was one of his personal favourites.

Although my father always regretted that he did not leave us much when he passed on, I beg to differ. He left behind a treasure trove of memories of his love for his family. What could be more priceless?

Rainy days

Honolulu, August 15th -- It’s a rainy day in paradise today. We have been on hurricane watch the last couple of days. Hurricane Flossie went by the Big Island yesterday bringing wind and rain, thankfully in manageable amounts with minimal damage.

Besides the hurricane, there was a brief standby for a possible tsunami due to the earthquake in Peru. It was soon downgraded when it became apparent that there was no impending danger.

All it takes is the earth’s rumbles and nature’s volatility to remind us of the fragility of life and that the elements are not a controllable force. Humans are not in charge, no matter how much we may think we are.

Despite the rain robbing me of one last idyllic day at the beach, I am very appreciative of the fine weather I’ve experienced the last 12 days and boy, am I glad we visited the Big I. last week and not this week for Flossie would have certainly put a damper on things.

I am also thankful for certain things the rain brings like the excuse to stay home, laze around and do nothing; the gorgeous rainbows one can spot arcing across the sky; the cool breezes that erase the hot mugginess of August; the pristine landscape gleaming through the patina of dust misted away; and the opportunity to go mall walking (the only place to go exercise after dinner).

While the weather was "less than perfect" today, it turned out to be a good day, even if it necessitated a change in plans. It even matched the wistfulness I felt due to my vacation drawing to a close.

And so it was ultimately another perfect day in paradise. Something to give thanks for.

Decompression time

Honolulu, August 14th -- I live for vacations! Not only is it an opportunity to get out of my current headspace, go on adventures and gain fresh perspectives in life, it’s also time to relax and re-charge.

Best of all, I get the chance to go into myself and figure out who I am and where I’m going. Am I headed in the right direction?

There’s something about Hawaii that allows me to decompress and find the necessary space for all the above to happen. I suppose it has to do with the fact that I found my independence, my strengths, my self here so many years ago.

That it’s so beautiful, so elemental and elementary to connect with nature and God gives it special meaning for me.

He speaks to me in the majesty of the volcanic ridges, the playful trade winds that swish through the trees bringing relief from the sun, the heady scents of ginger, plumeria and tuberose that perfume the air, the soothing surge of the ocean against the shore, and the mosaic of crystalline blues and vivid greens as the ocean merges with the sky.

I feel alive, at peace, at one with the beauty that surrounds me. I am given clarity of thought. A sense of profound gratitude overwhelms me as I respond to the music of the land and its people.

This time around, I got to do the things I love best: walk, hang out at the beach, sleep, share the experience of phenomenally good food with old friends, laugh and have fun, fun, fun.

I also got to go to the movies where I caught a wonderfully creative animated film Ratatouille (a definite must-see) which reminded me of the importance of being true to one’s self.

It’s the story of how a rat finally succeeds in doing what he loved best against all odds – cook. It’s about the realization of dreams (sounds familiar?), friendships that transcend boundaries, acceptance of things and situations one would normally reject, and of course, there is romance, intrigue and many funny moments.

My take away this vacation before I head back to reality is this: things are never quite what I perceive for all things are possible with God - I must just continue to be open to His gentle promptings. (Taking Jesus on vacation is a sure-fire way to be wowed and blown away. Highly recommended.)

... and to live the dream.

Hawaii dreamin'

The vanilla flower from a Hawaiian Vanilla Company poster

Honolulu, August 13th -- It has been a real food fest. (check out some of the places we ate at below) this last week we spent mainly on the Big Island of Hawaii. C., M. and myself are all such foodies it’s not funny. Even the absence of P. (another foodie) didn’t stop us from pigging out.

Apart from eating, we had a great time sightseeing, visiting (coffee, vanilla bean and mac. nut) farms, breweries and the Parker Ranch historic homes. And we stayed in the lovely Jacaranda Inn nestled in the coolness of the Kamuela hills. We had an absolutely gorgeous time.

What this reunion (we all went to the same college and try our best to meet up every three years or so) renewed was our dream to buy a place together in Hawaii.

This time though, inspired by our Big Island jaunt, we want to buy a plot of land to cultivate coffee, vanilla, cacao or some other crop no one else has thought of that will grow well in the lushness of Hilo or the cools slopes of Kona and retire as farmers (and master brewers).

Amid the laughter, fun and massive eating, we exercised the very human need to dream. While they may be castles in the air at this point, we are united in our love for Hawaii. So that farm could become reality – who knows?

C.’s favourite island is the Big I. for the mana (spirit) of the land is special. “Hilo people are the friendliest in the world.” People were indeed super-friendly and everywhere we went, we would talk story with the locals.

I was inspired by the family-operated farms we visited, for each began with a dream. Within each story of realized dreams were the passion, love and commitment of the owners and their families. Despite the sweat and tears, it’s obvious that each had found their bliss.

This set me thinking about my life and I found that, similarly, I am in the process of realizing my dreams. More importantly, the dreams He has placed inside of me.

I am where I should be right now: teaching Pilates and writing, with the occasional footsie thrown in. I find meaning and great satisfaction in what I do and it allows me to express myself fully.

There have been times I’ve wanted to give up, when the going gets incredibly tough, but I persevered for nothing worth having in life comes easy.

The pollinated vanilla flower takes nine months to mature into a harvest-ready bean pod. Coffee trees take four years before they start flowering and bearing fruit while macadamia nut trees take seven years.

All things have a natural rhythm, a season, a time and place for being.

As I continue to dream the dreams of our reunion, I do not overlook the baby dreams still brewing within me and I continue to live out my current dreams day by day.

Ono Grinds (delicious eats)
* In Hilo we had incredibly cheap and delicious loco moco at Café 100 (great chili too), yummy shortbread cookies from Big Island Candies and this amazingly soft mochi and azuki bean-wrapped fresh strawberries from Two Ladies’ Kitchen.
* Rootbeer floats with creamy, yummy vanilla ice-cream at Hawaiian Vanilla Company in Hamakua.
* In Kona, the beers at Kona Brewing Co. went down really well, especially the Lilikoi Wheat Ale (aka Waialua Wheat Ale) as did the Kona coffee from Mountain Thunder and Kona Joe.
* Kona’s Island Grill’s beef teriyaki was seriously good.
* Daniel Thiebaut’s in Kamuela served flavour-rich and cooked-to-perfection fish.
* Back in Honolulu, munchies included crispy, chewy Champion malasadas on Beretania and McCully. And shaved ice from Island Snow in Lanikai.
* Nothing beats Ono’s Hawaiian food – the lau lau, kalua pig and lomi lomi salmon are da best!
* For plate lunch, it has to be Rainbow’s on Kapahulu, and of course, there is Zippy’s for its fried chicken (Zip Pac) and chili.
* It’s Hawaii Kai for good dim sum, delectable Italian at Assaggio’s and super-rich ice-cream at Bubbie’s.