Page 2 - MidWeek Kauai - Nov 9, 2022

2 KAUA‘I MIDWEEK NOVEMBER 9, 2022
Has Broom, Will Travel
“Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles Ythe soul.” — Samuel Ullman
ou could call our office most pandemic days, family member who joining online sessions, often turned 80 on Hal- in time zones from Europe to
TAs Years Go By
his article marks the beginning of my fourth year
narian,” though you’ d have to move quickly to give her birthday wishes. Maybe you could text her on her way to work or reach her in an airport lounge boarding a flight to a distant land.
travel restrictions, she’s back in the air — for East Coast meetings, a stop in the South- west to help a family mem- ber, cell phoning West Coast grandkids, linking with fam- ily and friends on O‘ahu and Maui, racing home to pack for a meeting in Asia.
smile. Her greeting speaks vol- umes, as in “Happy to see you again, still out on the road.” Few of us can keep pace un- less, perhaps, we let ourselves be brushed by her enthusiasm as she sweeps by — just like that tree in her yard. It’s 25 feet high now and sprouting coco- nuts by the day, with no signs of quitting anytime soon.
John Simonds, a retired former daily newspaper edi- tor, has lived with his family in ‘Āina Haina for 46 years.
Chasing The Light is pro- duced by Robin Stephens Rohr and Lynne Johnson.
writing for MidWeek. Adding 19-plus years of writ-
ing/airing twice-weekly “Think About It” editorial pieces on KHNL and KFVE, I figure I’ve now offered up about 2,136 presentations to get you to, well, at least think about it. Some might suggest that it figures that my first article in MidWeek coincided with Halloween — what a horror. Of course, they’re probably not reading these bits any more, are they?
I keep channeling her whacking her backyard O‘ahu coconut tree with a broom. Lore from native roots has taught her this makes palms more productive. “Regenera- tion” we might call it, but for her it’s a way to spur nature.
She projects at work, pep talks her family into getting stuff done, guides reunions and holiday parties, always eager to use a busy broom on her home.
The author’s relative whacks her backyard O‘ahu coconut tree with a broom to make it more productive. PHOTO COURTESY JOHN SIMONDS
There are weeks when I’ve thought, “Now what?” Writ- ing editorials is a joy, except when it’s not. For better, for worse, in sickness and in health, oh wait, those are wedding vows. Concocting weekly stories to entertain, educate, en- thrall or infuriate people requires work, but like marriage (or at least a good one) it’s hopefully worth it in the end.
The broom aptly symboliz- es this woman of Halloween birth, but the witches and black cats her office colleagues may put on her cake are no match for their high-flying boss on the move. She worked in her
“When I retire, I’m going to fix this place,” she prom- ises, but the due date on that keeps shifting. Two of her mottos clash like sparks in a Halloween night: “We could all be gone tomorrow” and
“I’ m planning to live forev- er.” Like opposing battery posts, they seem to power her roving scope on life’s big and little matters.
Trying to write something weekly that is possibly unique, interesting, funny, touching, enlightening or intelligent during the lengthy COVID quarantine was a challenge, to say the least. I purposely avoided writing yet one more insipid COVID commentary for many months — to spare both you and me.
Some days as I walk my workout route, she drives by on the way to an errand, honk- ing her horn with a wave and a
loween Eve an “Octoberge- the Pacific Islands. With eased
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Writing (or broadcasting) editorials has allowed me to more clearly focus on what’s around us in a broad sense, perhaps trying to cast a larger philosophical net over local realities and quirks, suggesting things that might encourage you to reflect, laugh or even take positive action.
I found a new fruit — chico (sapodilla) — which I happi- ly savor when it’s in season. I’ve learned to truly celebrate basic things we take for granted, like one’s health or purpose in the universe, or even having a place to go to and from (home and work) every day and night. I’ve come to appre- ciate more deeply my incredible wife and the awesome healing power of music, as well as the value of communities coming together during crises, which I witness firsthand daily through my co-workers at Aloha United Way and other amazing community-based partner agencies.
I’ve been commenting now (officially) for 22 years, articulating or bloviating (your call) on local issues that too often get kicked down the road without resolution: the deteriorating Natatorium and Ko‘olau Stairway to Heaven, reasonably priced housing, vibrant economic options be- yond tourism, the homeless conundrum, rapid transit, TMT, sovereignty, North Shore parking and erosion, a secondary leeward highway conduit, the list goes on, and so will these weekly pieces. Thanks for reading.
Think about it.
with John Simonds
john@thinkaboutithawaii.com