Laho is not a good word.
My youngest daughter dabbled with the Hawaiian language while we were away, with the words used most being ‘greetings’ and ‘thank you’, respectively, ‘aloha’ and ‘mahalo’. In her bid to display this newly acquired knowledge, she would often say ‘ma laho’. The word ‘laho’ in Niuean means ‘penis’.
Communicating effectively involves dialogue that is understood as intended by the parties involved. I came to the realisation during our holidays and for the greater part of this time that we communicated very well with people outside the sphere of our immediate family.
Technology has made this so easy and convenient that it’s actually quite intrusive.
One night while I was enjoying this succulent lobster that had survived the dangers in the sea only to land on my plate coated with the most beautiful garnish and juices, I noticed my other half texting, and my older children either playing games or updating their Facebook posts. My youngest daughter and I were actually the only one’s savoring the moment. She of course by this stage had gotten past the male anatomy and was greeting people correctly.
I’m not sure if I would have survived the impending kick in the ass, slap across the face or other physical or verbal abuse I would have struck if I did the same thing 30 or 40 years ago at the dinner table. Back then you simply came to the table, ate your meal and your attention was only with those around you. You interjected politely with conversation or spoke only when spoken to. It was a brief moment in the day to edify your family bond.
I miss those days.
Oh enough rambling, good morning sweet iPad, let me wrap you back up snugly while I catch up on some lost sleep.
Technology has made this so easy and convenient that it’s actually quite intrusive.
One night while I was enjoying this succulent lobster that had survived the dangers in the sea only to land on my plate coated with the most beautiful garnish and juices, I noticed my other half texting, and my older children either playing games or updating their Facebook posts. My youngest daughter and I were actually the only one’s savoring the moment. She of course by this stage had gotten past the male anatomy and was greeting people correctly.
I’m not sure if I would have survived the impending kick in the ass, slap across the face or other physical or verbal abuse I would have struck if I did the same thing 30 or 40 years ago at the dinner table. Back then you simply came to the table, ate your meal and your attention was only with those around you. You interjected politely with conversation or spoke only when spoken to. It was a brief moment in the day to edify your family bond.
I miss those days.
Oh enough rambling, good morning sweet iPad, let me wrap you back up snugly while I catch up on some lost sleep.Swam with a turtle
When I was small my mother and closest aunties called me ‘fonu’ right up until they passed away, which in the Niuean language means turtle. The name fonu became so commonplace, that I just don’t think they knew my real name.
My mother spoke the tiniest bit of English and being the eldest, I was her translator for a great deal of the time. She spoke to me in broken English, and I replied back in broken Niuean.
The reason for being called fonu was never explained to me, so I’m wondering whether it was the way I moved when I was a hatchling. Or, perhaps there was no adequate translation for the name ‘David’ and they thought, ‘what the heck, lets call him turtle’.
I would like to think, that it’s symbolic for being ahead or beating something even when it looks like the odds are up against you.
Today, I snorkeled at Black Rock, Maui and came very close to a Green sea turtle. It must have been close to 5′ in length and glided past me en-route to the ocean. I could not even attempt to describe this experience.
This will forever be one of the highlights on this trip.Sat, 7th April – Hawaiian Blessing
This island is inhabited with spiritual people. One lady reminded me that whatever you take from the land should be returned to the ocean. Her name was Aunty Netty, and despite her title she was not my aunty.
It was clearly a wonderful term of endearment to a lovely lady whose lineage granted her a connection to certain rights on the land and to spiritual matters.
She offered a prayer to the gods, next to a sacred pool that was frequented by turtles, and generally prohibited to the public.
Her standing on the island required no official license nor paper to register what she was allowed to do. She is known as a Kahu.
Aunty Netty used words in Hawaiian and later in English to permeate the sea water she had earlier collected. This sea water was now filled with all this positive and natural energy. She whispered some phrases to me, while our foreheads lightly connected in preparation for the blessing. As she gave me the blessing, she dipped a couple of plant leaves into the bowl and used this to transfer the goodness onto my arms, legs, heart, body and soul.
This was a very special day.
I’m staying here forever and work can go get stuffed! A real shame that I’m the boss. Crap!Tues, 4th April – Flying to Hawaii
Things sometimes fall into place in hindsight, and this was quite evident as I sat on a flight from Sydney to Honolulu. Grabbing a paper tissue and a childs texta, I applied some simple calculus and some quantum physics (according to the Gospel of Google), and I discovered that I had experienced time travel. I left Sydney on Tuesday 9:30pm and arrived in Hawaii on the same Tuesday but at 11am. Whoohoo, I get to enjoy Tuesday again.
If only I could go back a couple of decades so I could re-adjust my lifestyle and avoid or prepare for this journey which I’m undertaking.
But what would I change? No one seems to know how Prostate Cancer is acquired. Did someone sneeze on me while travelling on a train late one night from Central? In which case, I would avoid trains … and wear long neck skivvies for the rest of my days. I would probably still be single today because I would have chosen an orange one.
If you get a chance, please watch ‘A Little Bit of Heaven’, with Kate Hudson (new release).
