First Unofficial Joint Meeting of the North Dakota and Iowa Chapters of the Alumni of Hawaiian Mission Academy

The First Unofficial Joint Meeting of the North Dakota and Iowa Chapters of the Alumni of Hawaiian Mission Academy took place last evening, March 28, 2014, in a booth at Perkins of Bismark, North Dakota.  In attendance were representatives of the Classes of 1971 (Larry Pascual) and 1970 (Don Brown.)  Greek salad, tomato soup, and grilled cheese sandwich was provided, as desired.

Discussed were:

1. World Affairs
2. The effects of the economy
3. How much older the other one looked than we remembered
4. Who has what kids and where they are and what they are doing
5. Where the members present have been, what they have done, and what they are doing
6. Memories (probably fairly accurate) of going with the dorm to Scotty's, the Scuba Belle, teachers, who we have some contact with, etc.
7. A challenge to a Class basketball game was made then withdrawn because we were tired and were afraid of getting hurt.  Discussed where we were already hurting.
8. Why we can't move back to Hawaii (not so much the restraining orders, more $$ related.) 
9. Next meeting:  Hope we don't wait another 43 years to have one.

  The meeting was adjourned in the parking lot.

Meeting Facilitator:  Larry Pascual (it was his State and he knew the good restaurants.)
Recording Secretary:  Don Brown (we had to give him something to do.)

The Lesson of the Cemetery

Several things nurture my spiritual life in my search to understand my place in the universe.

* Reading through the Gospels and focusing on the life of Jesus, His sayings, His reactions to situations around Him. How should I be different because of that?

* Looking at Nature. The complexity and interaction of everything is overwhelming. Keep thinking or give up thinking?

* Walking through the cemetery. OK, that takes a little explaining.

When I do my walking I usually end up the final approach coming back through the local cemetery. It has been here probably since the founding of the town in the 1850's. This is young when you consider the length of recorded history and how many others there are around the city, state, country, and world. Or the number of those not buried in the land of the final condo's.

On my way back I walk down the middle from the more recent section to the older section. People buried last week to people who died in 1864. There are husbands and wives buried together and sometimes with children. People with the same name scattered all over. On the headstones are long stories and on some just a name. Real flowers, no flowers, and artificial flowers. Husband died in 1956 and wife who died in 1988 next to him. A lady born about the same time as me who died in 1968 on the same headstone as father (died 1992) and mother (1930- .) Veterans of WWI, WWII, and perhaps other wars.

The cemetery is in a peaceful setting. It is well kept. And it still growing. That last part is what always gets my attention. It brings up questions.

Owen Family Reunions

Summer's almost gone.  Another year past with no Owen Family Reunion like I remember.

Reunions were great memories with cousins - kick the can, hide and seek, freeze tag, badminton, some kind of baseball, wondering through the garden and picking berries, or "I'm bored, there's nothing to do."  Aunt Violet and crew would always have great meals with fresh milk and cream from somewhere, fresh garden potatoes or tomatoes or green beans or . . . .

Someone would start with the firecrackers.  Usually Uncle Ed but it might be Uncle Bill Ritchey to get ahead of Uncle Bill.  Uncle Bernie would pick it up to get back at Uncle Ed.

Uncle Ed/Uncle Bill/Uncle Bill/Uncle Bernie used to go off to Loveland for one of two things - 2 gallons (glass) of A&W or watermelon.  A&W speaks for itself.

But the watermelon!  Oh, the watermelon!  It always seemed to be a good.  I think it was most often a Black Diamond, the dark green kind you don't see much anymore.   And of course there were seeds.  God had not invented seedless yet.  But I don't think the Uncles would have gotten them  anyway - not real.  Now when I bring home less than a great taste, I sometimes doubt my heritage. 

The lonesome train straining to make it's way up the grade from Loveland leaving one to wonder if it was going to make it this time. Trips out to Lone Tree Lake and half-heartedly listening to Dad tell of his adventures swimming or ice skating on the lake.  (How I wish he was here now to tell me those stories - really, Dad, I'd listen.)  Thunderstorms coming over Longs Peak.  Going down into the Aunt Violet's musty basement (the old place) and seeing all the jars of fruit.  Garages divided with sheets so several families could stay there.

Then there was the Sabbath meal and it was the big deal.  While there was some coming and going, at this meal everyone who was going to be there was there.  It might be at the Loveland Veterans Park or at the Powerhouse park up along the Big Thompson.  You know, the one that washed away in a flash flood 35 years ago. 

But mostly what I miss is the people.  Uncles and aunts, cousins, of course my own family, and then extended family or family friends that would show up (remember the Snyders.) Knowing they were part of my family, my flesh and blood.  Listening to the old people (anyone over 30) tell stories of when they went to Campion or Platte Valley Academy, or to Lexington or Kearney or Oconto or Lincoln.  Seeing new additions - younger cousins who joined.  Every one of them hold a special place in my heart that does not go away.  Even though I haven't seen them for many years. 

You can't go back.  Past is past. It will never be the same.  But I won't forget the Reunions.  They are the rock that I was built on.  They are a key to my understanding who I am and why I do things the way I do.  And I am proud of it all.  No one can have my memories.

Is it Still Christmas

As a kid growing up in Hawaii Christmas seem to last for several months. Gifts came by way of a 5 day ship trip. But depending on postage rate you chose it could take 14 to 60 days. And relatives would send things three months early to 5 days before Christmas so it went on for quite a while. It is now 4 days after December 25. Is it still Christmas? If you celebrate this day as Jesus' birthday you are probably aware it wasn't likely the 25 of December and therefore, to avoid missing it we should probably celebrate every day. If you celebrate the day as a day to "give" we should probably have an attitude of "giving" every day. I regularly hear we should remember every day that Christ will come to our hearts and reside. I know. My first reaction was "Yes, of COURSE!" My second reaction was "I wonder if we have any Little Debbies left." My third reaction was "Wait a minute, what did the question mean and what did I mean?" (You might guess I strongly desire clarity.) Jesus. In me. Every day. No, an xray of me won't show an image of Him. But what others see me DO could show Him. As a manager, it happens: - when I talk to a staff member about a behavioral problem- - when I talk to a difficult patient - when I make a policy decision - when I make a charging, pricing, coding, or compliance decision - when I have to deal with a difficult peer on an issue that may not have a win-win solution. Was someone able to quietly say "oh, that is what Jesus is like?" Of course if to you Christmas revolves around the new leather jacket you wanted and did or didn't get, I guess Christmas is over until next year this time.

Uncle Bill Richey

As I spend the day painting our house inside I can't help but think of my Uncle Bill Richey whose house we would visit each summer for family reunions. He was a house painter. I don't think I ever saw him painting but I remember the brushes, paint cans, ladders, canvasses, the smell of paint and thinner around the garage. I remember how old he looked with knarelled hands from years of painting. Today I'm priming the upstairs hall and stairway. As I'm painting the smells and tools bring back the memories of opening that garage door, picking up some of his tools and holding them, and dreaming of someday being a heroic housepainter like him. Imagine being able to transform an old looking room into something new. Then later I had a career painting. Well, it was a couple of weeks painting Mrs. Yamashiro's Beritania Street apartments. "Heroic" sort of escaped me. But transformation was still a marvelous thing to behold. Now I wonder what Uncle Bill would think of us sissies who need easy clean up latex, Home Depot "experts", "I think I cut myself. No, not there, here. See, I think that is blood," airless sprayers, "ow my neck hurts from looking up," "where's my ice tea," "ow, I got something in my eye," "I think I'm almost done?" I become determined to do better. Maybe I'll start a second career . . . .

Teach Your Children Well

I thought I had done such a good job. "Children, you want to grab every opportunity that comes your way. Expand your horizons. Learn new things. Eat a balanced diet."

Children got older. They went to school and learned. Finally they walked away with degrees and degrees. And it all started going south. Literally.

Number One son took his computer programing and software design seriously and after a few years in Hawaii and California, took his family and was recruited to Australia. Number one daughter ran off with husband to California and now has her family and a hectic life in San Antonio. Ummm, maybe I didn't mean expand horizons quite that far away.

Now, tonight, we will watch our other Number One daughter get on a plane and be off to Peru to seek her dream. She has her first job out of college (other than the year of volunteer work in Brazil) many miles away. At a university in Lima.

A sad father reflects: why did they have to take me so seriously? why did they pick up on THIS so well? But what would I say if I could start over?

Persistence - A Dog's Tail

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'press on' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race” --Calvin Coolidge


Our shelty of 8 years died. We were dogless. Lois started not liking being dogless. Enter Craigslist.

We drove home Sunday with the friendliest, lovingest dog. An English Springer Spaniel - a champion purebreed. (But we will be raising her as a commoner - no papers.) We were told she likes to fetch a ball.

So for 2 hours we threw a ball and she fetched. When we came in the house she followed us around with the ball in her mouth. For several hours. She kept dropping it at our feet. When we didn't catch on, she picked it up and dropped it again. And again. You get the idea.

She slept on our bed the first night. By the second night we had a bed for her over in the corner. We had settled down "for a long summer's nap" when I felt something poking me in the back. I reached under me and pulled out -- a ball. I looked to the side and over the edge of the bed were two pleading eyes looking at me. At 11 o'clock at night. Lois was washing dishes and Darcy got up on her hind legs and gently balance the ball on the lip of the sink. I'm picking beans in the garden and suddenly see a green tennis ball rolling under the leaves toward me. Cut to the brown eyes at the end of the row.
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It gets better. This morning as Lois finished her shower she noticed Darcy right outside the door. As soon as she slid it open Darcy placed the ball on the sliding door track and looked up :) Later as Lois was unloading the dishwasher she turned back from putting some glasses away and there was a ball resting innocently on the open dishwasher door.

I have a feeling I could bore for a few years to come. But the persistence of this canine sort of reminded of the parable of the pleading woman and the unrighteous judge. The value of persistence. Nothing worthwhile has ever accomplished by "almost" sticking with it long enough. Maybe the best example is the gambler who sticks with the game until his luck changes. OK, maybe not something to emulate, but hopefully you see what I think I mean.

God grant me the patience/persistence/perseverance/focus/single-mindedness to stick with/learn/do/stop doing, whatever it is that needs doing/holds me back/tears me or someone else down/builds up/prevents good.