My father never knew his relatives on his dad’s side of the family because my grandfather for some unknown reason would never say who his parents were.  Several times my dad met someone with the same last name and he would ask trying to find that missing connection to his family history.   My dad died never knowing the history behind his name. 

Before covid my husband Larry Marrs bought me an Ancestry DNA kit to see if I could find answers.  It was slow trying to figure out all those hints on Ancestry.  During covid I spent hours researching, asking questions of strangers with my maiden name, trying to figure out our family tree. 

A wonderful group on FB answered one of my questions and that led me down another path.  I thought I had found my great-grandfather when a newfound cousin told me that was a great uncle and gave me the name of my great-grandfather that I had been looking for. 

Then the search began for my great-grandmother, which was much harder, but all those days sheltered at home that became my goal.  Yes, I found her, and it made me cry.  All I really wanted to do was tell my dad who they were, and I wanted to scream at my grandfather, who kept secrets. 

I found a cousin along the way who shared so much family history, other cousins popped up in a private group and it was fun to see how we were related.  One cousin shared a photo of my great grandmother and again I cried.  My father grew up surrounded by cousins that he never knew.  My circle of family has grown with new cousins that I am thankful for.

 When my mother was born women were not allowed to vote.  My parents were adamant that I register to vote when I turned 18.  They didn’t tell me what party to register with and they didn’t tell me who they were registered as.  I registered as a Democrat and found out they were registered Republicans.    When they first moved to California, like me they had no idea so they registered as Republicans, but they always voted for who they thought was the best candidate for each office, not a blanket party ticket.  Before the 2016 election, my mom and I talked about Hillary Clinton and the one who shall not be named.  My mother was not a fan of either candidate, but she said she would vote for the best candidate, and that was Hillary Clinton because she was a woman and was better than the other candidate who she could not stand.  I voted for Kamala Harris because the man running has little regard for women’s rights, human rights, or religious rights.

 I have a lot to be thankful for this year:  Lunch with the ladies is always fun.  50 degrees on a beach in Carmel Ca is warmer than 50 degrees in WA.  Playing in the sand with the grandkids is priceless.  Spending an evening celebrating my younger son Michael's birthday with family and his friends is always a treasure.  Having a husband who sends anniversary flowers across the country when you can’t celebrate together.  When lightning hit my daughter Kelly’s house and two gas lines in the house are punctured but doesn’t blow up you know God has a plan for your grandsons and yourself.  Camping out in an upscale hotel for two weeks, yes I got the grandkids and the parents got a break.  That my daughter Kelly could sleep in a hard plastic chair for hours and make me laugh while enduring cold feet.  Thankful to be in the right place at the right time.  When my son Michael rescues me from the airport and drives me two hours home the next day.  Thankfully we have great health insurance, Kaiser hotline, and two new doctors.  Blessed to have a new puppy Beau in the house who is relaxed, calm, and just wants to cuddle but growing fast.  Glad that Larry’s son Mike could deliver Beau to us from Montana.   Grateful to have Larry’s daughter Kim spend a few days.  Round two of grandma time with carpool, puppies, school fieldtrips, and Chapel in CA., then carpool, football, and jitsu classes, in AL. Racking up the air miles on Alaska, Delta, and American.  Thank you to  James and Nicole who made multiple trips to the airport on my crazy flying schedule.  Thankful for all the healthcare workers who have touched the lives of my family.  Thankful for good friends, church, and Refuge Service. Blessed to have a loving husband Larry, six wonderful kids: James, Nicole, Michael, Kevin, Kelly, Kyle, and four amazing grandkids.

Thank you God.

 I was sitting in the Seattle airport Monday night when a woman walked through and asked that everyone stand and clap for a group of Honor Flight Veterans who were on their way to Washington DC.  Everyone immediately rose and when the first veteran appeared everyone began smiling, clapping, and saluting.  Every veteran was escorted by a service member, some walked slowly, some were in wheelchairs, some seemed a bit dazed to be celebrated, and some saluted back.  No one moved in the terminal until the procession passed.  That six-hour layover before the last leg of my flight home was worth it to experience a chance to honor these veterans.

 Our LG refrigerator quit working after 10 years.   We bought a Whirlpool side by side and only had to wait 5 days to have it delivered.  Now the nightmare begins.  It quit after a week…well sometimes the freezer works and the frig maintains a 68-degree temp occasionally dropping lower but not for long.  Home Depot says you only have 48 hours to figure out something doesn’t work for them to replace or refund so go talk to Whirlpool.  Whirlpool after 1 ½ on the phone says we will call you in 48 hours.  72 hours later I get an automated response saying they have no tech available to look at the frig and I can find my own repair person and pay out of pocket, and they will reimburse $100 for repair call and pay for the parts.  Whirlpool warranty says they will fix or replace…ha ha…don’t believe their written word. We have now filed a complaint with the state consumer protection agency. 

Christmas Caroling Memories

Singing Christmas carols in church last night brought back wonderful memories. When I was in elementary school my dad and several other parents took a group of kids from the church Christmas caroling. We would drive to someone’s home and sing two or three songs and then drive to the next house. My dad had one of those deep voices and sometimes sang in the choir. Sadly, I did not inherit any musical talents but at the time I did not know that the only thing that mattered was being with my dad and forever I will hold that memory in my heart.

Cherished, Broken, Glued, Found, Restored, Cherished

 A number of years ago I was at an estate sale at the end of the day.  I saw two blue and white dog figurines on the mantel.  When I picked them up I saw they had been broken and glued back together.  They spoke to me and were only a dollar for the pair.

One of the owners approached me and told me the story of these little dogs.  She said her parents were from Germany and they were some of the few things hey had brought with them when moving to America. 

When World War II broke out they were afraid that if their friends knew the figurines were from Germany they would think they were German sympathizers.  They were afraid just hiding them away would not be enough so they broke them, but then could not bear to dump the broken pieces, so they put them in a drawer hidden away.

Years after the war, they glued the little dogs back together and put them back on the mantel.  So sad that no one in the family knowing the history of these precious little dogs did not want to keep them, so I bought them.

My husband wrote the whole story up and we listed them on eBay with photos of the markings on the bottom and a clear understanding that they were broken and glued.  A dealer out of Los Angeles bought them for twenty dollars.  I was happy to sell them; he had the story of their history to pass on and I am sure he would restore them properly and they would be worth much more than he paid for them.

Even the broken can be mended, the history lives on, someone else will enjoy their beauty and love them as the original owners did.

Jesus loves the little children

Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red, brown, yellow
Black and white
They are precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children
Of the world

Jesus died for all the children
All the children of the world
Red, brown, yellow
Black and white
They are precious in His sight
Jesus died for all the children
Of the world.

Jesus rose for all the children
All the children of the world
Red, brown, yellow
Black and white
They are precious in His sight
Jesus rose for all the children
Of the world

Words by C. Herbert Woolston, music by George F. Root

A New Awareness

A lovely day at the movie theater with our two grandchildren.  The littlest found it hard to sit still so I took him for a walk in the mall to burn off a little energy.  About halfway down the mall I suddenly began looking to see where an exit door was or a service entrance.  I looked at people with backpacks as I held the little one's hand and wondered how I would keep him safe if a person began shooting in the mall. 

I raised three children, sometimes it seemed like dragging them, when it was really me nagging, cajoling, bribing them to get errands done.  In and out of malls, Target, grocery stores, discount centers and never did I worry about a shooter.  I worried if I was going to pull my hair out or who might be in time out when we got home if they didn’t stop terrorizing each other.

With my oldest grandson, we have been in many of those same places I took my kids to and never worried about a shooter.  After three mass shootings in a week, I was looking around that mall differently than I would have a week prior.

I don’t want to worry about every angry person who walks by me.  I don’t want to wonder what is in that heavy backpack.  I don’t want to live like this, but this is a new reality.  I am not going to stay home and be a hermit, but I am going to be more aware of where I am and what my options are. 

I pray that those who are in power and can make changes will look at the families and friends of those who have lost a loved one and grieve with them, have sympathy for their pain, and if they have ever lost a loved one for any reason then to feel empathy, and try to prevent another family from the unthinkable.

Ponca City Oklahoma Dust Storm

We lived in Ponca City Oklahoma for four years when I was very young.  My mom said that when I was about five years old, my dad who was a training union teacher at First Baptist Church along with my mother and several other Sunday school teachers took a group of eleven to twelve year old’s to a farm outside of town for a picnic.

Near the end of the day, after everyone had eaten hotdogs and cleaned up, the wind began to pick up.  The teachers loaded everyone into the trucks and quickly drove to the farmer’s barn to take cover.  My mom said the dust storm was terrible and lasted for a very long time.  They had no way of telling the parents waiting at the church to pick up their children that they had taken cover from the dust storm and could not see to drive.

When the weather cleared they finally were able to drive back into town and they delivered the children to their parents and then we drove home to discover that the windows had all been left open to help cool the house down.  Mom said our home was covered in dust and dirt.  It was late and my father had to work the next day but all the beds had to be stripped, remade, and the floors swept. 

One closet in the house faced east and the dust and dirt had not penetrated the closed door.   What a blessing for clean bed linens.  Mom said it took days to clean all the nooks and crannies to make our home livable again. 

I have no memory of this happening but always enjoyed hearing stories and events my mother shared with us. 

Clella Jewel Melton Breshears of Concord CA, age 100, passed away peacefully following a short illness on June 30, 2017.  She was born in Ozark Missouri on June 10th, 1917, to Isham Melton and Maggie Miama Dye Melton.  She married Harry O’Neal Breshears on December 24th, 1938. 

Clella was first and foremost a loving wife and mother.  She was an avid gardener and enjoyed warm days spent in the garden.  Her family will always treasure memories of family dinners, special desserts, and time spent together.  Her quilts, potholders, tea towel dresses, and various other items she made for family will be remembered as lovingly crafted with her hands.

Clella was always active in the churches they attended, serving in the children’s nursery, and helping with and organizing the kitchen fellowship committees, most recently at Bethel Baptist Church in Concord, CA.  She attended Sunday School classes and Sunday services when she was able.

Clella was preceded in death by her husband Harry O’Neal Breshears, daughters Margaret Jean Breshears, and Sharron Sue Breshears Hill.  She is survived by her son, Jerry Breshears (wife Laura) of Rogers, AR, daughter, Mary Chole Breshears Perez of Martinez, CA, daughter, Billie Jo Breshears Marrs (husband Larry) of Ferndale, WA, son-in-law Jerry Hill of Cabot, AR and grandchildren Bryon, Charles, David, Jaimie, Michael, Kimberli, James, Michael, and Kelly; several great-grandchildren and many loving nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in the name of Clella Breshears to Bethel Baptist Church, 3578 Clayton Rd, Concord, CA 94519 or to Hospice EastBay, 3470 Buskirk Avenue Pleasant Hill 94523.

Viewing will be at Oakmont Memorial Park in Lafayette, CA between 4PM and 7PM on Friday July 7th.  Services will be Saturday, July 8th at 10AM, Bethel Baptist Church and immediately following the service there will a fellowship lunch at the church.  Interment will be at Oakmont after the service for family and any friends who wish to attend.

Today my sweet husband Larry will hold his mother's funeral service and have her ashes interred next to his father.  He was a constant source of comfort for her as she struggled with Alzheimer's.
Obituary for Norma C. Marrs

Norma Marrs, age 98, passed away peacefully, following a stroke and surrounded by family, at Hospice House in Bellingham on Thursday, January 12, 2017. She was born February 22, 1918 in Aberdeen, WA to Harper and Anna Coons.

She married H. Wayne Marrs on December 18, 1938. Norma attended Grays Harbor College and later in life attended Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, TX. Norma was involved in Christian education with several Episcopal Parishes in Utah, Louisiana, Texas, and Washington and with the National Episcopal Church where she provided leadership for church school curricula development. She was actively involved for many years as a staff member or volunteer with Christian Education and several guilds at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Bellingham. She also served with St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Aberdeen, WA. Norma was passionate about serving others any way she could; she was a long-time member of P.E.O.; was an accomplished water color artist, and a gourmet cook.

She was preceded in death by her husband the Rev. H. Wayne Marrs and grandson Jon Marrs. She is survived by her sons Larry (wife Billie) Marrs of Bellingham and Jim (wife Jeanne) Marrs of Price, Utah; grandchildren Mike, Kim, Kelly, Jerry and Jeff, and step-grandchildren James, Kelly and Michael; sister Betty and niece Vicki; and many other loving relatives and friends.

A Burial Eucharist will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Thursday, January 26th at 10 AM. Reception following. Memorial donations may be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Alms Ministry at 2117 Walnut St, Bellingham, WA, 98225 or to Whatcom Hospice at 2806 Douglas Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225. 

I am a Child of God

Who are you to judge me

Tell me I’m not good enough

You think you know me

Think again

You only know what I allow you to see

She’s fifteen and pregnant

She was looking for love

But he’s long gone

Given an ultimatum

Her parents kick her out

She moves from couch to couch

The backseat of a friend’s car

She struggles to find enough to eat

She’s eating for two

And now she is living in a homeless camp

Scared and alone

But the church doors are closed

No room for her kind

He’s fourteen and scared

He’s been dumped on the street

Not by a stranger but the man he called father

His only crime is that he is male

In a small closed society, he is seen as a threat

That a young teenage girl might look at him twice

She’s destined to marry a much older man

A man with five other wives

So his father was told get rid of him now

If you don’t you won’t be allowed to marry again

His mother pleads, she has seen this happen before

His father just packs his son’s bag and they drive away

No money, no friends, at the mercy of strangers

The street, the alleys, the cheap motels

But the church doors are closed

How could you do this

She’s seventeen and looking for a way out

Will she finish school, go on to college?

Her boyfriend walked away when he found out

A young couple will raise her baby

Explain how much she loved her baby

Enough to let them raise her child

But the church doors are closed

How could she give her baby away?

At seventeen he is now a she

She’s known since she was three

She learned to hide it well

Pretend that all was well

Football, basketball, all American boy

He had the looks, the brains,

The girls all fawned over him

He played the part well

Until he quit acting

Now the church doors are closed

He is no longer welcome

She’s twenty-one in a town far from home

Going to college and working for minimum wage

married to a man who takes his frustration out on her

The news that she’s pregnant means nothing to him

One two, she’s down for the count

Her parents won’t let her come home

They would be too disgraced for their friends to find out

Take care of it they said or don’t come home, ever again

It wasn’t her first choice but she has to get out

She’s not sure she can save herself much less someone else

She makes a hard choice

Hours later she is on a bus home

But the church doors are closed

How could you do such a thing

She’s twenty-eight and has it all

A perfect job that pays big bucks

A fancy house and shiny car

a maid to clean and cook her meals

She has a folder filled with x-rays

A drawer full of make-up good for cover-ups

A closet full of long sleeve clothes

She is adept at lying

Making herself out to be clumsy and accident prone

High school sweethearts

Well there is nothing sweet about this

Control of another by any means possible

She sits on the white rug next to the broken glass table

Her arm is twisted, her head is bleeding

She dials 911 before it is to late

But the church doors are closed

She must have done something wrong

Thirty-five, fifteen years of marriage, and three kids

He cheats, he lies, he drinks, he smokes, he gambles

She does the best she can

Shops the thrift stores and fixes budget dinners

She tucks the kids in and listens to their prayers

She apologizes to her kids to explain away his actions

She tries to fix her broken family

But the cracks just keep getting bigger

Everybody likes him, who would ever believe her

She takes a chance and makes a break

But now the church doors are closed

How could she do such a thing

He served his country well

He almost died several times

He can’t forget what he has seen or done

The nightmares live in the daytime

He can’t work, he barely functions

His family has left him

He doesn’t have a reason to live

He tries to forget with a bottle and pills

Living out on the street with handouts from strangers

To look at him now you never would guess

That he had a chest full of medals

But what good are they now

He’s down and he’s out

A broken-down soul

The church doors are closed

Because he’s dirty and smells of the street

She’s a wife and a mother

Not superwoman nor wonder woman

Just an ordinary loving woman

She volunteers in the PTA

Attends church, potlucks, socials, and tithes

Donates her used clothing, and gives to the food bank

Teaches her children to be kind to others

Reads Bible stories of God’s great love

If you call and say help, she’ll be right there

She’ll pray for you, support you, be your best cheerleader

But if you attack her family, watch out

Her daughter is gay and it makes no difference

Her daughter is her daughter, you can’t change that

And because she won’t deny her daughter

Or try to make her change, as if she could

Turn her out, shut her out, turn their backs

The church doors are closed

Because she won’t deny a mother’s love

Every time you shut the door

Another Christian turns away

You judge, you sneer, you bully

Your words hurt

You make people cry

Rejected by the church

Rejected by the parishioners

Rejected by their friends

Rejected by their family

Because if they don’t, they will be rejected

And those who are brokenhearted

They walk away from the church

They walk away from God

Every time you shut your heart

You disobey the 2^nd greatest commandment

I was chosen by God before I was born

Nothing you can do about that

Remember the children’s finger game

Here is the steeple

Here is the church

Open up the doors

But where are all the people?

They’re standing outside the door

With hands raised high

Singing I am a child of God

Jesus loves the little children

All the children of the world

Red and yellow, black and white

Straight and gay

The broken hearted

We are all children of God

Outside looking in

Mark 9:42 “But whoever causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me–it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.”

Matthew 22:  37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.

Part III: Christmas in Hawaii 2014 & 2015 New Year

Monday morning we called and rented a car.  A taxi picked us up on base and took us to the rental car agency and within minutes we had wheels and were on our way to explore Honolulu. 

We headed to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific also known as Punchbowl National Cemetery’s the Hawaiian name is “Puowaina,” meaning “Hill of Sacrifice.” This translation closely relates to the first known use of the area which was as an altar where Hawaiians offered human sacrifices to pagan gods.  During World War II, tunnels were dug in the rim of the crater for shore batteries to guard Honolulu Harbor. More than five million visitors come to the cemetery every year to pay their respect to the 28,778 missing whose names are carved in marble tablets and to enjoy the panoramic view from the Punchbowl. 

As we rounded the corner into the cemetery, it is almost enough to take your breath away.  A small island with the American flag at half-staff and two tree lined avenues leading up to the court of honor.  We stopped in the small visitor’s center to view artifacts that have been recovered from battlefields and wreckage.  We barely talk above a whisper.

The dedication stone at the base of staircase is engraved with the following words:

IN THESE GARDENS ARE RECORDED

THE NAMES OF AMERICANS

WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES

IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY

AND WHOSE EARTHLY RESTING PLACE

IS KNOWN ONLY TO GOD

At the top of the staircase in the Court of Honor is a statue of Lady Columbia, also known as Lady Liberty, or Justice. She is reported to represent all grieving mothers and stands on the bow of a ship holding a laurel branch. The inscription below the statue, was taken from Abraham Lincoln's letter to Mrs. Bixby, reads:

THE SOLEMN PRIDE

THAT MUST BE YOURS

TO HAVE LAID

SO COSTLY A SACRIFICE

UPON THE ALTAR

OF FREEDOM

A small chapel is hidden behind Lady Columbia with marble floors and cabochons are inlaid into the windows with the sun glistening through the colored gems.  On either side of the chapel are two map galleries which describe the major battles of the Pacific War. 

Next on our journey for the day was lunch at the Highway Inn in Honolulu and another Triple D recommended place to eat.  After ordering ice tea and carefully checking out the menu Larry and I both ordered the Kalua pig sliders.  Kalua is the traditional Hawaiian method to cook in an underground oven.  With all the construction it was a little hard to get to and parking is sparse but the food was great and we laughed when we realized we were just around the corner from Hank’s Haute Dog where we were at the other day.

I grabbed a Starbucks before we ventured into the Foster Botanical Gardens for a walking tour.  Queen Kalama originally owned the land before being sold to Mary Mikahala  Robinson Foster and her husband.  Mary Foster was the daughter of Kamakana a Maui chiefess and grew up in the royal Hawaiian social circle.  Not much is known about her life but she left a lasting tribute with the gardens.

There are many rare and old trees in the gardens and you can only stand under them in amazement when you look up into their canopies hundreds of feet above you or stand feet away from massive tree trunks.  When you enter the garden there is a sacred fig tree that was propagated from a Bodhi tree planted in Ceylon in 288 BC that Buddha sat under for inspiration and was gifted to Mary Foster in 1913.

In the upper terrace we found the Queensland Kauri, the Travelers tree, and Kapok tree standing tall and proud.  We rounded another corner farther down the path and I saw a Cannonball tree that looked just like it had cannonballs hanging all over it and beside it was a tree we had never heard of called a Sausage tree.  In the middle of the gardens is Quipo tree that just leaves you stunned by its circumference and height!   Have you ever chewed a chiclet?  We saw a Chicle tree and this is where modern chewing gum came from.  One of my favorite trees is the Baobab, just because of its size and beauty.

We finished the gardens by walking through the conservatory filled with orchids and tropical plants and an open air butterfly garden. 

Traffic was not too bad heading back to the base and Kelly arrived home with the little guy just after we did and fixed quiche for dinner.  Kyle was off to the gym before work tonight.

We headed west on H1 Tuesday morning to see the west side of the island.  We drove to Kapolei and then turned north through Maili and stopped in Lualualei to buy sandwiches and sit on the beach for a picnic.  The tide was coming in and it was pleasant to bask in the sunshine and the quiet, because today it’s a week day on the quieter side of the island there are not many tourist.  The scenery is definitely different on this side of the island, dry, almost high desert like, no lush green vegetation and it’s sparsely populated.  The beaches seem to never end.  You go around a bend in the road and it is more parks and more beaches with very few people and only the occasional car.

After lunch we traveled up the road to Waianae, Makaha, all the way to Ka'ena Point State Park where the road ends and you have to turn around. It is hiking trails from this point on and oh my we forgot our hiking shoes.  Driving back we saw a Small Asian Mongoose know as a 'Iole manakuke (e-oh-lay ma-na-coo-kay) run across the road.  Yes I had to look up the animal on google and while I can give you the spelling in Hawaiian, don’t ask me to say it.  They are invasive animals in Hawaii and they are trying to remove them from all the islands.   We stopped at Makaha to watch the surfers and enjoy the view.

We saw a store as we passed by that advertised $10 tires….no way.  Can you imagine the stories those tires have to tell.  Where they have been.  How they have been abused.  How much tread is left or how many times they have been patched?

We drove back to Waipahu and took highway 750 north.  Within minutes the scenery was altogether different.  Here is the valley where bananas, pineapples, taro, and many other crops are grown.  The fields are lush and full and everything is green again.  We drove past Schofield Barracks and on to highway 930 to the other side of Farrington Hwy. that we were on earlier today.  A small point of land on either side of the point is only accessible by hiking trails.  The waves on the north side of the island are putting on a more magnificent display than the west side but no surfers, only hikers at this end of the island.

We saw several glider planes get towed from Dillingham Airfield and then watched as they circled the sky before landing along with the tow planes.  Larry said it looked like they were dong touch and go’s probably for their hours needed for certification.  The small airfield is also used for sky diving.

On the way back to Haleiwa we passed a place that said horseback trail rides at Mokuleia, and thought next time we come to visit maybe the little guy and his parents would like to go for a beach ride.  We watched several stand up paddle boards at the boat marina and what looked like an outrigger canoe team practicing.  We crossed over the little bridge in town to see the east side of town which was not much and then back across the bridge to see the town that was covered in darkness when we came to dinner last week.

We decided to drive back home on highway 99 to H2 and then stopped in Mililani to go to Costco to buy chocolate covered macadamia nuts to take home as gifts and to find something for dinner, and of course while you are Costco you always find a few more items you didn’t know you needed until you got in the store.  So it is cheese pizza for the little guy and grandma and clam chowder for Larry, Kelly, and Kyle, or so I thought.  Everyone decided pizza for an appetizer was great with chowder and pretzel rolls for the main course, except me….no way, no fish, no how…no, no, no.

When we got back to base I had Larry drop me off at the preschool and I picked the little guy up and we walked home holding hands.  I’m going to miss having him tell me about his day and the fact that he looks forward to having grandma walk him home.

In my stocking at Christmas was Jamberry nail wraps so tonight Kelly did my nails and then hers.  All pretty now to go to the aquarium tomorrow.

Wednesday is our final full day in Hawaii.  We returned the rental car and Kelly followed us and we went to breakfast at Koko Head Café.  Chef Lee Anne Wong is a world famous chef and this little café is off the beaten path for tourists so it was great that Kelly and Kyle had already checked out this place.  We only had to wait about fifteen minutes to get seated and we started our meal with coffee and doughnuts, cinnamon sesame cake donuts with a Kona coffee creme anglaise sauce.  Drinks ordered, food ordered and when the food came it was too much to finish.  A great way to start the morning. 

We returned home to check in for our flight home tomorrow and then we were off to the Waikiki aquarium which has been open since 1904 and is the second oldest public aquarium in the United States.  It is not a large place but has nice exhibits, friendly staff, and the best part was my grandson loved it and especially touching the hermit crabs and the sea urchins.  The oldest and largest giant clams in any aquarium in the world live here and two of them weigh over two hundred pounds.   

We drove around Waikiki beach and then went to get frozen yogurt before going home.  While Kelly was cooking I took the little guy to the park to play soccer, run through the water spouts, and play on the equipment.  Kelly fixed shrimp cakes for everyone else and I had leftover pizza since I am not a fish person. 

One of the best websites we found for things to do in Oahu was:  http://www.to-hawaii.com  and while we tried to do as much as we could, there is still more to see and do for another trip.

Kelly took us to The Guru Glass of Honolulu where she works to meet her boss before we left for the airport.  Kelly loves her job, her bosses, her coworkers and it makes us happy to see her happy.  We arrived early at the airport, unloaded our luggage, hugs, and kisses for Kelly and then we checked in. 

The airport is beautiful with the open glass corridors leading to the different terminals and a small garden below, near our terminal that is so serene.   No first class seats this time.  We were almost an hour late taking off but finally in the air.  

We arrived in Portland with enough time to buy sandwiches and then the dreaded announcement.  Our flight from Portland to Bellingham would take off but due to fog in Bellingham, there was a chance that it would not be able to land and would have to return to Portland and we would fly out the next morning.  An act of God does not get you a room for the night paid for by the airline, so you are on your own if this happens.

God was looking out for us and the fog had lifted by the time we reached Bellingham.  We arrived later than expected and Stacy had volunteered to pick us up but since she had to work the next day and we weren’t sure we were even going to make it to Bellingham we told her we would take a taxi.

I am not really sure why people say good-bye because leaving family is never easy and really hard.  The term originated from Godbwye or God be with ye.  I’ll go with the Hawaiian phrase:  Ke Akua pu a hui hou meaning God bless you and see you later.

Part II - Christmas in Hawaii 2014 & 2015 New Year

Saturday, Kelly and I took off for a little after-Christmas shopping and to see some of her favorite boutiques (Soha was just one I could remember) and various vintage stores.  We had lunch in China town at Fresh Café.  We didn’t buy much, the find of the day was little tiny blue green Christmas trees that will surely find their way into a craft project next year….oh and Starbucks coffee, buy one get one…never heard of this but it was a great deal

We drove up to the North Shore to Haleiwa for dinner of Mahi and burgers. A great drive to see part of the island and enjoy a meal with family.

Sunday, Kelly and I headed out to run errands with the little guy and we started at his favorite store, Target.  He likes to check out the dollar bins, toys, shoes, but does really, well, just riding around in the cart taking it all in.  Next up was Costco his second favorite store because of all the food you can taste and there is always the chance of getting a slice of pizza--but not today.  Today we bought crab for dinner and the little guy gets the shell, it’s a big deal.  Throw in a few clams, pretzel rolls, salad, and you have the makings of a really good feast.

Monday I walked down to the preschool and picked the little guy up.  He held my hand and asked a hundred questions about every little thing he saw on the way home and I tried to answer each question before he asked me something else.  Playtime, nap time, and I fixed dinner since Kelly had to work today.  After dinner we tried to get our base passes but the air force gate only issues one day passes so we have to go to the navy gate another day.  Kelly and I headed off to Walmart on the back streets because the freeway was almost at a standstill.  We wound our way west, with the occasional northward uphill downhill, great evening views of the shoreline with all the lights glistening out ahead of us.  It was movie night when we got home.

Tuesday the little guy requested that grandma pick him up from school after lunch and we go to subway for a snack.  Subway is only across from the school so we stopped and had lunch together and even bought lunch to take home to papa.  It is so nice to be outside in seventy degree weather, short sleeves, and the warmth of the sun just sinking into my bones relieving the ache I get when the weather is too cold.  We fixed Naan bread pizza for dinner, everyone choosing what they wanted for toppings. 

Wednesday, papa and grandma walked down to the preschool to pick up the little guy and spent the early afternoon playing monster trucks.  Nap time for everyone to get ready for New Year’s Eve.   The parents went out to dinner and papa and I took the little guy to the park which is nice because it is only about a block from the house.  We arrived back to start dinner when Kelly and Kyle came home to see the little guy before going out to celebrate with friends.  Now it’s a movie on the tablet for the little guy, football on the television for papa, and grandma gets the computer.  In Hawaii they drop the pineapple at the same time New York drops the ball, so we celebrated early at seven PM.

Kyle has to work tonight so he is sleeping while Kelly takes us sightseeing on Thursday.  We started out with lunch at Uncle’s Fish Market and Grill.  Kelly, the little guy and Larry all enjoyed assorted fish entrees and I had a prime rib hamburger on a Hawaiian bread roll, and everyone agreed the food was good.  We drove east towards the windward side of the island, passing Diamond Head and catching brief glimpses of the ocean.  We saw Haiku Stairs referred to as the Stairway to Heaven one of the most popular of Oahu's "forbidden" trails and, even if it was not blocked off the public, I am not sure we would want to hike the  2,120-foot, 3,922-step ascent.  The beaches were full of tourists but the parks were closed due to it being a holiday.

I love the old trees, standing tall with twisted branches reaching outward and upward and some with massive trunks, everywhere on the island and on Hickam Air Base.  Too bad they won’t grow in the cold wet northwest.  Some of my favorites are the Sycamore fig, Plumeria, Baobab, Bo Tree, Ficus Banyan Tree, Monkey Pod or rain tree, Pili Nut, Tamarind, Cassia Javanica also called the rainbow shower tree, and the Moraceae fig family. 

We drove through Kaneohe and saw the street blocked off with barricades and police cars leading to the house where President Obama and his family are vacationing.  We also saw the jet boats in the canal keeping guard and the other side of the waterway was blocked to boat traffic.  This is probably as close as we were going to get but we can say we vacationed with the Obama’s on Oahu during Christmas.

We stopped at Heeia State Park to stretch our legs and take in the view of Kaneohe Bay.  We also saw the wild chickens wandering the park and some of the two hundred and fifty cats that call the park home and are fed every day.  They said people just drop off their cats when they move and leave them at the park.  It’s nice they are fed but I can’t imagine leaving a pet who is like a family member in a park to fend for themselves.

We passed a Longs Drugs store and while most people would not even notice this unless they needed something, I once worked for Longs Drugs in their general office and fixture shop for ten years.  CVS now owns Longs but did not change the name in Hawaii.  Down the road we saw a windmill farm and cows, lots of cows.  We stopped for our next island experience at a little roadside shop selling Hawaiian shaved ice.  Kelly and the little guy had not yet had the experience so we all shared a new treat although I opted for the tropical fruit smoothie and Kelly shared a taste of her shaved ice.

We drove to Haleiwa on the North Shore and then headed south towards home.  A quick stop at the grocery store and then home to make dinner, watch a movie, catch up on football and bed.  What a wonderful day. 

Kelly had the day off on Friday so we headed to the health food store, Starbucks, and Target before returning home to pick up Larry and then stopping for Kyler at preschool.  We got our base passes and then Kelly took us to Ford Island to see the USS Utah that was torpedoed on December 7^th, 1941 and rolled over and sank killing 64 soldiers.  You can still see part of the rusty remains of the ship that lies above the waterline and two buoys mark the bow and the stern which lie under the water.  We walked along the water and Kelly pointed out bits of metal and glass that were fused to the rocks when the ship exploded.  It is not permissible or acceptable to dig up glass or metal but if pieces are loose lying on the ground it is okay to take one.  Kelly said people come looking for glass with words or dates and today we found a piece of green glass with the number 943 so we are guessing this is part of a bottle from a solider during the war, and it was common for bottles to be marked with a year, so we think this bottle is 1943.  We found some sort of metal gear or knob lying loose but left it with the remains on the beach.

 Kelly drove us to the other side of the island to see the memorial for the USS Oklahoma which was also bombed on December 7^th 1941 and 439 soldiers lost their lives.  The black granite wall suggest the hull of the USS Oklahoma and the white marble standards represent the Marines and Sailors who died that day.  Each standard symbolizes a white dress uniform standing at attention manning the rails of the Oklahoma forever.

There are several black marble slabs with famous quotes.  Below are four that stood out for me.

1.      John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

2.      They fought together as brothers in arms; they died together and now they sleep side by side. Admiral Chester W. Nimitz

3.      Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.  President John F. Kennedy

4.      That was the most horrible scene that you could ever think of.  Shipmates there you can't help them. Ship cook George Brown

You can also see and tour the USS Missouri which was the ship where the Japanese surrendered.  I was on board the Missouri named for my home state years ago when it was at Bremerton Washington.

General MacArthur September 2, 1945 aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo bay:  “Let us pray that peace be now restored to the world and that God will preserve it always.  These proceedings are closed.”  And with those works World War II was finally over.

If only those who choose to control other people and countries for their own personal gain and greed could understand the cost of war for those who gave their lives, those who are still missing in action, those who return home injured, those who may never recover, and the family and friends who are effected by a war.  We will always defend our country at home and aboard and others countries should never mistake our wish for peace as a sign of weakness. 

There was a group of preteens running around the Oklahoma memorial shouting about who died first, jumping up and down slapping the memorial markers, being totally disrespectful.  Kelly mentioned to the mothers that this was a memorial and they should show respect and the mothers just sort of causally told their kids to stop, which they didn’t.  Larry said the kids probably didn’t know better.  They probably didn’t but they were all old enough to understand and certainly their mothers were old enough to understand and explain that this was a memorial to honor those died.  It made me cry to look at those markers and the USS Missouri and think that US citizens can be so casual about our history.

It was past lunch time so Kelly took us to Hank’s Haute Dogs in downtown Honolulu.  Guy Fieri from Triple D on the Food Network and Adam Richman Man vs Food on the Travel Channel both have done shows from there and inside there is a photo of President Obama eating a Hank’s dog.  Kelly and I both had the Chicago dog and she also had the cheesy truffle fries and said she would eat cheesy truffle fries every day if she could, Larry had the lobster dog and thought it was wonderful, and the little guy had a regular hotdog.

Papa and the little guy watched football while Kelly and I ran to buy more art supplies.  I fixed dinner while Kelly was busy working on her dream catchers and papa and the little guy were busy with football and monster trucks.  The little guy curled up next to me on the sofa after dinner and watched part of a movie before bedtime.  It was a good day.

Kelly had to run into work today and Kyler and I went with her.  When she came out of the office she had a piece of the best English toffee candy I have ever eaten--and no way to get more. It looked like regular toffee covered in chocolate and nuts but the butter toffee was soft, not a chewy caramel but not a hard crunchy toffee, just sort of melt in your mouth. They were a gift to my daughter at work, from a customer who gets them from a friend who only makes them for family and friends. I need to be a friend.

We stopped off at McDonalds to get the little guy lunch and then it was home for a nap.  Mom and dad left for a movie and date night.  I put a pot roast in the crockpot and after nap time took the little guy to the park.   

One thing about being on base is they have Reveille, the flag raising ceremony at the beginning of the day, and Retreat, which is the flag lowering ceremony at the end of the day.  President Woodrow Wilson once said, "This flag, which we honor and under which we serve, is the emblem of our unity, our power, our thought and purpose as a nation. It has no other character than that which we give it from generation to generation. The choices are ours. It floats in majestic silence above the hosts that execute those choices, whether in peace or in war. And yet, though silent, it speaks to us -- speaks to us of the past, or the men and women who went before us, and of the records they wrote upon it." On the base, military personnel should stand at attention and face the American flag or the direction of the music if the flag is not visible.  Civilians should stand at attention and place their right hand over their heart.

After Retreat we left the park and headed home to have dinner, watch a movie, and have bath time.  A good day is measured by hugs, kisses, and I love you’s, and today was a really good day.  Every night my grandson says his prayers with his mom but tonight he didn’t want to say his bedtime prayer that he usually says.  He asked if he could pray for the soldiers who died on the ships and ask Jesus to take care of them.  The impact of seeing the USS Arizona, the USS Utah, and the USS Oklahoma Memorial has made a powerful impression on him.

Sunday is pancakes and scrambled eggs for breakfast.  Larry and Kelly were off to a one and a half hour Turtle Reef Snorkel tour.  The tour provides the equipment and you just show up for the fun snorkeling with the fish and turtles in the azure blue waters.  The Spirit of Aloha is fifty-four feet long and thirty feet wide catamaran and takes you to the outer side of the Turtle Canyon reef near Hilton Hawaiian Village.  No whales but lots of turtles and fish and it was a good adventure for the two of them while dad sleeps because he works nights and the little guy naps and spends time with grandma.