Esoteric Bowl

One my most favorite activities is to walk around Manoa town and to take an occasional photo. Manoa is big enough so that there is always something new to see, yet small enough where familiar faces can be recognized.

One area that I pass by on occasion is a little commercial radio repair shop. I’ve never actually seen any customers go in or out of the place, nor have I ever been in there myself. Outside of the shop, four old men sit in assorted chairs and talk, laugh, and watch people go by.

Yesterday, while walking through town, I noticed that the four grandpas were not sitting in front of the shop. Instead, there were four empty chairs and several bouquets of flowers. On one of the chairs was a taped note with the following message:

In Memory of Mr. Gima
Rest in Peace
Until We Meet
Again

Hot biscuits were stacked on top of each other on a plate to my left. To my right there was a long tall glass with a thirst-quenching beverage and a bowl of steaming hot rice. On the center of the table there was a red and yellow box filled with Popeye’s chicken. The chicken had been cooked perfectly to a crisp golden brown. I made my plate, and was just about to take my first bite, when I woke myself up from the dream by smacking my lips in anticipation.

Last night as I watched President Bush speak about the possible invasion of Iraq, I couldn’t help but think of the Seinfeld episode where Kramer decides to move to California to be in the movies. When asked when he was leaving, Kramer points to his head and says, “Up here, I’m already gone.”

Before I ever understood what cancer was, I’ve known that early detection is critically important. I knew this because the thought has been ingrained in my thinking for years. Whenever the subject of cancer was raised, the importance of early detection was pointed out repeatedly.

In my recent research of the many online cancer sites, I am reminded again that early detection is important. Yet despite this stressed urgency, I must sit and wait for the urology appointment. It’s somewhat frustrating. Although I hope I have discovered the signs early, I don’t know for sure.

I would think that once the doctors have determined that a person has cancer, they would want to get to it as soon as possible. It’s difficult for me to believe that there isn’t space available to be seen until the end of this month. It’s bad enough that the hospital took two months to finally getting around to tell me that I have cancer. During that period of waiting and wondering, I didn’t know what to think. Now that I know that it is cancer, I want it to be taken care of as soon as possible.

In the meantime, I’m remaining positive. I’m glad to say that despite all of the uncertainty, I’m really not too concerned about the outcome. Perhaps it’s because the survival rate is quite high and I assume that I will be apart of that high percentage. Still, it’s a bit frustrating at times to just have to wait and wonder.

If you seek wisdom,
surround yourself with others.
If you seek enlightenment,
surround yourself with quiet.

There was a time when I would come home from school, change my clothes, get the cookies and milk, and sit in front of the television watching afternoon sitcoms. While some of my peers were busy with something called homework, I was indulging in the life-lessons offered by Gilligan’s Island and The Brady Bunch. Such were the benefits of being a latchkey kid.

Some of what I learned while watching these shows were direct lessons, such as the plans one has in life may not always go as originally planned. This is what I refer to as “The three-hour tour” lesson.

Other lessons were indirectly learned, as I was able to contrast and compare the stories with my own life. One such lesson took place from watching a Brady Bunch episode. The kids had done something wrong, and it was up to Greg and Marcia to confess and explain to their parents. I remember it clearly as Greg said, “Mom, Dad, you better sit down, it’s a long story.” The parents sat down, all was explained, apologies were made, and Brady-life went on.

Is just so happened that I had to confess and explain to my parents something that I had done wrong, so the timing couldn’t have been more perfect for this particular episode. Later that night while my parents were in the kitchen, I made my confession. After my father had asked how it had happened, I remained calm and cool and remembered what Greg had said to his parents.

“Mom, Dad, you better sit down, it’s a long story.”
“I’m not sitting down no damned where! You had better start talking real fast youngman,” my father bellowed.

The approach that Greg Brady had used with his parents didn’t work with mine. I refer to this as the “Don’t always believe what you see on tv” lesson.