Esoteric Bowl

I remember as a child reading the biblical story of Adam and Eve. I sat and wondered why in the world would the two of them disobey God’s instructions in taking from the tree of knowledge. Considering how good they had it, their action didn’t make sense. All of their wants and desires were satisfied, and they knew nothing of pain and grief. If they had just listened, I thought, the rest of us wouldn’t have it so hard today.

Years later in my teens, I reread this story. As one might expect, my perspective of the story was much different. I no longer saw their act of rebellion as something wrong or that the rest of us were still paying for, but rather in a roundabout way I saw their rebellion and subsequent punishment as a gift for us all. Granted, there are definite perks in being endlessly cared for and without a worry in the world, but much can be said for having the opportunity to develop independent thoughts and becoming an individual.

Today is my Father’s birthday. One may ask, what does this have to do with the above text? Well, I’ll tell you. For the first eleven years of my life, Dad was a Marine in the United States Marine Corps. He was a Marine long before I was born and he was a Marine before he met my mother. He fought wars in Korea and Viet Nam, and for a while he held one of the most honored and valuable positions a Marine can hold in being a drill instructor.

To say that my father was a tough S.O.B. would be an understatement. Standing at 6′ 5″ with a bass voice that immediately grabs attention from across the room, Dad has an imposing presence that can intimidate man and child alike. Admittedly, Dad was strict with my brothers and I, and there were times when I felt like I was one of his recruits in boot-camp. Dad didn’t have a lot of rules, but the rules he did have were made clear and they were enforced.

One might assume that a man with a physical presence and background of my father would have a mentality of My way or the highway. That wasn’t the case. Although he was strict, he was fair. And while there have been classic moments when his patience ran a bit thin, he has always encouraged my brothers and I to be independent thinkers. Being a self-taught person, Dad’s broad knowledge has allowed him to discuss with us our own diverse interests in detail. In one conversation he could be heard exchanging thoughts on the intricacies of rebuilding an engine, and in the following conversation he might be discussing the bell and nose of a particular Merlot.

Many nights in my youth, Dad and I could be found arguing/discussing politics. These are some of my fondest memories spent with Dad. While we often disagreed during such conversations, he allowed and encouraged me to have my own voice. And while he knew that my brothers and I would make countless mistakes, he put his trust in us anyway. Never did he say to my brothers and I that this is the answer for religion or politics or whatever. Instead, he inspired each of us to explore the world; not in his way, but in our own.

Happy Birthday, Old Man!

I had to go to the store. I say “had to” because going to the store wasn’t something that I particularly wanted to do. However, considering that the supply of toilet paper and toothpaste were running low, I had to go to the store.

Don’t get me wrong; I don’t mind going to the store at all. But lately this summer heat has kind of left me less than enthused about walking about under the sun. Still, the need for bathroom essentials trumps just about any kind of weather condition.

So off I went to the store. I was about fifty yards or so away from the house when my feet decided to go in another direction. Generally when I set out to walk somewhere there is a plan, a goal, a direction, and yet at the slightest breath of an idea the plan is oftentimes altered. I can’t explain this phenomenon. If I really thought about it and delved within myself to find the answer, I might discover what this says about me. On second thought, it’s too hot to delve.

Soon I was walking around the university campus and taking the occasional photo. I walked over to admire the water lily garden. While there the rain began to fall. It wasn’t a hard rain, but rather a signature Manoa mist. I could have ducked undercover from the rain, but it felt so refreshingly good upon my skin. Coincidentally, the last time that I was caught in the rain, I was standing at this very same garden.

After taking a handful of photos, I continued walking and quickly the rain stopped. The rain had not only been refreshing to me, but all the plants and trees appeared to have their thirst quenched as well. The scent of plumeria now filled the air, and the colors of summer bloomed.

Yes, I did make it to the store; eventually.

Throughout my lifetime there have been a number of political mysteries that have left me yearning for the truth. Like an itch that can’t be scratched, the mystery of not knowing is at times unbearable.

In some instances the truth has been revealed, while other times the truth is somewhat murky at best. I’ve never been satisfied with the Warren Commission’s one-shooter theory behind the JFK assassination. However, considering how much time has passed and how the case has morphed into a number of conspiracy theories, I doubt that I’ll ever learn the truth to my satisfaction.

After thirty plus years of wondering, I was happy to finally learn that Mark Felt was Watergate’s Deep Throat. I must admit though that with all the possible names that have been thrown around throughout the years, the revelation was somewhat anticlimactic. After all, before his name was revealed, I think most people thought Mark Felt was a spot on a pool table.

After two years of complete denial and cowardly leaving a couple of reporters hanging out to dry in the face of imprisonment, it appears the truth behind the mystery of the outing of an FBI agent is finally being revealed. I can’t say that I’m surprised on this one, but it’s good to know the truth.

Judith Miller was sent to jail yesterday, and I can’t say that I feel sorry for her. As you might recall, this is the same Judith Miller who had beat the administration’s WMD drum on a daily basis in the front pages of the NY Times. The same Judith Miller that had long been embedded in the rush-to-war camp and who had lazily relied on information from sources of that same camp.

The NY Times would later apologize for the pre-war coverage. Of course, Ms Miller is not going to jail because of her overzealous reporting of Saddam’s WMD threat, but rather for protecting White House sources who broke federal law by leaking the name of a CIA agent. Still, in a roundabout way, I can’t help but see the poetic justice in Miller serving a little time.

Some people recognize summer’s arrival by the summer solstice. Some acknowledge summer when their vacation begins. I know summer has arrived when I hear the neighbor lady yell at her kids to go outside and play.

Here’s a list of outdoor toys perfect for summer:

* The Artic Shock Blaster is not your father’s squirt gun. This gun has received rave reviews and is sure to soak any target.

* How cool is this? The Vacuum-Powered Bug Catcher pulls a bug into a clear plastic chamber for easy viewing without hurting the insect.

* Slip N’ Slides are an old-time summer favorite, and now with a variety of different themes.

* Toddlers are sure to love the Double Blast Bubble Mower. It doesn’t get much better than pretend fun with bubbles.

* I loved Tonka Trucks when I was little. The construction of the trucks have changed over the years, but put them near a mound of dirt and I bet they’re just as fun.

* What would summer be without bikes? Schwinn has a bike for every style and purpose.

* If skating is more your style, K2 Skate is top of the line.

* A tree house can be loads of fun in the summer. But if architecture isn’t your thing, the Tree Fort looks like bouncing fun.

* Technically BBQ grills aren’t toys, but summer wouldn’t be summer without outdoor cooking. Personally I like hibachi-sized grills such as the Weber Q gas grill.

* For families taking long drives during the summer, the Magellan RoadMate 700 will help get them from point A to point B. Oh what is a backseat driver to do?

* Driving with the top down is the ultimate in adult-toy summer transportation. The Nissan Z Roadster is a cool ride, but it looks suspiciously like the Monopoly car.

Each week I receive a card in the mail from Mom. The card always includes store coupons that Mom has thoughtfully cut out of magazines for me. Also included in the cards are a few written lines letting me know what she and Dad have been up to and what’s going on with the family.

Sometimes the card is store-bought, but most times Mom has made the card on the computer. Either way, the cards are bright and cheerful and I always look forward to hearing from her.

Yesterday I received such a card. Along with the coupons, Mom expressed her disbelief that the 4th of July weekend was already approaching. In closing, she told me to “Do something FUN for a change.”

Do something FUN. Those words echoed inside my head. I sat and pondered; what is it that I consider “FUN”? I have no problem in keeping myself busy or entertained, but FUN is altogether different. As a child, how to have fun was never an issue. Kids can easily make hours of fun out of an empty cardboard box or a long stick.

So what is FUN? Movies, books, and the Internet can be entertaining and enjoyable, but I wouldn’t exactly call them FUN. Television can sometimes draw my attention for a while, but that too isn’t what I would consider fun. The beach can be relaxing at times, but sunburns are far from fun. I can often lose myself while tending to the plants, but it’s not something that I do for fun. I enjoy wandering around taking photographs of people and things, but I’m not so sure that I would categorize it as FUN.

There was a time when I considered carnivals and amusement parks fun, but now the rides make me feel like my brain is being tossed around in my skull. There was also a time when driving a car was exciting and fun, but the novelty of driving eventually fades.

Traveling is fun. At times Vegas can be fun. Sex can often be fun, especially with a steady partner. Discovering a great new restaurant can be fun. Good conversation has a way of being fun too.

Oftentimes the media will ask the oldest living person in the world how they managed to live so long. The answers tend to vary, yet almost all will say that they continued to have fun. I sit here wondering if I’ve possibly accepted being entertained or doing things that were enjoyable while forgetting about FUN. Perhaps I need to find an empty cardboard box or a long stick and rediscover FUN.
What do you consider FUN?

Have a FUN Aloha Friday!