Missing the Music

There's one business that's not experiencing a slowdown of any kind. It's the "business" of Baby Boomers wanting to boogie oogie oogie. The "70's Nightclub Reunion Dance," which I've mentioned before, went from an annual event to semi-annual this year and the event sells out in MINUTES. I wish I could be there that weekend, but unfortunately we have to be in Honolulu two weeks later and as much as I'd like to see what Asian Blend looks/sounds like 30 years later, it's not enough to warrant two trips in a month. Bobby Caldwell and Smokey Robinson, yes, Asian Blend...ummm, well maybe when our personal economy starts flourishing again.

I'm wondering if a similar dance event could be successful on Kauai. If I had the know-how and the connections, I'd seriously consider organizing one. There could be no better time than right now. Michael Jackson's stunning death has probably awakened everyone's dormant inner Tony or Stephanie as we've all been listening to MJ's songs all week, most of which "have a good beat that you can dance to." Okay, possibly only Baby Boomers get that last sentence.

Personally, I wish I could jump on a time machine and go back to the period between 1968 and 1982 in Honolulu. Going to a dance was probably my favorite thing to do. Junior YBA dances, YWCA club dances, "pay parties", Magic Mushroom, Foxy Lady II, Hawaiian Hut, Hula Hut, Infinity, Point After, Spats, Valentino's... oh my goodness, I haven't thought of those places in a long time!

One aspect of "boogie-ing" I didn't enjoy was the torture of having to wait to be asked to dance. OH...MY...GOD there's no greater torture. Women's Lib may have been born in the 70's, but it certainly did not extend to the Hawaii dancefloors in those days! This is why I'd love to travel back in time; this time I wouldn't hesitate to ask some guy to dance or dance with friends, etc.

I was lucky enough in 1976 to travel to Europe and I talked the other 20somethings in our tour group to go dancing in London, Madrid, and Innsbruck. We made the happy discovery that in Europe it was perfectly acceptable to dance in a group, or with another female, etc.

Another thing I loved about my young adulthood in Honolulu was not just having all those dance venues, but also having countless other quality live entertainment available: Booga Booga, Cecilio and Kapono, Kalapana, Country Comfort, Music Magic, Azure McCall, Carol Kai, Iva Kinimaka, Nephi Hanneman, Jimmy Borges, Sydette, Liz Damon, Peter Moon, Beamer Brothers, Society of Seven, Frank Delima, Mel Cabang, Dick Jensen, Don Ho...Sak and Stu (*LOOOOOOOL*) Whatever happened to Sak and Stu, I wonder?!

We also seemed to have more opportunities to see nationally as well as internationally renown talent and at much lower ticket prices (even accounting for inflation). I only went to a fraction of the concerts, and yet within a span of ten years or so, I saw Herman's Hermits, the Animals (twice!), Paul Revere & the Raiders, the Beach Boys, the Carpenters, Tower of Power, Doobie Brothers, Blind Faith (Eric Clapton), Sonny and Cher, Young Rascals, Wayne Newton, Liza Minnelli, El Chicano, and Jose Feliciano. I'm sure I saw more that I don't recall.

I suppose I'm feeling extra nostalgic for those days because on Kauai, there's so little night life. Oh yes, and also because today's our 30th wedding anniversary and I'm remembering the days of our youth. It seems like just a few years ago, honestly. I thank Leonard for letting me stay young in my mind by putting up with my silly, youthful antics...not to mention takes me dancing in Honolulu if I bug him enough. As he says, I'll always be a "young chick" to him since I'm five years younger than he is. Lucky me!

As a postscript, I'd like to note that Michael Jackson died on the day of Michael Edayan's funeral and as if the latter weren't hard enough to accept, the second Michael loss is almost as difficult. Imagine, two gifted Michaels I wish I could have known longer and heard from longer, gone too soon. I was no raging Michael Jackson fan-addict (I immediately went to buy a couple of his DVD's online, because all we have are MJ cassette tapes!), but I did recognize his greatness and being a music and dance lover, how could I not understand how he was one in a billion? He may have grown into a strange adult, but I always gave him the benefit of the doubt and accepted his eccentricities. Geniuses are often plagued by less desirable "by-products" of their genius, and I'd sooner enjoy their brilliant contributions and only judge them if I'm asked to be on a jury.

Too Late

I've been avoiding my blog because I knew I would feel compelled to write about a tragedy that occurred in our family. My young brother-in-law was fatally shot following a robbery in a park in San Bernardino last week.

It's a worn cliche you hear after a death: "I wish I had gotten to know him better." Well it's true. We had met Michael, my husband's half-brother, just three times, literally as he grew up: first as a small boy, then as a pre-teen, then two years ago at age 20. Each time he looked very different from the previous time, but yet each time it was obvious, during our brief meetings, that he was a likeable young man.

I had been looking forward to having him visit Kauai in August, just 8 weeks away. This was his birthplace, but he grew up in California. He was an aspiring musician and I imagined he'd come over to our house and he'd sit politely with Jordan at her computer as she showed her young Uncle her favorite music on youTube, and he would've probably shown her his favorites too. We'd finally get to talk to him for longer than a few minutes and as an adult.

It won't happen now.

If there's anything most young people don't realize, it's the fact that the good things in life take time to attain, while the bad takes just a minute. Your life can change in seconds by making the wrong choice, by saying the wrong thing, being careless or even reckless "just once." Most young people (including myself until my 30's) are too fresh from Fantasyland to understand that unhappy endings can and do happen frequently and in the blink of an eye.

Meanwhile, even adults are often ignorant of another fact of life: You can't go back. I wish now that we had made more effort to know Michael better. I never thought of looking for his mySpace page until it was too late. Now it's too late to comment on his passionate and sensitive writing. It's too late to learn now about what he was thinking, too late to offer comfort. Too late to listen to his music or appreciate his artwork. Oh, he was so much more than "a likeable young man."

If there's anyone you "intend" to get to know better "one of these days," I strongly suggest you start now.

Meanwhile on the news last night, they reported on a "shooting sports fair" held on Father's Day at Koko Head, noting that gun sales have skyrocketed in Hawaii (and all over the U.S.). What got me is that the news piece was a "light" one delivered as though they were reporting on a father-son fishing tournament, praising "shooting sports" as a great "father-son" activity.

I quote Dana Carvey as the Church Lady: "Isn't that special!"

Guilty Pleasures

It's movie season for us. This means going to more than one movie in the month and yet going to Blockbuster in addition! These are some of them that I either went to or rented within the past month:

The Geisha--this was made in the 80's. Probably the inspiration for "Memoirs of..." I enjoyed it yet was disappointed the same way I was with "Memoirs" because I had really wanted to see more about the everyday life and training of geishas. Instead it was, like "Memoirs," a sad story. At any rate, it put me in the mood for the Obon season and bon dancing! And if you recall my grumbling about "westernization" of bon dance, well I was surprised to see that in the 1930's, when this movie was set, there were some pretty unusual geisha dancing going on that could be said to look "westernized". Funnnnny!

Ramen Girl--I found it puzzling that this movie, which I've never heard of or seen promoted ANYWHERE, was given a big space at Blockbuster. I enjoy watching movies with this theme "American person out of place in Asian country" such as "Lost in Translation," "Bride and Prejudice," "Marigold," etc. This movie was ok, but if you watch the deleted scenes, OMG! It's a "whole nuther movie"!! After watching this, you'll definitely want to eat a bowl of saimin.

Up---this movie was less about "Up," and more about "Landing" than I expected. It was good, tho.

Star Trek---poor William Shatner! I feel bad for him that he wasn't given a part in this great movie. Oh well, James Spader wasn't in the new Stargate movie was he? (I liked that original Stargate movie and that's where I first "met" him). This Star Trek movie was good, but darn if I left the theater with a lot of questions on my mind. And what's with JJ Abrams and time, anyway?!?! That guy should build his time machine and be done with his obsession already!

Sex and the City (The Movie)--I didn't watch much of this series on TV, but I did enjoy the few episodes that I did see, so I rented the movie. The plot was pretty tired. Wasn't it stupid that Carrie would get that angry at Big for having doubts on the day of his 3rd wedding? I mean he DID show up, then leave, then come back. Dopey! AND that wedding dress, IMHO wasn't "all that" if you ask me. YUCK!!! And poor Steve not getting any sex from whats-her-name (I never cared much for Cynthia Nixon ever since I saw her toothless on "Ellen") for SIX MONTHS and yet she blamed him totally for his "slipping." Not that I would excuse him, but she should've at least owned up to being partly to blame. What I did like about the movie was Jennifer Hudson, Sarah Jessica, Gilles Marini (WOWEEEEEE naked!!), Chris Noth (doesn't have to be naked!!), and the Fashion, although I still think expensive handbags are stupid.

Night at the Museum--Fun because I love Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson and museums. Amy Adams' character was annoying, though.

Tropic Thunder-- Speaking of Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson, I rented Tropic Thunder just to see the added features since I'd seen the movie in the theater last year. My interest in this movie is due to its being filmed on Kauai. I even went to apply for a part as an extra (first time I've ever done that), but did not get called. Hundreds of people on Kauai applied and just going through that "cattle-call" process was fun and interesting. They probably looked at my photo and said, "She's too pale to be a Vietnamese villager...and too old and flabby to be a poolside party girl." *LOOOOL* From what I heard later, being an extra was no picnic, for the most part, especially for the scenes filmed in the canefields, which was the majority of the scenes.

Religulous--Like Bill Maher, I'm somewhat anti-religion because IMHO religions are man-made and faulty. I'm NOT against spirituality and faith, however. It's amusing to me that people are so convinced that their religion is the Right One. I'm all for having faith, however, so I wouldn't discourage anyone from believing what they want to. Check out this movie, though... it's very thought-provoking.

It's Bad For Ya (George Carlin)-- I was surprised to find George Carlin saying a lot of the same things that Bill Maher was saying in "Religulous." But why should I be surprised? They're both very intelligent, conscientious guys! I've considered George Carlin one of my favorite comedians since the first time I saw him on TV decades ago before he became notorious. I admire people who are intelligent, funny, and not afraid to go against the grain to point out that "the emperor has no clothes."

Forgetting Sarah Marshall--I always try to watch any major movie or television show filmed in Hawaii. We need to support the film industry in Hawaii! This was a fun movie. I'm trying to figure out why I like Russell Brand so much. Anytime he's on a talk show, I'll watch it. It's probably a combination of his British accent, effeminate quirky style, and outrageous spoutings, accompanied by an undeniable sweetness. He plays a rock star who stole Sarah from Jason Segal's character, and yet he's likeable, even by the guy he "robbed"! Cool!

And now for a Bobby Caldwell interlude. I filmed this at the concert in March. This is currently my favorite BC song, "Cry." Interesting note....he's very popular in Japan and they used this song in a commercial there. Go to Amazon and buy his music...I consider his voice the absolute best!

Driving Kauai Sis

Thanks for reading! I've been getting a few more hits lately and I hope there are some repeat visitors other than my 3 readers (assuming THEY'RE still reading *LOL*). Feel free to leave a comment sometime, too. Personally I love to comment on websites--that's probably why I started this blog. Just one looong comment after another whenever I feel like it.

We all like to get feedback, don't we? Especially if it's positive...ok, ok....ONLY if it's positive! Speaking of feedback, a very strange thing happened last Friday while I was driving to Lihue at about noon.

Whenever I'm near the Kauai Hilton on Kuhio Highway, I remember that there'd been a terrible accident there last summer when a speeding car going north towards Kapaa hit a car going south towards Lihue, killing the driver, Colin Sunada, and injuring his wife and daughter. As usual as I drove through that area, I felt a bit on edge and alert. I passed that section of the highway and the Hilton and suddenly noticed that the cars in front had stopped. I had to jam on my brakes, veering right to the shoulder, narrowly missing rear-ending the car in front of me. I was aware that there was a large commercial truck behind me and sure enough, he came to a stop almost beside me on the left!

As I sat there stunned, wondering why the cars were stopped, I could see no apparent cause. Most of the cars were pulled to the shoulder also so I expected to see or hear an emergency vehicle. Nothing.

I then noticed activity in the car in front of me. Its driver was a woman who was waving her hands around, gesturing like crazy. I wasn't sure whom she was signaling, but I saw an "ok" sign several times and then she stuck her hands out her window, gestured some more and applauded. In my befuddled state, I wondered what the heck was going on!

I have to conclude that she was giving me positive feedback for not ramming into her. Possibly she was also applauding the truck driver behind me (now on the side of me) too. Ok, shoots, I'll take a bow!

I would sure like to know what the heck happened. Leonard suggested it was caused by yet another tourist doing a U-turn or left turn into the Pineapple store lot. Possible!

Whatever the cause, I couldn't help thinking that possibly the Sunadas' horrific accident helped make others like myself more alert. Sad, but true.

I'd just like to know what that was all about and to thank that lady for giving me the positive feedback...and something to write about.