Gratitude Journal – Day 78 – September 16, 2014

Aloha! 
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Open Mic that is…..This morning began like so many others, repeatedly hitting the snooze button on the iPhone and waking up to realize that I had clutched the cross, carved to fit perfectly in my hand, tightly all through the night. I wanted to hear his voice, so I played a video message that myDarlin’Robert Kenui Pope sent to me awhile back. “Good Morning Baby, I love you” he said, then sealed it with a kiss.

Kids are on Fall Break, so the traffic should have been very light, however as I crossed the overpass – traffic was at a standstill. I decide to pass on taking I-75 and make my way down Atlanta Road, passing so many places we’ve been before. As I pull into the parking deck in myDarlin’s truck, I pause to think about the last time that he would have rung the buzzer to come on in to pick me up.

Work is great as we are working on projects that will really make a difference in associate’s careers and even lives, most of which we will never get to know first-hand. And before you know it the lights go out, an indication that most have left for the day and it’s time to wrap it up. It’s Monday – yes! Aloha Open Mic, with a quick trip into the thrift store before I heading in to Ronnie John’s to meet up with friends old and new, Ohana. And Lesli introduced me to one of the guys playing guitar off to the side, waiting for his turn to take the stage. His name is Kuki (sp?) and he is from Samoa. Lesli shared a quick story of how the Aloha Open Mic came to be, and Kuki said that he would sing a Hawaiian song for me.

And so he took the stage, with his large Ohana looking on, and dedicated a song to me in honor of Robert. Tiny Bubbles, LOL! Robert had to be looking down chuckling to himself as Kuki went directly into a song in which the audience repeats the Hawaiian phrase he just sang. Then he sang…..

Take my hand, take my whole life too
For I can't help falling in love with you

Like a river flows surely to the sea
Darling so it goes
Some things are meant to be

….and he had no idea about the Elvis connection, coincidence?

I spoke to a couple seated inside of the restaurant as they waited for their server, recommending my favorite dish, ‘Blue Hawaii’ (tuna poke) named after myDarlin’. Later, Lesli chatted with them saying how familiar they look. And so, she said to Lesli that she wanted to hire them to play a private party at their house a couple of years ago, but they were already booked. They recommended, yep, you got it! Kona!

The memories come flooding back as I catch up with them. It was their daughter’s 18th birthday and Kona played on a small second story deck. I remember how impressed we were that she and her friends loved the classic rock. And we chatted some more, I gave her a Kona business card and wrote my email on the back to keep in touch. Small world, coincidence?

I say my goodbyes to all of my friends/Ohana for the evening and make my way home to download photos and begin writing. I turn the Bose speaker on, then the iPhone and what comes on? Elvis singing ‘I Can’t Help Falling in Love’. OK, I get it! It’s no coincidence….

Tonight I am grateful that when we open ourselves up to fully experience life and love, God fills us with just that, life and love. And I know that he has just placed more people in our lives – and the Ohana grows….

#KeepLookingUp