The whole family…
wins read the sign on the wall at the shoe store. The day, just two weeks before myDarlin’ Robert Kenui Pope left us, was spent in much the same way as any other Sunday. He played the upright at church that morning, then we headed on over to Ronnie John’s Sunset Grille for a lunch of tuna poke and mac salad while we listened to the sweet tunes of Mandi on the patio.
It was a beautiful summer afternoon, so one would think that an outdoor activity would be in order, but he desperately needed a new pair of shoes… so, I sacrificed and agreed to go to the outlet mall. (had you didn’t I?!) Ironically I think that he and I went to the mall together more in the short time it was open than I’ve been shopping in the past year. First stop? The Bose Store. The sales staff would run to open the door for him when they saw him; after all he had become a very loyal customer, who also sent many a musician their way.
We checked out a couple of other stores before winding up at the shoe store. I swear we laughed the entire time we were at the store. He really didn’t like shopping for shoes, but as I stated above he was in desperate need as his were ‘leaking’ and walking in the rain left him with a sinking feeling. He tried one on and said, ‘OK, it fits, let’s go!’ And being the mother figure I am, I made him try on both shoes and walk down the aisle and back to make sure they were comfortable for him. I will never forget the picture of him walking like he was on the cat walk in his too long, rolled up jeans, his 4X silky Aloha shirt (he got in Florida even though it was two sizes too big), his Kona bracelet and his Indiana Jones hat. He kept on going until I said, ‘come back’ and which point, he pivoted and you can see the pose I caught. I really didn’t notice at the time, but the sign above him says, ‘the whole FAMILY wins’ and I believe it to be true. Our entire family, our Ohana are all winners and better off for having had him in our lives.
We put his old shoes in the box and proceeded to the checkout, but he kept the clear plastic feet molds out and with his hands walked them across the counter, all the while his chuckles and smile permeated the air. The cashier thought us a bit odd, but one could tell from her slight smile that she wished she could hang out with us to have some fun! We stopped at Dairy Queen (because we deserved it after all of that strenuous shopping…) then headed home for the day. Another ordinary extraordinary day in the life of myDarlin’ and me.
Today I am grateful for memories of new shoes, too big silky Aloha shirts, Indiana Jones hats and ordinary days in love with myDarlin’. Yes, the whole Ohana wins when we remember his laughter, his love of our Lord and us, and the example he shared through his daily walk.
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