ArtCenter College of Design & Rose Parade

Aloha Everyone,

My Mother reminded me that J.J. and I still had some boxes stored in her garage closet. One contained black and white prints from his Art Center days.

J.J. and I met at ArtCenter College of Design, a small private school founded in 1930. When we were students, the school already enjoyed an international reputation in the fields of art, photography, automotive design, and film production. Small classes were taught by successful professionals in their fields. With a Bachelor or Master's degree from ArtCenter, your professional career got a huge jump start.

The Tournament of Roses, more widely known as the Rose Parade is held in Pasadena, California. The first parade was on January 1, 1890. It has become the major New Year celebration event in America. The parade's main attractions are floats covered with fresh cut roses interspersed with marching bands from around the country. The day culminates with the Rose Bowl, a college football game. One memory from my youth is spending a sleepless night sitting on the cold sidewalk guarding our front row seats, waiting for the parade to begin.

Here are a small selection of J.J.'s student work:

Hollis C., one of our close friends of school days.

His 3 younger sisters.

Fresh cut rose

Preparation for the Rose Parade

Lights, cameras getting ready

Parade seats for rent

Aloha -- Cathi

Hawaiian Greeting: Aloha

Aloha Everyone,

I usually begin my personal letters or messages with Aloha and end with Love and Aloha.  

Aloha is not just a simple greeting of hello and goodby. Its meaning is very deep. It means love, peace, compassion, mercy and affection. Anthropologist, Frances Newton wrote that, "Aloha is a complex and profound sentiment. Such emotions defy definition".  

Well do you know that exercising Aloha Spirit is a law?

"Chapter 5 of Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes:

§ 5-7.5 "Aloha Spirit". (a) "Aloha Spirit" is the coordination of mind and heart within each person. It brings each person to the self. Each person must think and emote good feelings to others. In the contemplation and presence of the life force, "Aloha", the following unuhi laulā loa may be used:

"Akahai", meaning kindness to be expressed with tenderness;

"Lōkahi", meaning unity, to be expressed with harmony;  for full text, please go to: 

https://www.hawaii.edu/uhwo/clear/home/lawaloha.html

Aloha -- Cathi

Torrential Downpour

Aloha Everyone,

We are experiencing Indian Summer. It is hot and humid. The heat is actually excessive  registering much higher than normal for this time of the year. Added to this abnormal condition is the Verdugo Mountains brush fire North of downtown Los Angeles which caused a temporary closure of the 210 Freeway.

Anyone of us would be insensitive and selfish to complain of the heat knowing that thousands of victims of Hurricane Harvey have a long road ahead to try to piece their lives back together. And then there is Irma, another mega hurricane already in the news.

So when a torrential downpour suddenly drenched us with big rain drops coming in from the open roof ventilation of Honu, all J.J. and I could do was to laugh out loud and said, "It will give us a reason to wash Honu's floor." Yes it was a blessing from above, huge droplets bending branches, knocking down leaves and fruits in my Mother's garden. There are direct benefit from the power wash. Removal of dust, grime and spider webs. Hummingbirds unable to reach a shelter waited next to the wisteria. Then just as quickly and instantaneously the sun reappeared leaving the sidewalk steaming with the heat rising by another 10 percentage points.

Events in life happen when you least expect it. Like a torrential downpour, when it's over, things seems to return to their previous state yet some things have forever been altered.

Aloha -- Cathi

Returned to my Mother's Home

Aloha Everyone,

When we left Seligman at 4:08 am, the temperature was cool 56 degrees. Five hours later in Barstow, CA, it was 90 degrees.  

Today, J.J. drove over 400 miles. It was 8 hours on the road including 2 fueling stops. I am glad that he planned our trip well. We were able to avoid the noontime heat. 

Happy and grateful to be safely back at my Mother's home. To bask in her love and eat ripe persimmons that are ready for picking!

Aloha -- Cathi

On Route to California

Aloha Everyone,

For the past 15 days, I have been enjoying a multitude of wildflowers in an assortment of colors. Their tender blossoms catching the early morning sunlight have been an absolute delight.

Perhaps, because this was to be my last morning walk of this particular paths, what caught my eyes are the blossoms that have passed their prime. Their petals were drooping while their stigmas stood tall and proud, reminding me of Fez hats with glorious colorful Moroccan folk costumes of full skirts.

Lunch at Texas Roadhouse in Flagstaff. J.J. had a 1/2 portion of BBQ ribs plus Cesar salad and I chose a mixed salad and 6 oz sirloin.

Flagstaff to Seligman was a 2 hours drive.

Had to forgo my evening walk due to unexpected thunder, wind and rain. J.J. and I also deferred eating dinner at the highly recommended Roadkill Cafe. We dined in Honu.

Aloha -- Cathi