Dad Made it to Hawaii

I toyed with many titles for this post and realized that how I chose to write about the mid-day Luau at the Adult Family Home yesterday would self select the title. I gave thought to the following teaser titles:

1. Spiked Punch: a Luau Necessity (or somewhat related: Sleeping Off the Mid-day Luau)

2. Converting to Vegetarian(ism) Sorry, but the whole pig that Anna decapitated in the kitchen plus the knowledge that said pig was running free some 36 hours ago, made me swear off meat. My issue,totally: I get that, all you rustic carnivores in my life!

3. Calories at Mid-Day, or

4. Dad Made it to Hawaii.

I settled on the last title because although it's not the catchiest or funniest, it stands out as the most touching and honors the take-away memory with the greatest "sticking power".

Talk of this Luau, planned for Sunday the 17th at the ADH my parents and four other residents call home, has been the hot topic for days. Every visit this past week highlighted the big preparations underway; hanging lanterns, sun catchers in the dining room window, hand decorated visors with island motif, and colorful leis. This was to be the bash of the season with neighbors, family and friends, plus all shifts of caregivers invited to share in a Luau feast designed to bring generations together in a tropical island fantasy far removed from Hawaii but as close as possible for a Seattle venue on a warm summer day.

There were lots of folks ranging in age from three to 90 in attendance, all enjoying fabulous food and shared moments with hula hoops, music, laughs and the grand finale: a live mother-son Hawaiian duo performing a singing and dancing routine center stage with residents and guests surrounding and swaying to the unmistakable Luau beat. Anna and her staff went all out. Not only was the food authentic, down to the whole Kalua pig (no backyard pit but Anna allowed that next year this was "gonna happen"). Luau making, this being the "first annual", follows a learning curve. The opening bash was quite impressive, tasty, creative, and just plain fun. The Mai Tai punch helped smooth out any rough edges.

Dad, who'd been taking a brief rest in the back room, eating his lunch and sipping on a Heineken ventured out to join the party when he learned the singing and dancing show was about to start. For his own reasons, and never completely understood by any of us, Dad has always dreamed of a trip (or a cruise) to Hawaii. He's talked about this frequently over the last decade lived in Seattle. After all, the west coast is the perfect launch off point for the Islands. Dad, already experienced with island life Caribbean style, may have found in Hawaii a unique draw. I'm just guessing here but perhaps the Pacific Islands carry the authentic tropical green island feel for him. Or maybe it's the music, dancing ladies and the sounds of aloha and mahalo. Maybe it's Pearl Harbor and memories of a time when as a young man he might be called to serve his country. Whatever his reasons, what remains is his dream: to see Hawaii.

I stood watching Dad as he focused on the the mother-son duo, dancing, singing and entertaining the gathered crowd. He clapped his hands and smiled lots; his mood suddenly more upbeat after some early-on grumblings about what he was doing sitting in the middle of a big "cocktail party", seemingly chaotic and excessive. At one point, tears in his eyes, he allowed that, "Wow, I finally made it to Hawaii today." He meant those words. I'm glad you enjoyed the show, Dad.