Sweet Memories
I’ve been talking to my brother alot lately. When we talked on Saturday, he asked me to go home to Hilo. And it made me feel sad that I haven’t seen him for quite a few years. The last time was at my Uncle’s funeral in Hilo. Charley and I went over from Oahu and I picked up my son who was there at the time. I got to see my 3 brothers, Dad, all my Aunt’s and Uncles and cousins. Even the ones that I haven’t seen for over 20 years. It was a sad occassion, yet a memorable andhappy one at the same time because I got to see alot of people that I love.
More than anyone, it was my brother Bo. We had a special bond, the two of us. From when I was very young and still in school. He is 8 years older than me, so he looked after my sisters Honey, Budgie and I. Budgie was a year older than me and Honey was a year younger. When we were in High School, we did this secret code thing that almost looked like japanese writing that only a few of us could read. Our so called gang of girls. And we signed eachothers year book that way too. Budgie was going with the Captain of the football team, Honey went with someone who was in this group who called themselves the “Mill Boys”, and I was going with a boy who was his cousin. We would always meet at the bowling alley on the nights that HELCO had their bowling league, besides in school. My brother’s would watch us like a hawk, and made sure that we did not leave the bowling alley.
After we got out of High School, we had other interest and was no longer in relationships with those boys. My 2 sisters and I all went to the same Trade School that had the Hotel/Restaurant Management course. And so did our stepbrother G. He was close to us too, and we had alot of fun. Can you imagine how it was in that class with 3 sisters and a brother all attending at the same time? The teacher went bananas! But we turned out to be the best students he had. My sister Budgie gave him a harder time than the rest of us. And that’s cause she was in her second year in that class. After that, Budgie went to work for the Naniloa Hotel, I went to work for the Peace Corps, and Honey got married.
My brothers continued with their day jobs and playing music at night. They played for so many different clubs throughout all these years. I loved it when they worked at the old Orchid Isles Hotel. My nieces used to put on a hula show during the dinner hours. Then they would leave with their Mom, and my good friends and I would stay for the dance music, and sometimes I would help run the sound system and lights. They also played at the Poly Room at the Naniloa Hotel during the dinner hour. And that’s how I met my ex who was the Food and Beverage Manager. And Budgie was the main bartender there. On the nights that Budgie didn’t have to work, we would shanghai my brothers and make them stay with us to drink. Our sisters-in-laws didn’t mind cause they figured that my brothers were with family. Except for Boy’s wife who didn’t like the idea, but we took him anyway. And that was when we got in more trouble, cause the brothers were there. And when the girls would try to hit on Bo and Boy, we ran them off. And my brothers would tell us that we were “cramping their style”. LOL! Our girlfriends used to have a blast with us. They were the only girls that we would let our brothers dance with. When Gordy and I became a couple, my brother Bo hit the roof cause I was going with his boss. But he eventually got used to it.
My sister Budgie, our ex-brother-in-law(Honey’s ex), Gordy and I used to have so much fun together. We used to go up Kulani road and race the two Austin Healy’s we had. When we went to Kona for the weekend, we would race the Jeep against the boat. It was such a blast! We’d go skinny dipping at night at this special beach that was secluded in Kona. This was our wild and whooly days. Now all we have is great memories.
Then along came my beautiful husband Charley who captured my heart and we lived happily ever after. But not without static from my brother Bo, who made a point of being overly protective. But after he saw that I was finally happy with the man who became my soulmate, he backed off. Then we started having these family get togethers at the beach and at Bo’s house. And by then Boy was divorced from the wicked witch who never let him be with family. So it was really great spending quality times together.
And now hearing my brother say to me he wants me to go to Hilo, it stirred up all these feelings. And it makes me miss him even more. He has some health issues right now that I’m hoping can be medically handled for the best. I told him I would try my best to go see him this year, but I couldn’t promise anything. I have to see what happens after I get back to Hawaii the end of this month. So as it stands right now, I am preparing for my trip to Los Angeles to meet my kids and grandkids. In 2 weeks and 4 days! Then we will go to the most magical place on earth ....... Disneyland! Then it’s home to Oahu and to be with my grandchildren whom I’ve missed terribly. Hawai’i No Ka Oe!!
