Aloha!

Well, it's been a full week since I've signed up here at Gather and it's been quite interesting. Having spent some time - make that a LOT of time - looking around and commenting and meeting some really nice people, I must say it's a great place!

This is my first "article" as a way of introducing myself.

I am a 47 year old third generation Japanese American, born and raised in Hawaii who relocated 12 years ago to Michigan with my hubby of twenty some odd years. I have one stepson - never had any kids of my own - who is married with three beautiful daughters. So I'm a grandma and I love it. I also am "mom" to three cats. Anything with fur, I will probably adore it.

I am very opinionated and my favorite topics of discussion are politics and religion - yes, I'm the dinner guest from hell. ;-) But I also love art, history, literature, science, etc. Quite the geek who would have been house-bound if the internet existed when I was teenager. Thank goodness it didn't cause I did get to do some marvelous things while living in Hawaii - and taking it all for granted since familiarity breeds content as it were. I enjoyed hiking, swimming and surfing. All the kinds of things someone in Hawaii should enjoy.

Occasionally I miss my home and would like to move back home one day when I'm older and grayer - though I wonder if that will ever be affordable since the cost of living there is outrageous and having lived here for so long now I might have a heart attack if I ever have to grocery shop in Hawaii ever again. Not to mention where I lived - on Oahu - the amount of people crammed into that small space would probably cause me to go postal. I love where I live now. Traffic jams consist of Amish buggies, farm equipment and school buses. Memories of getting up at 5 a.m. to leave for work at 6 a.m. so I could get to work in Honolulu by 8 a.m. was just stupid. The sitting in traffic at the H-1/H-2 interchange and inching along what would normally be a 20 minute drive for an hour and a half would just make me crazy now.

What do I miss about my home? The multi-culturalism, the food, the beautiful Pacific ocean (sorry, but in comparison lakes really suck), old friends and despite all the people and Honolulul being just another big city with palm trees - the gorgeous scenery many people pay big bucks to see. I once lived in a condo with a view of Diamond Head. Did I appreciate it? Well, when I first moved in but after a while it was just there. I miss it.

I also miss hearing "pidgin" English and Hawaii accents. The one thing my mother made sure I didn't have - I developed it when I reached school age cause I never would have survived in school being a local girl speaking like a "haole." But I generally drop it in certain situations like being in school, job interviews, when I was doing news radio, and of course now that I'm living in Michigan it's most helpful to not have a Hawaii accent.

Ah well, I also love Michigan. The weather. Yes, the weather. I love winter. I love being cool. I love snow. Yes, I am insane. It's just so beautiful in the winter. Maybe it's because I lived for 35 years in perpetual summer I appreciate the change of seasons. Fall is my favorite time. Cool but not freezing. Gorgeous colors on the trees. Harvest time. My life here is good. My family - stepson followed us here cause he too is insane - is here and where ever they are is home.

Basically I am pretty open minded. I am looking for discussion not a flame fest. I tend to be liberal and I am NOT affiliated with any one religion though I tend towards Buddhism since it's the religion I was born into. I am fascinated by religion but not an advocate of any one. In fact I often think organized religion is both the bane and blessing of mankind. I have a love-hate relationship with religion.

I am good at compartmentalizing and hope to find discussion with everyone of all political and religious persuations. Oh and music is my passion. I'm not a musician but I love music of pretty much all genres with rock and alternative being my most beloved type of music.

Nice to meet you all and for anyone who has bothered to read this far, thanks for taking the time to get to know me a little. I hope you'll give me the chance to get to know you as well.

Aloha! :-)

Comments: 22

Cheryl C. Jul 30, 2006, 2:14pm EDT

Wasn't there a former Miss America from Michigan who was a Hawaiian transplant? (Must to dust of my pageant memory)

You are obviously a woman of diverse interests with refined sensibilities. I've noticed your recent comments, and appreciate your contributions to the gathering crowd.

At first I though your icon was a cocktail shaker. My bad. Now I see that it is a sapphire jellyfish. Cool.

Comments: 22

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