Christmas 2005

Aloha, Mele Kelikimaka, Season's Greetings and so forth,

I don't consider myself to be a 'christian' per se although I have largely grown up in a culture that is permeated through and through by Christianity . . . so I know that I have inculcated many of its precepts or at the very least, influences, into my own life. Not in itself a bad thing mind you, but interesting. I reject much of it but the part about not killing is a great idea. Then again, killing sactioned by the State seems to be an allowable exception, at least to America and much of the rest of the world.

So I sit here on a Christmas day ready to go to work but still getting over being sick myself. Imagine, a sick person going to work with the sick and dying at the hospital. Funny.

So I sit here and also think about so many of my friends all over the world that I love and would love to be with, if only for an hour. It has proven more difficult than I first imagined it would be to be alone on Christmas and the days before. Immediate family gone to visit relatives, it is pouring rain, I have been sick and so on and so forth. I hate this weather, get me back to Fiji and Hawai'i for god's sake.

I had a long conversation with a good friend last night whom I had met many years ago in Fiji. We have both had our challenges with living in America and I would daresay that part of each of us feels more comfortable with living outside of the United States that living inside. Especially now, given the current political, social and religious fervor permeating the country. I abhor and reject it.

I listened to Prarie Home Companion this morning and checked out thier web site. I once met Mr. Keilor through Nina Gerber (www.ninagerber.com) and he was very pleasent and polite. I would have enjoyed talking with him more at length (as I am sure many would) but the night was late and they were tired after a long gig and many days on the road. On his website he was asked by someone how to become a writer and do exactly what he is doing. His answer was simply to observe and write, write, write, write about every little single thing and bring meaning to it. Of course this is true and simply so, but his observation was that people simply do not do it but talk and talk about it. I am one of those much of the time and this blog is my effort (however small) to write more.

However, my principle intent today was to simply acknowledge all of my friends and family around the world, to send them my greetingsl, love and respect. John and Mili in Newcastle, Australia. Henri Julius and family in Berlin, Na and Nau in Suvavou Village, Fiji, Dean Leoni in Tokyo (at the moment on Maui, Hawai'i), Anna, Paul and Brom in San Francisco and so many more, indeed, too many to mention.

In the end, Christmas is simply a constuct and nothing less or more. What the construct represents to me is family, friends, jazz, food, friendship and a time to acknowledge our interrelatedness, commonalities and differences. That representation has meaning to me at least and I have dearly missed it this Christmas day.