...in all her glory
Every Friday night, on the island of Molokai, the Wise Women
of the island known as "The Aunties" gather around a long table at the local hotel to play their
ukuleles, and to sing the songs they most likely learned from their Aunties. Locals and tourists alike
ensure that they arrive by 5 o'clock sharp to watch the Aunties play in all
their glory and sing the old Hawaiian songs. While there's
no question that these elder gals were having copious amounts of fun, there was also no question
in my mind that these Friday nights are keeping the culture
and traditions alive and well on Molokai.
This Auntie captured my special attention. She slowly
entered the room with the aid of a walker, dressed in a red and white muumuu,
complete with straw hat and festive yellow lei. Her
companions turned her chair to face the audience, she took her seat, raised her arms, positioned her hands, and began to dance a sitting hula. Immediately
her face reflected pure joy, and it looked to me as though she mentally
transported herself to her happy place.
I couldn't stop photographing
her, which was an amazing accomplishment given the inconvenient position of the light,
coupled with the volume of tears running down my cheeks. These were a few magical moments indeed, as I watched the essence of living a joyful life being performed right in front of me.
After enjoying some coconut shrimp, a glass of chilled white
and a little cavorting with the locals, it was time to call it a night. On my
way to the car...who was sitting on a bench waiting for her escort, but my favorite
sitting hula Auntie. I stopped to thank her for giving us all the privilege of watching her dance, and she invited me to sit down beside her. I had a hundred questions on the tip of my tongue, and of course just as graciously as she danced, she answered the only question I needed to ask, "What brings you here?"
She grew up on Molokai, has outlived 2 husbands and some children, still lives on her own, and except for the time she was recovering from her stroke, she comes to dance every Friday night. "As long as there's someone who's willing to bring me, I'll be here", she said.
From our brief conversation on the bench, it was clear to me that this Wise Woman has lived a full colour life - with all of the joys and sorrows it has to offer. "I don't know why I'm still on this earth", she offered, "but as long as I am, I may as well do the things that make me happy."
And there it was...the gold nugget. Not rocket science - just simple wisdom.
Look at the joy on this Auntie's face...she's radiant.
Who knows why any of us are still here - at any age - but as long as we are, we may as well do the things that make us happy.
What gives you this kind of look on your face?
More importantly...
When was the last time you did it?
Mahalo
