Zero June Gloom

We had a great trip, but had to hit the ground running as soon as we landed.  

We landed late on Sunday night, and the following weekend, I managed to help put on a Pride 5k (since it's Pride month!) for our companies with a few other staff members. Since I did a lot of the planning before we left, I think it went off without a hitch! I want to do anything I can to support the LGBTQ+ movement, a segment of our population that suffered from inequality for far too long. 

We also got to watch Ryan and his taiko friends perform at the Grand Reopening of a McDonalds (folks, this is big time when you're country)! The kids did a FABULOUS job and we were all so proud of them. I was most especially enamored with that gangly hapa kid in the center who kinda looks like me... The single greatest blessing of COVID was the friendships we developed within this group of kids and parents.  It has led to expanding our social circle and exposing us to positive, generous and uplifting families we are lucky to have met.

On that note, Ryan made a new friend from Japan, and a few of his taiko friends (many of whom are fully bilingual) were able to celebrate her birthday with her! They also got to pick rambutan fruit after (think of little fruit covered in follicles that look like they come from an alien planet), a first for myself as well! 

We were able to hang out with his new friend, Futaba, perhaps a half dozen times while was here for about 5 weeks. I think it was fun for Ryan to have an opportunity to be exposed to more Japanese language, and I hope it inspires him to study more. He just got a new tutor (in Japan) that he zooms with twice a week (Airi sensei) to help get ready for Japanese language classes next year.

If you've never seen a rambutan, look at a Google image...they taste a lot and look a lot like lychee (same family).

Ry & his BFF helping at the temple's annual clean up

And we weren't the only ones living life- Kenichi and Riki were back in Japan for the month with their mom, visiting grandparents and other family they hadn't seen in nearly 3 years, thanks to COVID. And while they were there, Riki had a part time job at a kimono shop...and both boys were asked to help 'model' the attire with a temple photo shoot and commercial (that Riki spoke in)! They're now back in town, and we were happy to see them after the Fourth parade we went to with friends.

And not to be outdone, my sister in law (who helped organize the parade route road closures as a sheriff) was selected as a pa'u rider in the King Kamehameha Day parade! Such an honor, and she looked stunning. Coincidentally, she's riding with a woman who I met years ago when our kids were in preschool together... 

This is our busy bee right after taiko practice at the temple. 

Ryan just finished summer school a week ago, and has a busy schedule for July. I am unsure how he will be able to juggle it all once he starts school...so we will try to figure things out. Right now, he has only one day off.

Mon -  taiko practice

Tue -   karate

Wed -  taiko practice

Thu-    karate 

Fri -     piano class, Japanese

Sat -    OPEN

Sun -   P/T job in the morning, then a PM math class

This is the weekly haul from the garden that is sorely neglected.

I had a few unexpected visitors at work one day who came by to say hi since they were in the area, waiting for the library to open. Since the surf was up, we headed over to Kai Eats + Drinks to have some pastries by the water.

And let's not forget that this month was Fathers Day...I hosted a dinner that had Rich's favorite eats (a taco bar, Spanish rice, refried beans, chips and dip) and my dad's (ribs). It wasn't easy to do both, and dinner ran about 30 min behind. But it all worked out!

So yeah...June was a blur, but a blur mixed in with lots of fun. July hasn't been a walk in the park, but I don't think it will be quite as busy. I still can't believe I have a 14-year old that towers over me, and that in four years, he'll be (hopefully) getting ready for college.