Page 4 - MidWeek - Sep 14, 2022

4 MIDWEEK SEPTEMBER 14, 2022
M Family Circus
What is your favorite month?
y trip to Florida last month had a nonmone- tary cost. First, I was going to be gone on my wife’s birthday. Pretty sure it was the first time
we were apart on that special day, so I had to rely on our wonderful daughter to make sure it was special for her. It was special, all right. The two of them came down with COVID! I felt pretty helpless and guilty that I wasn’t home to take care of them.
But as family always does, my sister, her son and my brother stepped up and took care of my wife and daughter by preparing meals and running errands for them. I was truly grateful, as were both my wife and daughter.
BRONSON CHINEN
Business Owner, Mililani
“December. That’s when the weather is cool, the surf is pumping, the holiday dinners are with family and friends, and it’s the month to reflect on the year and to prepare for the next.”
KA‘OHI GOMERA
Executive Admin, Kaimukī
“June. It’s the start of summer and the days are longer, which means I have more time to do things
I love, like going to the beach.”
KILI TUAKOI
Facility Monitor, Kapolei
“December. Not only is it the month of Christmas, but it’s also the month of my birthday. I get to see and spend more time with family and friends during the holidays.”
SIERRA MCDERMOTT
Resident Specialist Coordinator, Honolulu
“August. My friends usually come back to visit from the mainland around that time. We also enjoy the weather and going to the beach.”
Last weekend, my wife wanted to take them out to thank them for their thoughtfulness. Unfortunately, my nephew had to work so it was just us, and my sister and brother. That meant we could all go in my wife’s car, and our daughter volunteered to drive. My brother sat in front with his “fa- vorite” niece and I rode in back with my wife and my sister.
We decided to take them to brunch at a little restaurant, located in the marketplace on the corner of Kapi‘olani Boulevard and Pumehana Street, known for its charcuterie boards. The food was outstanding and we all had a wonder- ful time. As we left the parking lot, I commented that my brother, sister and I lived on Pumehana when we were kids.
Ron Nagasawa
Director of Content / Supplement Products
Don Robbins
Regional Editor
Tasha Mero
Staff Writer
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Staff Writer
Dennis Francis
President & Publisher
Dave Kennedy
Chief Revenue Officer
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Ginger Keller
Assistant Editor
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Senior Staff Writer
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Senior Staff Writer
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Senior Photographer
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Managing Editor
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Senior Creative Artist
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Creative Artist
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Senior Photographer
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The Risk Of Being You
“Be yourself” is something I heard growing up, knew was important, but never un- derstood. Now that I do, I see how hard it is to show up as our authentic selves, so we wear
masks to make it easier.
It’s risky to show up as “you” because you never
know what kind of pushback you’ll get or disadvan- tage it might trigger. Yet, we betray ourselves every time we show up as inauthentic versions of ourselves.
To start finding yourself in order to be yourself, make a simple commitment to listen to, and surren- der to recognizing what feels right for you in each moment. That’s the only way to find your way back to you. The alternative is to slowly die while you’re still alive. Is it worth the pain?
alice@yourhappinessu.com
Our dad was doing a tour in Vietnam so we lived in a little downstairs apartment with our mom. Our landlord, the Okamuras, lived upstairs, and they adopted our family while our dad was away. The Okamuras had a son and daughter, Eddie and Ruby, who kind of became our older siblings.
Uncle and Aunty Okamura were like our grandparents. We would always hang out at their apartment where Aunty Okamura would fry us up sugared coconut chips. Uncle Okamura would take us out on excursions.
We would go on these saucer boat rides on the Ala Wai Canal and even go crabbing off the bridge. You could do that back then. Anyway, in the car, we started reminiscing about life with the Okamuras, clearly the best of memories.
Our brother was pretty young so it was my sister and me sharing most of the stories. My wife and daughter, especially my daughter, listened intently to the stories. My sister shared a memory, “Remember when Uncle took us fishing at the Ala Wai boat harbor? Ron, you were fishing and you hooked my thumb?” My daughter burst out laugh- ing, “Did you just say that my dad was fishing in a thong?” We all roared with laughter, except my brother.
He said, “Pull over, I’m going to be carsick. I can’t get that image out of my head!”
rnagasawa@midweek.com