Page 2 - MidWeek - March 1, 2023

2 MIDWEEK MARCH 1, 2023
Not So Fast!
C“One new perception ... can change your life forever.” — Robert Holden
Thanks to an officer’s stern yet soft-spoken request, the author has been driving safely for decades.
have to say. I don’t know how fast you were going. Never got a real reading. But I know” — his voice caught for a moment before he con- tinued — “and you should know, I spent my entire Thanksgiving Day pulling out from a car a young man who had been speeding. I’ m going to give you a warning. But I hope you never speed
oach would not un- derstand my being late for my first col-
Feet Feat
lege game. I was nervous, excited, anxious. Worse, I was 18 and at the wheel of a new Pontiac GTO. With its 6.5-liter V-8 engine and four-barrel carb, it was ful- ly capable of making up the time lost from lingering over Thanksgiving dinner.
‘I
first title since 2014. Like many other games throughout this season, the No. 2-seeded Raiders had to overcome adversity to pull this one out, rallying to win in the fi- nals (2-1) via penalty kicks over a savvy, No. 1-ranked Mililani squad.
olani’s “One Team” concept was on full display last month as the Raiders won their 10th boys’ soccer championship over the past half-century, and its
like this again.”
In a flash, I saw the situ-
One of the great stories within this great story (if you’re an ‘Iolani fan, or perhaps just a fan of sheer per- severance) is the tale of Kaleb Abara, a senior who has seen his personal share of adversity from the very start. He spent hours after birth in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to ensure that he didn’t have a suspected skull frac- ture from the delivery.
For miles, limestone bluffs guarded one side of the road and stared across the mud- dy Mississippi. The empty, concrete ribbon beckoned irresistibly. With sweaty palms and butterflies raging inside, I checked the clock, scanned the road, glanced in the rearview mirror. It was now or never. I jammed the accelerator.
He stepped to my car. Sickening waves of guilt swept through me. From exhilaration to regret, all on a dime. He was going to let me have it. I knew I deserved it. But I had it wrong.
ation from the officer’s side and knew what I must decide. His humble request has pow- ered my driving ever since. Today, at age 72, I have not driven like that again, have covered over 3 million miles, and have not had a single major accident. Thank you, officer.
Don Thomas is the father of three adult kids and main- tains a very active lifestyle, with running, cycling and skiing at the forefront. With his wife, Kay, he sells re- sort real estate in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
Chasing The Light is pro- duced by Lynne Johnson and Robin Stephens Rohr.
He’s also overcome a childhood eye ailment and has dealt with long-time allergies to eggs, nuts, shellfish and dairy products. Tough to be a kid at parties when you can’t eat cake — ever. He was also diagnosed with asth- ma and uses an inhaler — not a pleasant proposition for anyone, let alone someone expecting to play high-level soccer. Five years ago while attending a Colorado soccer camp, he took a trip to the emergency room to have his injured wrist X-rayed. He caught a break then: No break.
The Pontiac power-surged, and the road liquified. At over 135 mph, I very soon made up the miles, then de-
His luck wasn’t as good 14 months ago when he tore his ACL against the same Mililani team he just helped vanquish in the state finals. After an arduous rehab, he returned to form and helped ‘Iolani begin its champi- onship roll this past fall, 10 months after knee surgery. He became the team’s go-to guy for penalty kicks — Mr. Clutch — and while he actually missed a PK in OT against Mililani, he did manage to connect on a sec- ond-half PK in the championship game, which helped propel ‘Iolani into overtime where the Raiders prevailed.
“I hope you hear what I
While ‘Iolani’s “One Team” mantra reverberates throughout its hallways and harkens back to the Rev. Kenneth Bray over 90 years ago, it is often mentioned and apparent on playing fields, courts, pools, ocean and wherever else ‘Iolani teams compete. Sometimes under- sized, but never undermotivated, the Raiders’ One Team spirit and dependence upon one another reverberates time after time when a team (and individuals) accom- plishes a great feat. And now, due in part to Abara’s grit and great feet, ‘Iolani is the 2023 state boys’ soccer champs.
Think about it.
liberately slowed, pulling off a normal arrival at campus. I had made it. Then, flashing lights.
He approached my win- dow, looked at me intently, spoke softly.
New Century Schoolbook bold (scaled H 73.6)
KELLEY
with Don Thomas
john@thinkaboutithawaii.com