As I write this, there is a monsoon trying to break down the door. Not a full-blown howler, but a storm with enough thunder, lightning, wind, and rain to make me think it’s time to build that ark. I am writing this story from not so sunny Kauai, Hawaii. The monsoon I mentioned woke me out of a dead sleep. Since I wasn’t able to get back to slumberland, I thought I would use the time productively. My wife and I originally visited Kauai thirty-three years ago during our honeymoon. Our last trip to the Garden Isle was nineteen years ago when we spent a week here with our two sons. However, the weather on both trips was nothing like this. Lucky us. Oh well, it’s 35 degrees at home, so I shouldn’t complain.
The other day, one of my favorite movies came to mind. 50 First Dates. It takes place in Hawaii, so that’s probably what triggered the thought. The film stars Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it. Drew’s character Lucy, has short term memory loss from a car accident. When she goes to bed at night and wakes up the next morning, it’s like the previous day never happened. Sandler’s character Henry falls in love with her and desperately tries to get her to fall in love with him. However, since she can’t remember what happened the previous day, he is a complete stranger every time they meet. Despite her condition, Lucy finds a way to cope with her illness and lives a very happy life. In the moment. For her, there is nothing else.
One of the featured songs from that movie is Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole (Iz). Over the Rainbow has a special place in my heart and his rendition always brings a lump to my throat. The story of Iz, as he was known, is a sad one. A very large Hawaiian man who had a very large heart. He had a great love of music, as well as his beautiful home. Unfortunately, he passed away too soon and it’s sad to think of all the unrecorded music that went with him. Both Lucy and Iz teach us a valuable lesson. Life is to be embraced and lived every single day. There is a funny, but profound saying in the self-help world. Live every day as if it’s your last, because one day, you’ll be right! I’m sure Lucy and Iz would agree.
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