Winter Solstice 2017

Happy Winter Solstice!

I passed my one year anniversary on Molokai in November. I am settled, have a routine: keep on exercising, do about five hours of volunteer work each week. In other words an orderly and pleasant life style. But the big bonus is I've found the creative time I have to myself is being productive. I've been writing, painting and coming up with new ideas for projects I can't imagine living long enough to complete.

A highlight of my time here was my visit to the canoe that sailed around the world. The Hoku'lea visited Kaunakakai wharf on a tour of the Hawaiian Islands last month. On November 28, I got to go on board and marvel at the living heritage and courage involved. A grand plan successfully completed. And it is a beautiful ship from the zig-zag stitching on the sail to the hand carved koa wood 'doughnuts' securing the multiple ropes, and the magnificent rudder that I could barely heft out of the water to move in the air. For all those days and nights, all those miles someone was holding course with that rudder. 

My bare feet touch deck

Hoku'lea courageous

Circle completed

Check out their website at: hokulea.com hokulea.com

Autumn Equinox 2017

Return to the Central Pacific

I share that universal reaction, now that I have a home: it is such a pleasure to return.

Admittedly, when I'm traveling I want to keep going, see what is over the next ridge; check out another city.

Family and friends make me welcome; tell me I'm looking well.

Keeping connections, long-term, takes an effort both joyful and sad.

Finances and energy levels demand I stop. Mixed blessing. I've done what I could, then let go.

Return to Molokai is sweet. Flying into Honolulu from San Francisco is swift. Seeing my island home from the air gave me a rush, I wanted to point it out to everyone around, 'That's my home. It looks just like the map – rather like a fish. It's so clear from up here.'

yes, a pleasure to return.

[canoe race finish line]

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Four years ago I said I would return to Oregon to see the solar eclipse. And that I did. In August I viewed the eclipse in Lebanon, OR. (east of Corvallis on the South Santiam River). It was a classic celestial event, the slow awareness of change, the suspension of reality during totality with beautiful aurora, then sudden diamond ring glint as the earth keeps turning and the shadow passes on. Being the type of person who watches the credits after a film, I had to wait until the sun was whole again before I would leave.

Previous to that major event I had been in Hood River visiting my older sister Lorraine and her family. Here are my shots of Mt. Hood and Multnomah Falls. This is the area of the Columbia River Gorge that is being devastated by the Eagle Creek fire. The old lodge at the falls was saved, but it's not over yet. As of Sept 19th rain has come and outlook is now much better.

 

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I spent a week in Eugene visiting long time friends and getting quality time with my son Nat and his partner Brandi. He does computer 'stuff' and she makes fantastic wrapped wire jewelry. They arranged time off from jobs and we spent a beautiful long weekend at Newport on the coast. I had the Oscar Wilde room at the Sylvia Beach Hotel where they serve hot mulled wine at night in the library. Ah, indulgences...

Photos of Oscar Wilde room, Sutton Beach Overlook, that's me in the shark's jaws at the aquarium in Newport, and the sea lions in the harbor making an incredible racket.





 
           

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I must mention my detour to Powell's Bookstore in Portland; a book-lovers heaven. I came out with only two books (travel light) plus a free shipping coupon! Then returning the rental car to Portland airport I found my way to San Jose in less than two hours. There I stayed with Carolyn, a dear friend I've known since the 1960's. We worked together in Los Angeles and then were neighbors in New York City; lots of wonderful memories shared. She has consistently inspired and encouraged me over the years.

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My next jaunt by Cal-train, BART and bus got me up to Healdsburg north of Santa Rosa, for a pleasant visit with my younger sister Ellen and her family which increased since I was last there with the addition of her new grandson. The fierce heat and smoky sky kept us indoors while we shared old photos. I brought some from our other sister in Oregon;

[mother, older sister & me early 1940's; younger sister & me early 1960's; mother, me & Nat - 2nd b'day]

The heat limited our usual walking around but we did go to the Armstrong Redwood Grove just outside Guerneville in the coast range to walk among the magic. The time span (1400 years) and size of those trees (300') puts me in different perspective.

Old, large, lovely, 

Impressive trees. 

Non bending, non-burning Redwoods 

capture the sky and keep it anchored to the Earth.

We stand in awe.

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My last adventure was a day in San Francisco. I walked around the Castro district and attended a San Francisco Mime Troupe performance in Deloris Park; their production of Walls. The SFMT does political, musical satire, a longtime institution in the Bay Area.

  

  

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Then the circle was completed as I reclaimed the peace and clean air of home.

My sincere thanks to those who shared this adventure with me, and apologies to all those I did not get to see. You are not forgotten.

Summer Solstice 2017

Dragon Fruit

SONG OF PERPETUAL SUMMER

Trade Winds set tempo, 

coffee on lanai greets day; 

sort the shades of blue.

Temperature rise 

harmonizing scent patterns 

with waves and sea birds.

Bending, stitching words 

throughout the soft melody; 

tapestry of palms.

Our dreams and memories 

string sensuous lei each day; 

generations link.

Chance encounters, whims

provide counterpoint, accent;

surprise of ginger.

An inclination 

towards hammock resolution;

afternoon answers.

Sunset promises, 

celebrate by letting go;

reward of night sky.

1. Halawa

2. Sandy

3. Ali'i Fish Pond

4. Canoe Club

5. Beach and Wharf

6. Hale O Lono

7. Dixie Maru

8. Mo'omomi

9. Kalaupapa

10 Hina and Gourd of Three Winds
by Alapai Hanapi
at Moloka'i Public Libray

Cashew Fruit



Key to photo locations

Spring Equinox 2017

(left to right) Moloka'i, Maui, Lanai

view from Kaunakakai wharf at sunrise

Tuesday, March 14, the night and day were equal in Hawai'i

(here is copy of poem on photo)

Ode to the Central Pacific

My latitude is firm - above the equator, not much below the Tropic of Cancer

It's my meridian I am having trouble pinning down; some 20 plus degrees east of the International Date Line

Tomorrow is just over that line. No, I can't see it either but it takes 24 hours to cover the short hop from here to there

Everything is far away, especially yesterdays. Their reflections are just patterns of light tossed off without a care

I sit on the wharf and watch the sky and water unite three islands of the most remote place on our earth

Sunset pulls my mind toward New Zealand, Australia, India; with sunrise come thoughts of the mainland

The moon follows along in its own whimsical fashion; like me not caring to keep up or stay on the path

Once I cared where I was: location location location. Now being warm and having a place to swim are my only priorities

Cards and letters are welcome. Eventually they find me and eventually I reply with odes to oceans and orchids

      Ruth Ann Howden

            March 8, 2017

PERSISTENCE

Persistence

never not resist

isolation and comfort

must  be  overcome

searching hope within cloud of hopelessness

here I am living 
well

but if I raise my head up 
even a little, I see poverty, 
a little more shows 
environmental despair,

 
under these issues I see 
individual and corporate greed 

looming in the imminent future
fascism led by # 45

so I duck my head and feel the exhaustion of impotence.
a few deep breaths and 
I revive
give myself a pep talk -- one 
thing I know 
about myself 
I am persistent.
must do my part 
to resist. 

(As Joseph O'Neill has his narrator, 
a poet, proclaim,  ending 
my new favorite story:
'Pardon Edward Snowden'
December 12th issue New Yorker) 

"Silently and exultantly, he roared, Never give in. Never not resist."