Hanai

 The word in a word in Hawaii that sw=means fmailiy and tha means family. People scoff. But if I were to say that world means "ssssssx" in Italian" or x in russian they might be okay.

But no, a third world country owned by the United States???

Hanai, means family you choose. Not because your cousin married someone. Or married someone. Or because someone you have known and loved someone one since you, who cares since when. 

My daughter. was here today. She made she choice to wake up early and wake up her boyfriend and come paddle with me and my canoe club.

That's the beautiful thing about those we invite into our "hanai" and to those " hanai" in which we become. We never feel it is happening. We become.

She was there. With her boyfriend at 6am, at Keauhou Bay to go paddling. Only one person - so who is Lily? We just smile. My teenage daughter I reply. Jim, across the boat replies, "Are they teenagers?". They will always be in my mind. 

Lily and I swim. We paddle back.

As we get the boats in and walk to the club. Jeff is there. 

Not what I was expecting.

Lily wasn't either. She had asked me earlier if he had paddled, I relieplied no. He captains late night manta dives. William, her boyfriend, had been caught up in old time "rowing" conversation.

As, my former, and also younger self walked up to greet him. Along with my duaghter.

Everything, everything, going to be all right.

Daily Habits

 The only way to do this again. Because I do TRULY love to write. Is well, to start to write ever day.

So, here is today. Write now. :-) 

Mission Accomplished

Ironman 2022

Everyone has been telling you your WHOLE life to be patient. Not one of your virtues. NO, I didn't do it (this time). I worked it. 

Not sure if you learned your lesson or somehow it arrived it in due time (as usual.....).

FIRST TWO DAY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ever! 😅Yes, EVER.

TWO years of COVID cancellations. ELEVEN years of wanting to be there on closing night.

In true Leasa style, it showed up even better. I was there on closing night. I was EMPLOYED by IRONMAN. I was on the VIP FINISHERS PLATFORM. 

SO many changes in my life over the last ELEVEN years. What am I talking about the last 11 years?  Not all good. Its been hard work to get here. Slow and steady DOES win the race, or at least it gets you across the finish line. Or to the start line. At least forward and not stuck in a place that you don't want to be. Hopefully, we are to the run now....

Many stories from the last week I can't yet put into words. 

One of my dear friends I lost in 2019. To say I was heartbroken over losing her is an understatement. (That's a song for another time). 

There was a large Honu (turtle) who appeared in the water just before the finishers were approaching the finishing line.  The turtle arm came into the air.

I'm on the finish line platform. I looked in the water. I waved to her. She said "You are welcome darlin" and swam back into the sea".....Yes, every single emotion you are feeling right now was there. Breathe deep.

The dolphins who appeared just before all the pro's jumping for the crowd. The dolphins made the news feed. Of course they did. 

I know this is my magic. This is my special place. I can feel the magic here. If it's my job to share it with others, I'm happy, I share my joy in all sorts of ways.

Saturday night. The closing ceremony was happening. The last runners were coming in. The magic of the whole event was coming to an end. I never stay to the very end.

I sneak out the side. I like to remember the moment, just before the end. The moment when everyone still is holding on to the magic. I like putting all the magic together. That place between dreaming and awake. 

As I sneak into the parking lot, the ceremonial drums are beating. We still have awards ceremony the next night. The lights are beginning to fade. The moon is full. Jupiter is above the moon. There are drops of Jupiter. 

Mission accomplished.

(I'll catch you up from 2016 - 2020 some other time it, but please do know, you too can heal.)