Almost 365 days in Kona and almost LXII!

I really like the sound of “almost,” because it reminds me of the scene in “One Hundred Foot Journey” when the deliciously bombastic Indian Papa slips in love with the not so prissy anymore French restauranteur across the street, and calls her his “almost girlfriend.”  And then they dance together so tenderly. Almost poetry.

And when I write out Roman numerals … saying almost 62, the coyest way I can  … why pussyfoot about what’s about to happen when it’s real as the day I was born.  As real as when I surrendered my very first one-way ticket to Kona, almost 365 days ago, in return for a new way of life which includes feeding seven turkey sisters (who all look alike and come running across the lanai to be fed, almost three times a day….)  No almost about this gleeful sight … and to think that our realtor described the birds to us in less than respectful terms!

Everything every day is real — new shades of real. As real as when my Micronesian tutorees clown around in my reading glasses before they settle down for some serious reading, and sometimes they’re not quite accurate when it comes to multiplying three digit numbers by each other.  And if they always came up with the right answers … I’d probably be almost ecstatic and feel almost useless at the same time.

Almost one year nesting up here in coffee country without a single coffee tree on our property — but so many tropicals, as we say here.  And I’m learning how to grow salad vegetables from scratch.

And you may have heard about the hurricanes which almost showed up where we live  …. I’m so grateful for the mountains that protected us and wish all good things for the swiftest recovery for our Islanders who were besieged by Iselle.

And when I was not quite 62, Bill and I did our tiny bit to help the admirable  Senator Brian Schatz hold on to his well-earned seat, which somebody tried to grab away —  Bravo and many more terms, Brian!

So –it’s almost my birthday tomorrow.  I’m baking cupcakes for the keiki tonight.  They’ll be almost gone, in a few hours.

glosbe.com/haw/en/keiki

www.google.com/search?q=trailer+for+One+Hundred+Foot+Journey&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.