Farewell fair lady...Bea Arthur

Today we say goodbye to one of my all time favorite comedienne's Bea Arthur. From the 70's sitcom Maude to the 80's Golden Girls, Bea's acid wit helped her achieve success in any titled character she chose to portray.As a young woman watching I had no clue what it meant to be an outspoken liberal feminist, but I knew I wanted to be one. Sociopolitical topics my own mother wouldn't address, Bea's series hit them all. Especially during times when it was considered taboo ( the big no-no's) I love my mother but she had a hard enough time addressing my menestral cycle. Here is Bea Arthur on T.V talking about divorce, alcoholism, spousal abuse and even a pregnacy late in life, while my mom reads uncomfortably from a little red book on how to explain the cycle of life. Have no misunderstandings, it's how women were taught. The subjects were not only shunned but extremely uncomfortable. Subjects better kept private, things young women didn't discuss much less knew about. In my opinion as it is, this is what made Bea's series so groundbreaking, astounding and one felt compelled to watch each week. My mother, aunts and neighborhood friends gathered around to watch Maude.I remember the first time I seen her on All in the family, matching wits with Archie Bunker. I thought wow, I'm going to be just like her one day. A woman unafraid to speak her mind, one expressing her intelligence and the best part of all; she held her own with a man. It was great, inspiring, unheard of and I watch that episode over and over still today.I absolutely loved her and always will. No award ever earned will define the magnatude of what she contributed to women of many generations. We are fearless, strong, confident and forever pioneers. Lady love Bea Arthur, you will forever be loved and missed.

Out of the corner of Candi's eye

Home Sweet Island

Ok I think we are finally getting settled in. Our feet wet at least. Would I be risking a jinx if I went so far as to say that we've had a very smooth transition in our move. You hear all these pcs horror stories, but we've been so very fortunate in each of our moves. Whom ever is to thank.....we humbly bow before thee!

Some of the funniest things that have happened to us though are the ones you would never give a second thought. Such as; those who know Brian know that he is one big ol country bumpkin. Picture this if you will. We get our truck and he's strumming thru the radio stations looking for a country one. He goes thru the dial once....twice and I swear the sweat is starting to bead on his forehead. Pretty much the only thing coming thru is Hawaiian native music, rap and some music we've never heard of: but safe to say it's not country and Brian won't listen to it. So Aaron and I realizing what's wrong with him tell him to take a deep breath and go thru them again. Just go slowly this time and listen to them all. I'm not kidding you guys Brian went thru that dial for over 20 minutes before he finally called one of the guys in his unit to ask them if they knew of a country station. Glory halluhiauh they did. You just had to enter it because it's in between stations and normally it wouldn't pick up when you just scan thru them. Oh my gosh the look of relief on his face was enough to send Aaron and I over the edge of hysterical laughter! I really think he would have been ready to move back to Ft. Bragg over the prospect of no country music on the radio in Hawaii. With Brian who woulda thunk!!!!

Another funny is Brian. I know, I know it seems I'm picking on him but he makes it so easy. We all know Brian is absolutely terrified of snakes. I mean girl shrieking, cat jumping, finger pointing and underpant changing terrified of snakes. The trees here are drop dead beautiful. You could sit in the park or zoo all day long just sitting and staring at the trees. Each one is differant and the way their trunks and limbs are just amazing. So we're walking across the field back to the hotel, and they have all these trees that line the sidewalk that leads up to the rooms in front of the hotel. All of a sudden Brian jumps back screaming and yelling at the same time.....snake, snake watch out there's a snake. Well neither Aaron or I are afraid of them, but we are respectful of them so we edge up close to what he is screaming and pointing at on the sidewalk. All of sudden Aaron just dies laughing, falls on the sidewalk right on top of Brian's snake. Brian is coming out of his skin.

"Candice are you crazy...get him before he gets bit, get him, get him. Aaron get up"; as Brian is now screaming in a fevered pitch. Aaron is just rolling on the sidewalk all over his dad's snake and I finally get a glimpse of what it is. A root! Brian's deadly terrifying snake is a freaking long tree root that has grown out along the sidewalk. OMG where are the Master Card camera crew's when you need them??? Talk about priceless. My child is rolling on the sidewalk holding his sides, my husband is jumping up and down. Screaming and pointing mind you, and the crowds are starting to gather around wondering what in the world is going on. Now how do you imagine I calm my husband down enough to let him know it's not a snake but a tree root? You don't, you just pick your kid up, dust him off , walk onto the room with him laughing all the way. Sorry but that one he's on his own! By the time Brian got to the room he was so embarassed and Aaron and I had the hicups from laughing so hard. Not only was he embarassed, he said he was mad cause we left him out there with all those people. He said that was sorry and I said I was sorry that if I had stayed I would have really and truly just fell out like Aaron. So I did him a favor. He just laughed.

It was really funny, but really our move has really been easy. Nothing has been too long in waiting. The dogs moved over smoothly. Our house was ready in quick time. Our household goods are here and being delivered tomorrow. We're excited about that. It only took two weeks for our vehicle to get here instead of the usual month or so. There are at least four other boys on our block that are in the same class as Aaron, so that's been a real bonus for him. Brian has adjusted well into his unit. He doesn't like running up Kolekoke mountain but who does. Me, I'm well also. Already volunteering up at the school and making new friends on our block as well. We're all healthy and together with our puppy doggies so what more could we ask for in a relocation move. Well we miss all our family and friends, but hey the way we look at it is we now live in the best vacation spot ever. So who wouldn't want to come see us now....right. I mean c'mon....it's Oahu, it's Hawaii.

Aloha!!!!!!