Hi everybody, I have a little spare time so I thought that I would write some updates and other things that I haven't mentioned (I think). Hooray! They graded the horrible driveway just when I was considering a move because the ruts were so deep and they placed about 100 feet of 20ft wide plastic mesh. Happiness is no longer dreading the trip up or down that strip. The rest of the 0.2 mile drive wasn't that bad. I thought of telling you about the long 12' high hedge of hibiscus along one stretch of the ride to work (or about anywhere else I go) It is so beautiful. I thought of telling you about the culture of the island on TV frequently. The dancing is precision singing and motions that do not require much traveling. Everything is coordinated and well-choreographed, the motions and the costume. Especially remarkable is the exuberance which makes it enjoyable watching. They also show the men preparing the umu (good Scrabble word) which is a ritual fire prepared by many people on Sunday morning for cooking whole pigs and the pulesami and breadfruit and taro.
They show all the preparations including taking a coconut in one hand and a machete in the other and opening the coconut. In some cases they slip. We have had more than one deep machete cut(all in younger men). When I bought a coconut at the down town market, this old man took the top of it in one fell swoop. Amazing. The airport has been closed for two weeks and Wednesday, the paper announced that there was 25,000 pounds of mail destined for here waiting in Hawaii for the runway to be opened. Apparently, the closure was due to loose gravel on the runway which damaged one of Hawaiian Airlines planes. Meanwhile, to get off the Island, one has to go to Apia, Samoa, then to New Zealand for a direct flight to LA. I am going to work in 25 minutes so I had better get ready. Next week, I work Saturday and Sunday mornings. Oh, Hell!
Miss Mensa and dancing and YOU!
Love, Genie
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