I am thinking of a story the hubs cousin in law told me.
You know, Hawaiian cousins are thought of as brothers and sisters,
because of the close relationship to one another.
This cousin in law is a character. He is funny, and stern. He has lived many lives.
He has the most marvelous laugh and smile.
He spoke of driving with his family as a young child,
to a remote area to visit an old aunty they had not seen in quite sometime.
When she heard the car coming up the old dirt road,
she began to cry, and wail,
she was so happy to see them,
and sad
and also mad
that she hadn't seen them in such a long time.
So this, happy, sad, mad wailing in Hawaiian old aunty
went out to greet the carload of her ohana
and as she was wailing,
bent down to pick up...
rocks.
She started to hurl the rocks at them
and curse.
The rocks flew all around the car.
Our cousin said he didn't know what to think
here he was a young child
going to see this aunty
and she was throwing rocks at them!
His parents waited patiently
until she calmed down,
and the shower of rocks ceased.
Getting out of the car,
they went to her,
and she hugged each of them with the biggest,
longest hugs,
laughing
and crying at the same time.
Scolding them for not coming sooner.
She fixed them a delicious meal.
And they ate and talked story
and sang songs.
Sometimes love is like that.
Sometimes
love
is
like
that.
leafy
