After having
my hair cut by Stuart at Hairspray Salon on Koko Head in
Kaimuki, I usually walk over to the vegetable stand on 12th Avenue between
Waialae and Harding (parking stall for Kaimuki Taxi) to pick up what looks good or what I might happen to need at the moment.
Invariably I find
myself taking a quick peek at Tam’s Shoe Repair Shop. Not that anything ever changes inside. Heaven forbid. The same archeology of cardboard boxes,
plastic bags, suitcases (What is it with suitcases at a shoe repair shop?)…
The narrow (and narrowing)
path between counter and storage rack…
The constant fluorescent light fixture beating
its rays over the same jumble of shoes year after year…
In the window the same lone
brown shoe lies on its side forever. Old dust…
But wait,
there is something new. I missed it at first. Go back outside and check out the window again. A
new green poster brightly announces a 50’s 60’s 70’s Oldies Bash Sock Hop
2012 at Pacific Beach Hotel! How could I
have missed it?
Other than
that one item, though, nothing has changed.
So I must be checking for my own peace of mind, making sure it’s all
still there.
One day it’s going to go “poof!”
and be gone forever.
Remember my apartment between 10 & 12 on Waialae? You shop at "my" vegetable stalls!
ReplyDeleteMahalo for the wonderful scents & memories that these photos engendered this a.m. It was a lovely recollection which, yes, poof!- for me is already gone unless a miracle happens.
I hope you've been into "my" pharmacy, the one with all the old photographs and letters from King Kalakaua's days when they "advised' him on how to be his own doctor - a fine line to walk, indeed - keeping him truly healthy, but salving his active ego and retaining their position as the King's Assisting Physicians! It's the kind of place you can spend hours investigating and for sure you must have been in there (same square as Movie Museum).
I miss you. Hope you guys got your card from Panama. I fell in love with the place within days because I had no expectations and really lived each moment in a state of total openness. My kind of place indeed. Starting to put up my journal in FB Notes, while catching up on necessities at this end. Hope to relocate soon. Totally open as to where. Waiting on the gift of direction... hope it arrives soon!
Hi Kate, are you talking about the old Pillbox Pharmacy? Not sure if it's still there. Let me check. It would be worth a field trip. Movie Museum... yes, we adore that place and watch movies there often. The owner is a trip, so devoted! Thank you so much for your card from Panama! You sure managed to cram a long and detailed message into a small area. Amazing! The only canal I'm familiar with is the Suez Canal, so it was interesting to get a card showing the Panama Canal. What a history it has. I'm so glad you finally went on your trip and held up beautifully, even fell in love with the country. Congratulations, my friend! Much love, ez
DeleteI am indeed referencing the Pillbox, which must now have passed from father to son, as dad was getting ready to retire when I left Hon. It was a great location, to be in that neighborhood and I enjoyed the various shop owners , the neighbors, the local transexual hooker (who was always protective of me if I was walking my dalmatian late at night), and yes, the always marvelous Movie Museum too. i remember your art work being there, too, upstairs, closer to the Koko Head end of Waialae.
DeleteYes, I went down the Suez decades ago, and several other well known canals, such as the Erie Canal in Canada,the Kennet & Avon in England and several in Holland, too. The big one missing was the Panama, but I took the once-a-day each way train instead of traversing it by boat (far too expensive!) though they do have partial traverses to give people the feel of it. I preferred to watch everything I could see from the train instead and caught the one coming back into the city from Colon (quite a dangerous place) at around 5ish I think it was. And, you're right, I fell in love with the country. Too bad I don't fit their immigration rules. Oh well. I only lost about six days to illness, and spaced throughout the trip, so that was pretty cool too. So glad I made it - will share more photos and stories on FB in Notes as life permits. All best to you both,
me
Kaimuki is timeless. I used to shop at Harry's Music Store for violins and sheet music. Well, it closed recently, which is sad. I sometimes dine at the restaurants in Kaimuki - loved the food at Cafe Miro, Wild Ginger, JJ's French Bakery and Bistro, etc. Are these restaurants still open for business?
ReplyDeleteHi Gigi,
DeleteYeah, I used to shop at Harry's Music too. They closed long ago. Shows you how time flies. When I had my Magic Attic Gallery in Kaimuki, I used to frequent Victoria Inn. They had the best Japanese style breakfasts. They closed fairly recently, like two, maybe three months ago. I'm not sure about the restaurants you mentioned, but will check it out. Hope you're fully recovered or soon will be.
Love,
ez
RE:50’s 60’s 70’s Oldies Bash Sock Hop 2012 at Pacific Beach Hotel!
ReplyDeleteI hope you do go to it. I have been listening to the '50 station on Sirius every day since I bought my new HONDA CR-V. I'm in a good mood everyday....because how can you not like that up-beat friendly love-type music. I would LOVE to go to a '50's sock hop. So I hope you go, take a lotsa picjachs for us old folks....
love ya,
RAIN
Aye-aye-aye Rain, I didn't check the date on the poster, so it may have already happened. But even if not, I'd just as soon listen and dance to the music at home (or in the car). Got my favorite songs on my I-pod and am too lazy to join (and pay for) a big bash sock hop. But here's a better idea: Why don't YOU throw a Golden Oldies party at your home? love always,
Deleteez
Sad about Harry's Music. I bought chant dvds and musical instruments when I lived there and visited last in 06 I think it was. Did not know it would be my final opportunity. Guess we must appreciate things while we can, because you turn around and they're gone. I used to go to the Victoria Inn, too. Had no idea that had closed, too. It was handy to the grocery complex and I'd stop up there to rest and 'graze' before dragging my shopping home. Ah me. Change is constant.
ReplyDeleteGreat news - Harry's is still in Kaimuki. It's just relocated along Waialae down to 6th. I saw their ad. Much happier now!
ReplyDelete