Coconut Telegraph

We heard from a friend who lives in Tahiti this week.  She's traveling to Hilo for a visit/vacation in October.  I last saw her on the occasion of her 50th birthday, and we both are 56 this year.  

We met at a mutual friend's memorial service in Eureka in 1996.  She was raised in Humboldt County, and moved to Moorea many years ago.  She doesn't leave her island very often, so this is pretty cool.  Did you know Tahiti is only about a six hour flight from here?

As it seems with most old friends lately, our differences have become more obvious through the years.  Hoping we can enjoy the good things together that we still share while she is here.  A lot has gone on since the last time I saw her.  I want her to teach me how to kayak.  She has an outrigger canoe at home.

News From Tahiti

I received an email from my expat Aiko sister today, with the above attachment. It read:

"Last night Oscar Temaru, the President of Tahiti ,
got up on stage and sang Redemption Song with Alpha Blondie!"

Who are you - Alpha Blondie

Hey Now

An undersea volcano erupts off the coast of Tonga on March 18, 2009. (Dana Stephenson/Getty Images) *Note: You simply MUST click on it to view it's awesomeness.

Thanks to the sheer wonder of it all, I was chatting with my Aiko sister this afternoon via F.B. (Wondrous because she lives on Moorea.)

She told me to go and look at these photos. So I did. Holy shit!

Tahiti Calling

Moorea~View of lagoon at sunset from their place.

My friend Joy called me today, via Skype. She also sent new photos, like the one above. Joy is my pal that lived in Tahiti for about 20 years. Originally from Humboldt County. Her mama took ill about 2 years ago, so she came back to California. Last July, she moved with her mom to Oahu. They seemed to be enjoying island life together, but Joy was still restless. It happens every time. She always ends up going back to Tahiti. In February she did it again. This time, she took her 84-year-old mother. From all accounts, it sounds like mom adores her new life on Moorea. It was either Tahiti or Sacramento with her son, Joy's big brother. She said the choice was obvious. Obviously.

Here's a photo from last April, when Joy was still in California.