LB Says Hi

I received an invitation to dinner with my old friend, Keani, who went on to tell me that two more nostalgic friends would be joining us: Matt Yamamoto and his sister, Joy. I joined New Hope when I was 10, and quickly became involved in a youth group led by Matt Yamamoto, a tall, Asian guy with a laugh that could disrupt a rock concert. For the next 7 years or so, Matt became my mentor and big brother. Something called small groups were held at my house for years, bringing together a slew of enthusiastic teens eager to further their relationships with God and each other. Under the goofy but wise guidance of Matt, we each traded the life of a typical teen, to live WAY above the influences of the world. This could not be bragging, because often times we were teased and ridiculed for living differently.While my friends were drinking, doing drugs and having sex, I was happy not to. I remember not even listening to specific songs, no matter how popular or appealing, because it portrayed ...

We are so alike. We complain about the other being too bossy, but the truth is we are all bossy; we have to be, to put up with each other's bossiness. Still, I call these two my best friends. I've been known to have a lot of "best friends" but the truth is, they are the ones. They are my rocks. My anchors. My mom, Barbara, is stubborn and strong-willed. She wears a heavy conscience because she only wants the best for everyone. She's not afraid to say exactly what she feels, and there is little room for mistakes. Still, I've never met someone with such a big heart. Her convictions, including those of others, propels her to be better and to do more. I've fought her most of my life: on boys, school and lifestyle, but I would be so lucky to be even an inch of the mom, not to mention the woman, that she is. My Sister, Racie, has always been like my second mother; being 14 years apart has made it difficult for our relationship to be anything but that. There...

My word for 2015 is restore . I’ve talked a lot about transitioning and changing this past year, and about my realizations of needing to slow things down. That’s why I feel the focus should be on restoring myself. The dictionary definition of the word restore is as follows: “To bring back into existence, use, or the like: Reestablish. To bring back to a state of health, soundness, or vigor.” Sitting in church yesterday, my sister gave her testimony for the tenth time or so. It’s a hard thing to share even though it’s been almost three years since Rick’s passing, and nearly 8 years since her stroke. Still, my sister knows that she has something to share that will inspire, relate to and touch others. She sat bravely through the video tribute, which included clips of Rick giving his sermon on Sundays and a snippet of a Christmas morning when my twin nephews received their first bikes from “Santa.” Their faces were priceless and they kept calling out, “Daddy, look!” ...

Driving to work today I’ve realized that the island is back to normal. It’s as if it were a Monday today, everyone resentful and angry. I was cut off, tailed and harassed on the road today. The Christmas cheer has certainly gone and left with the 25 th . I’m hoping that this is because everyone’s Christmas was SO wonderful that they absolutely dread going to work today more than other days. I know that my December 25 th was pretty close to perfect. My twin nephews were over, we opened presents together and then had a yummy dinner: Pork loin, stuffing and seafood scampi. For dessert mom made her famous pear pie and oatmeal cookies. My mom, sister and I enjoyed some wine (each of our own liking) and talked for the rest of the night, after a game of Power Ranger Monopoly, of course. After cheersing to a great Christmas, we went to sleep in anticipation of the new year. My mom mentioned to me that 2014 was a good year for her. I’d like to say the same, but honestly, it’s...

Let’s talk about coffee, that magical elixir that brings me to life every morning and keeps me awake every night. Still, I need it. If I were a person who exercised regularly maybe I wouldn’t need the pick me up, but my brain needs to be charged somehow, or else, bystanders beware! I think the addiction started in Oregon. Although college was one of the best experiences of my life, studying was intense, and being an English major meant hundreds upon hundreds of pages to be read and comprehended every night. There were some semesters where the only classes I took were English courses. Starbucks became my source for motivation and a comforting hub to study, probably because I knew I could always refill if I was running low on fuel. With every good addiction, however, there is always a side effect. When I haven’t had coffee for even a couple of days, I get these bad migraines that prohibit me from doing anything. I have insomnia and stay up against my body’s protests, mak...

This is Roofus. He was very much a part of my life in Oregon. Making the decision to come home meant leaving him behind, probably one of the hardest things I had to do in the midst of my “big move.” He eventually made the move home too, without my knowledge, seeing that the relationship with Roofus’ other owner (the ex) was so hostile. To put into context just how hard it was for me to leave Roofus, I have to tell you about him. I had no part in adopting him. I was actually very against the whole idea. The first day we had him, I ended up babysitting him by myself. I was so angry at first, but upon meeting him, my heart was immediately thawed. He greeted me with warm kisses and strong, yet affectionate nudges. Upon first glance, his pit-bull features are all you see, and with that come the endless misconceptions about the infamous breed. His reddish fur stands on all ends from excitement and his yellow eyes stare back at you intensely. His body is muscular and str...

I will be the first to admit that I am not always a ray of sunshine. I am grouchy and easily angered, attributes that I am not proud of and continue to work on. I don’t know how the people in my life put up with me sometimes. That being said, you can only guess how I am when driving. If someone cuts me off or doesn’t say “thank you” after I’ve let them in, expect nothing short of a volcano erupting. I know, I know-“the only person that is ruining your day is you”; “you don’t know what that driver is rushing off to; maybe to the hospital”; or “why waste your energy on someone you don’t even know?” I’ve heard it all from distraught and fearful passengers. Still, no amount of advice or stress-balls will keep my fury at bay (when driving, mostly). This morning proved to be no different. I continuously encountered idiots driving on my already darkened drive to work. First of all, it’s a Monday; second of all, I am NOT a morning person at all. As I sulked and muttered obscen...

I know that I’ve touched briefly on my move from Oregon back to Hawaii, but I thought I would open up and write more in depth about the situation. Moving back home after being away for so long has been pretty hard. I went from running my own household to living under my mother’s roof again. In Oregon I had a routine. In Oregon I was my own boss. There was no one I had to answer to, no one’s rules I had to abide by. I didn’t have to worry about calling to let someone know that I’d be out late, no one I had to worry about worrying about me. I lived exactly how I was feeling at the time and I relished in the freedom. So, why did I leave? Despite all of this, it was necessary for me to leave and return home, because although I was free, I had limited my potential. In other words, I was unable to go beyond the person I had become: no movement forward or backward. I was stuck and living a very stagnant life. That is not to say that I didn’t have goals that went beyond th...

I've never seriously thought about becoming a teacher, but after working at a high school in the past months I feel a sense of purpose that I haven't felt in a while. I cannot begin to describe the rewards of working with high school students. There is so much potential at this age, so many decisions to be made that will change their lives forever. Even playing a small role in this part of their lives is truly an honor. Upon first taking the job, I was wary about the whole situation. I've heard horror stories about bad attitudes and the utter lack of respect, not to mention I was once a  high-schooler  and I can remember my feelings towards teachers/authority, which did not help to ease my inhibitions. Finishing up my last few days here at the school, I have begun to feel an ache inside. I will miss the faces I have grown accustomed to seeing every day. I will miss the endings of many stories: Where did they go to college? Did they win that Scholarship? Who took whom to...

I've realized that I have an obsession with beginnings. I think that many can say that they are the same way, finding our passions peaking at the beginning of a new adventure, at the start of a new book, at the credits before a film. And like many, I often find myself losing fuel when the beginning is no longer the beginning. I worry myself when I start something new, because as amped up as I am when it is all fresh and exciting, I often lose interest and motivation as the situation progresses. For example, I try to exercise regularly. Not only am I a sporadic-exerciser altogether, quitting my daily routine after only 2 weeks of solid dedication, but I literally stop running in the middle of my jogs. Maybe I'm not so much someone who obsesses over beginnings as I am someone who never finishes anything. I know that this is literally incorrect, for I have finished things. Take for instance, a sandwich, I will definitely finish that sandwich. Another example, books. I will dev...