The day dawned cold and dark - a thick layer of winter's precipitate covering the landscape. A north wind chiseled mystery figures along the high banks that lined the road.
The sun was still sleeping as the work day started and progressed with agonizing similarity - the incessant arrival of digital packets the only suggestion of human presence beyond the makeshift office. Two surly felines prowled the perimeters ominously eyeing each other for some hint of weakness.
Darkness descended and preparations for the next day begun. The brief case opened to store the days production.
Suddenly luminous among the burnt rubble of client notes and in-progress performance plans gleamed a small bottle of elixir - its contents beckoning seductively. A proud liquid that listed the pedigree of its birth on the label. Encased in the finest glass and protected from the exterior elements by a stout and secure seal - it whispered its exotic call. Glasses were secured and the amber liquid splashed out.
A rush of tropical breezes emanated - the magic of cinnamon fields entertained by the endless dance of shimmering tropical waves mixed with the pitched squeals of laughter as small children ran along the orchard begging for fruit high above the branches. A grandmothers love as fresh baked pies cooled in the shade of an open window. The nose reminiscing and revealing at the same time.
The first tentative sip confirming the anticipation of the brain. Uncle Doty does in fact make a wonderful Apple Toddy.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Rules of the Dalai Lama
1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk. Risk is involved in every great opportunity in life. It it isn’t risky, then everyone would be doing, thus making it ordinary and not “great.” Separate yourself from the crowd as one who not only can take risks, but enjoys doing so. Certainty in life can only be so comforting until it gets boring.
2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson. If you lose what you have learned not to do, you will be doomed to repeat it. More importantly, however, do fear failure. Failure is the precursor to success. Hardly any great thing that you wish to accomplish will come without failure. This ties back to the rule of risk mentioned above.
3. Follow the three Rs:
1. Respect for self – Confidence is key in success and one who does you respect himself does not believe in himself. Thus, if you do not respect yourself, you cannot possibly succeed in anything great, nor can you respect others.
2. Respect for others – And you will be respected in return. Anyone who does not return that respect is immediately letting you know that they are not worth your time, and that they do not respect themselves. Avoid weak/insecure/self-loathing people.
3. Responsibility for all your actions – You alone are responsible for your feelings, actions, success, etc. You are in complete control of your life, so do not try and blame other people for your mistakes or misfortunes.
4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck. Not everything that you desire will be necessarily good for you in the long run. If something just seems to not work out continually, in such a way that it seems almost like fate intervened, consider letting it go or coming back to it at another time. The Universe works in mysterious ways and should be trusted. Just be sure you are not mistaking your own failure as the Universe telling you something.
5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly. Rules are meant to be broken. Most of them are put in place by archaic, corrupt institutions that seek only to enslave and maintain their own power. When it comes to breaking them, be sure to do it properly to avoid punishment. But above all things, make sure you DO in fact break rules. If authority was never questioned, we could be a stagnant civilization.
6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship. Obviously friendship is more important that one small fight, but very few people actually put this rule into practice. They also need to be able to follow rule #7 in order to truly follow #6.
7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it. And do not let your pride get in the way of taking those steps. Apologize, taking full responsibility. That will speak for your character more strongly than the action of making the mistake in the first place.
8. Spend some time alone every day. No matter what you do, take at least 30 minutes out of your day to spend alone in a quiet place. This will give you at least a half-hour to examine what is going on in your life, to examine yourself and to figure out what you want. Whether it be through prayer, meditation, yoga or golf, this ritual is a must. The Law of Attraction is the best way to spend this time.
9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values. This world is constantly changing. If you are not open to change, then you are going to live a very miserable life. You, yourself, are going to change as well, but that does not mean that your values have to change as well. Welcome new places, new faces and new loves, but never change those core parts of you unless you have strong reasons to believe you were wrong to believe them in the first place.
10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer. Silence leads to relaxed contemplation during which emotions have less influence and logic can take over. For example, in an argument with a friend, remaining silent instead of retaliating with something anger-driven is more efficient in ending the argument faster and with less hurt for both parties. Or consider Gandhi, who took down the British Empire through silent, pacifistic behavior. Silence is a powerful tool that few choose to use over irrational action. Consider it next time you find yourself in a difficult situation.
11. Live a good, honourable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time. You are going to have to live with your actions for the rest of your life, so save yourself the regret and anguish and live with honor now. Good things also come to good people. You will never be punished for acting with integrity, only rewarded.
12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life. This is the rule that you have the least amount of control over. Your family dynamic will ultimately determine your home atmosphere, but you can definitely help it along by showing your family that you love them. As in rule #3, if you respect (love) your family, they will provide you with respect and love in return. This rule comes to play again when starting a family. Inject love into your home. Make the walls glisten with endearment. That will set a solid foundation for the lives of your children.
13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past. The past is constant, unchanging. Bringing it up can only bring more pain to the current situation. This is a problem especially with loved ones because relationships with them go so far back into the past and are so fueled by emotion. Forgive any past actions and focus on the present.
14. Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality. One learns so much just from living a lifetime. Share that knowledge with the people you come across, it can only help them in their journeys. Even more important, share your failures so that others will not repeat them.
15. Be gentle with the earth.The earth is where we live. So this should be obvious. Hurting the earth is hurting yourself and the futures of your children and loved ones.
16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before. Experience new places and new things. You might find yourself with someone or somewhere that makes you much happier than your previous circumstance. The Earth is so vast with unique and beautiful places, why wouldn’t you want to go explore them?
17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other. The opposite is a sign that the relationship should end. If you need someone more than you love them, it is a sign of dependency, not affection. Find someone where love is the dominant force and you will find yourself in a much more fulfilling relationship.
18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it. Success is not truly success if you had to compromise yourself or your loved ones in order to achieve it. Decide what you want. Design your ideal life and go for it. Do not let any part of that dream slip away in order to get the rest of you will live in regret.
2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson. If you lose what you have learned not to do, you will be doomed to repeat it. More importantly, however, do fear failure. Failure is the precursor to success. Hardly any great thing that you wish to accomplish will come without failure. This ties back to the rule of risk mentioned above.
3. Follow the three Rs:
1. Respect for self – Confidence is key in success and one who does you respect himself does not believe in himself. Thus, if you do not respect yourself, you cannot possibly succeed in anything great, nor can you respect others.
2. Respect for others – And you will be respected in return. Anyone who does not return that respect is immediately letting you know that they are not worth your time, and that they do not respect themselves. Avoid weak/insecure/self-loathing people.
3. Responsibility for all your actions – You alone are responsible for your feelings, actions, success, etc. You are in complete control of your life, so do not try and blame other people for your mistakes or misfortunes.
4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck. Not everything that you desire will be necessarily good for you in the long run. If something just seems to not work out continually, in such a way that it seems almost like fate intervened, consider letting it go or coming back to it at another time. The Universe works in mysterious ways and should be trusted. Just be sure you are not mistaking your own failure as the Universe telling you something.
5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly. Rules are meant to be broken. Most of them are put in place by archaic, corrupt institutions that seek only to enslave and maintain their own power. When it comes to breaking them, be sure to do it properly to avoid punishment. But above all things, make sure you DO in fact break rules. If authority was never questioned, we could be a stagnant civilization.
6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship. Obviously friendship is more important that one small fight, but very few people actually put this rule into practice. They also need to be able to follow rule #7 in order to truly follow #6.
7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it. And do not let your pride get in the way of taking those steps. Apologize, taking full responsibility. That will speak for your character more strongly than the action of making the mistake in the first place.
8. Spend some time alone every day. No matter what you do, take at least 30 minutes out of your day to spend alone in a quiet place. This will give you at least a half-hour to examine what is going on in your life, to examine yourself and to figure out what you want. Whether it be through prayer, meditation, yoga or golf, this ritual is a must. The Law of Attraction is the best way to spend this time.
9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values. This world is constantly changing. If you are not open to change, then you are going to live a very miserable life. You, yourself, are going to change as well, but that does not mean that your values have to change as well. Welcome new places, new faces and new loves, but never change those core parts of you unless you have strong reasons to believe you were wrong to believe them in the first place.
10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer. Silence leads to relaxed contemplation during which emotions have less influence and logic can take over. For example, in an argument with a friend, remaining silent instead of retaliating with something anger-driven is more efficient in ending the argument faster and with less hurt for both parties. Or consider Gandhi, who took down the British Empire through silent, pacifistic behavior. Silence is a powerful tool that few choose to use over irrational action. Consider it next time you find yourself in a difficult situation.
11. Live a good, honourable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time. You are going to have to live with your actions for the rest of your life, so save yourself the regret and anguish and live with honor now. Good things also come to good people. You will never be punished for acting with integrity, only rewarded.
12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life. This is the rule that you have the least amount of control over. Your family dynamic will ultimately determine your home atmosphere, but you can definitely help it along by showing your family that you love them. As in rule #3, if you respect (love) your family, they will provide you with respect and love in return. This rule comes to play again when starting a family. Inject love into your home. Make the walls glisten with endearment. That will set a solid foundation for the lives of your children.
13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past. The past is constant, unchanging. Bringing it up can only bring more pain to the current situation. This is a problem especially with loved ones because relationships with them go so far back into the past and are so fueled by emotion. Forgive any past actions and focus on the present.
14. Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality. One learns so much just from living a lifetime. Share that knowledge with the people you come across, it can only help them in their journeys. Even more important, share your failures so that others will not repeat them.
15. Be gentle with the earth.The earth is where we live. So this should be obvious. Hurting the earth is hurting yourself and the futures of your children and loved ones.
16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before. Experience new places and new things. You might find yourself with someone or somewhere that makes you much happier than your previous circumstance. The Earth is so vast with unique and beautiful places, why wouldn’t you want to go explore them?
17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other. The opposite is a sign that the relationship should end. If you need someone more than you love them, it is a sign of dependency, not affection. Find someone where love is the dominant force and you will find yourself in a much more fulfilling relationship.
18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it. Success is not truly success if you had to compromise yourself or your loved ones in order to achieve it. Decide what you want. Design your ideal life and go for it. Do not let any part of that dream slip away in order to get the rest of you will live in regret.
Friday, August 6, 2010
The Royal Fisherman
1. Once upon a time there lived a young boy named Alika in a large Castle overlooking the largest lake in the Kings territory. Every morning he would get up, have breakfast, brush his teeth and then kiss his mother good-bye as he left to go fishing.
Alika was the king’s very own Royal Fisherman…so named because he was the best at catching fish in the entire kingdom. Many people had tried to beat him, but they just never seemed able to do so. Alika’s fish were always the biggest and tastiest of any that was caught.
On this particular day, it was nice and warm as Alika took his shovel and went looking for worms in the back garden. He turned over the moist black earth and skillfully plucked the biggest, fattest worms out and placed them into a small wooden box. The box had a cover engraved with a picture of a fish and several small holes carved along the sides. Alika had made the box himself with the special knife that the High Lord Chamberlain Rhett had presented him in honor of his birthday. Alika sprinkled a handful of the moist dirt across the top of the worms so they would sleep comfortably on the way to the lake.
Next he went to ask Squire Spencer if assistance was needed in caring for their sister Hermione. Hermione had come down with a bad case of rutabaga – and although not serious – it did require she be carefully cared for each day. Squire Spencer informed Alika that his services would not be necessary that day – but to please check back as things could always change.
Finally, Alika was on his way to the lake with the sun warming the grass under his bare feet and a gentle breeze teasing his blonde hairs as it danced in and out of the trees along the path.
2. Alika settled into his favorite spot along the bank of the lake. From here he could see the rolling hills of fresh Heather and Blue Belles as they stretched over the land like a fuzzy blanket of blue and green. The sun reflected off the lake making the surface shimmer and an occasional fish would leap through as it caught a fly or water bug for breakfast. Alika carefully threaded his hook onto his line, placed a worm on the hook and with a mighty heave, cast his line far out into the lake where he knew the big fish lived.
His bobber floated lazily on the sunny waters and Alika tipped his hat to shield his eyes a bit from the reflection. Suddenly with a huge splash the bobber disappeared all at once and the fight was on. Alika reeled with all his might – his muscles straining against the fish trying to swim into the deepest part of the lake. He would reel in 20 or 30 feet of line – then the fish would fight back and swim 20 or 30 feet deeper into the lake. Back and forth they went for almost an hour until Alika was finally able to bring the fish to shore.
As he reeled the fish into the shallow water he could see his catch for the first time and he suddenly realized this was no ordinary fish. His scales were made of gold and covered in tiny rubies and emeralds, his fins made of the finest silver. Alika could barely belief his luck. Surely the King would be very pleased with such a beautiful fish and would reward him well. Just as Alika was about to put the fish in the net, it suddenly spoke to him.
“Kind Sir”…the fish started, “I am a prince from a far away land that was turned into a fish by an evil wizard. Although I could not stop the wizard from changing me, my royal blood resulted in me being the fish you see today. I have lived in fear that someone would catch me and keep me for my gold and jewels.” Alika listened intently as the fish told him all about the evil wizard, his home over the far away mountains and about Donna, the Queen of the good witches who was the only one with the power to turn him back. “Please, said the fish – would you travel to the mouth of the Fal River where her highness Queen Donna lives and ask her for a potion to change me back?
3. Alika sat down on the side of the lake and thought about the fish’s story. He had never known a fish that could talk – and so he decided the story must be true. How though, could he travel such a far distance to reach the Good Queen Donna and still provide the King with fish. Surely the King would not be pleased if Alika went on a journey of several days. Finally, he decided upon a plan and told the Fish Prince he would help him. He told the Prince to meet him back at this spot in 7 days and that he would have the potion. With that – Alika released the golden fish and set back about fishing.
All day Alika fished – catching the largest and finest trout and bass he had ever seen. He carefully took them and tied each one with a string and then released them back into the lake. Taking the last two he caught with him, he set off for the castle to deliver dinner for the King.
That night he told Squire Spencer all about the Fish Prince – and his plan to help him. He told Squire that he should go to the lake each day, pull in two of the fish he had tied up and to deliver these to the King. This way no one would suspect he was gone and the King would continuer to receive his dinner each day. Once he was certain that Squire Spencer knew what to do, Alika packed a warm coat and some food and set off for the River Fal on the other side of the mountains.
The sun was dropping slowly in the sky as Alika walked along the path that leads to the mountains. He had never been further than the lake before and as the scenery changed and become unfamiliar, he started to have second thoughts about his journey. He was not a very big boy, being still in school, but he knew he had to help the Fish Prince and so he continued on.
As the sun dipped below the hills and long shadows crept forth from the trees of the forest, Alika fastened his jacket about him to keep off the cold. He then pick out a glass jar and cover he had in his pack and waited quietly for the fireflies to start their evening courtship. He carefully caught five of the largest ones he could find and placed them in the jar. With their magic lights aglow, Alika could see the trail and was able to continue on throughout the night. Higher and higher into the mountains he went, the cold wind whipping through the night air and making his breath look like a tea kettle steaming over a hot fire. As he came to the top of the mountain pass he found a small cave protected from the wind and crawled inside to get some sleep. He covered the fireflies with a spare shirt so their light would not disturb him and fell fast asleep.
4. The first rays of the morning sun shone brightly into the cave, warming the interior and waking Alika from his deep sleep. He had trouble for a minute remembering where he was – and why he was not in his own bed. Then he remembered the Fish Prince and the promise he had made. Alika knew he had given his word and could not let the Prince down. He quickly packed away his things, ate a banana from his pack, and set off once again.
The trail now was narrower – twisting and winding down the mountainside. It rambled along over small boulders and tree roots, sometimes going up for a short distance before continuing its downward slope. In the distance Alika could see a beautiful blue river as it flowed along a forest of tall trees. Just at the horizon he could see where the river flowed into the ocean and that he guessed would be where the Good Witch lived. He walked along as the trail become flatter and he was able to go faster with the sun now overhead and warming his back as he moved along.
He walked for almost the entire day, pausing occasionally to drink some of the cold clear water that flowed along the streams he passed. He stopped to pick some flowers for the fireflies to eat and had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for himself. It was his last bit of food and he was glad that he could now clearly see the river mouth and knew he did not have far to travel. As he climbed over a hill that had stretched far along the path, he was suddenly standing on the banks of the great river Fal and in the distance was a small thatched cottage with just a wisp of smoke curling from its chimney. Alika decided he would stop there and ask if the owner knew of the Good Witch and where she might be found.
He knocked upon the large wooden door and could hear faint footsteps walking across the floor. The door slowly creaked open and Alika peered inside. He steeped back in awe as the most beautiful women he had ever seen stepped outside. She had long blonde hair and eyes as blue as the ocean and was dressed in a flowing white gown. Her smile was like sunshine and she carried a crystal wand that glowed like the moon on a cloudless night. He instantly knew this was the Good Witch and he knelt down on one knee and offered his greeting in a hushed voice. The Witch Queen smiled and laughed, and her voice was like a symphony as she invited Alika inside to rest and have something to eat after his long journey.
5. As Alika sat at the table, Queen Donna placed a plate carved from wood and a bowl made from pure turquoise in front of him. Next came a fork and spoon both carved from Jade. Then she placed a large bowl of fruit and a platter of cheese pizza in front of him. “Eat” the Good Queen said. Alika dove in and filled his stomach with the wonderful food. Then the Queen asked him if he wanted some dessert. “Yes please,” said Alika. The Queen told him to help himself. Alika looked into the bowl but did not see anything. “Go ahead said the Queen – your dessert is in the bowl. Not wanting to be rude, Alika placed his spoon in the bowl and pretended to eat. As his spoon touched the side, it suddenly was filled with Vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinkles. “WOW” thought Alika, this is pretty cool. He had a bite of the ice cream and when he placed his spoon back, the ice cream changed to chocolate with chocolate sprinkles. Next it turned into cake and finally the bowl was filled with cookies. Alika could not believe his luck. Finally when Alika could eat no more, the bowl suddenly became empty and clean once again.
“Now my dear, why did you come visit me” asked the Queen. Alika told the story of the Fish Prince and how he had promised to help. The Witch Queen listened carefully and when Alika was done with his story she went to a large cupboard where she stored her magic potions and took down a bottle filled with red liquid. Take this said the queen and pour it on top of the Fish Prince. Make sure he is not in the water when you do for his change back into a human must be done on dry land. Alika nodded that he understood. The queen then helped him pack his sack with fruit and sandwiches for the return trip. She gave him a kiss on the check and Alika set off once again for the trip back to his home.
The trail this time did not seem so bad as Alika skipped along, He was anxious to get home but was still careful not to go too fast. It was nighttime and the fireflies were burning brightly to help him see. There was full moon that hung lazily amid the stars and Alika thought he saw the Old Man of the Moon wink at him as he went. Alika finally reached the cave where he had spent his first night and decided that he would spend the rest of the night there sleeping. He crawled in making sure to place his pack in a safe place and then drifted off to sleep.
6. The sound of birds softly chirping stirred Alika awake. In the distance he could hear the tumble of water as it coursed over rocks and plummeted off a waterfall. He stretched – then slowly got up as the sleep wore off. He was excited now – only a day’s walk back to his home and he was anxious to get moving. He took an apple from his sack that the Good Queen had given him and bit into it. Little apple juice drops splattered across his face as he ate.
The sun was just peeking over the mountains as Alika started down the other side of the trail. Squirrels and chipmunks froze along the edges of the forest as he walked – looking at him with curiosity. Slowly the day became brighter and Alika walked a little faster as the warm wind chased the chill of the evening away. Hour after hour he walked, the scenery becoming more familiar as he went. He recognized the hills in the distance and knew that his journey would be over soon. As he rounded a bend, he could see his lake off in the distance and his heart was filled with joy at the sight.
The next two hours went by quickly and suddenly Alika found himself walking up the path to his house. “Squire Spencer” he yelled out and the door to his cottage was flung open and Spencer came running out. How happy they both were to see each other. “Come inside” said Spencer – “and tell me all about your trip”.
Spencer listened intently as Alika told his tales – about his long walk, the Queen, the magic dessert bowl and the red potion. Alika remembered that that he had a meeting with the Fish Prince in just a few days and carefully took out the magic potion and hid it in the cupboard. Finally he finished telling all his stories and it was time for bed. First, Alika took the fireflies and set them free in the front garden, thanking them for their help and promising to always be kind to fireflies in the future. Then he gave his teeth a good long brushing and crawled into his own bed, in his own cottage, and fell fast asleep.
7. Finally the big day arrived and Alika was up early. The roosters were still sleeping as he slipped out of bed and went in to take a bath. Soon he was having breakfast and afterwards removed the magic potion from the cupboard and placed it in his pack. He quietly let himself out of the house so as not disturb anyone and walked along in the crisp morning air to the lake.
There was a thin cover of mist above the water as Alika stood on the shore and called out to the Fish Prince. Suddenly there was a great churning of the water and the Prince lifted his head out and stared into Alika’s eyes. “I was not sure you would come back,” said the Prince. Alika told him he always kept his promises and not to worry. He explained how he would need to take the Prince out of the water for the potion to work and then lifted the fish and carried him to shore.
Alika laid the fish on a bed of pine needles and then reached into his pack for the magic potion. He took the cover off and just as he started to pour the liquid he heard a noise. Looking up he saw the king sitting on his horse staring straight at him. Alika was scared but it was too late to stop the potion and it splashed over the prince. Suddenly the fish started to change shape and grew and grew. He watched as the fish changed into a human and then looked up to see the King walking toward him. Alika fell to his knees and begged the king to spare him. He tried to explain what had happened so the King would not mad about loosing a golden fish – but the King put out his hand and motioned for Alika to be quiet.
The King then looked at the Prince that had been transformed and tears started to run down his face. “My brother” he said, “How long I have wondered what happened to you – and how long I have wished for your return”. Then turning to Alika he told him that from this day forward – he would become a Knight and would serve with the bravest of his men. Then the king bowed to Alika and thanked him.
Alika could not believe his luck. He had saved the Prince, become a Knight and received a royal thank you. It had been a perfect day.
After the King and the Prince left, Alika went for a swim in the lake and then decided to return home to share his good news. He reached into his pack to pull out a spare shirt, as the one he was wearing was wet. As he pulled it out, a bowl made from pure turquoise and a spoon carved from jade tumbled gently onto the pine needles.
Alika was the king’s very own Royal Fisherman…so named because he was the best at catching fish in the entire kingdom. Many people had tried to beat him, but they just never seemed able to do so. Alika’s fish were always the biggest and tastiest of any that was caught.
On this particular day, it was nice and warm as Alika took his shovel and went looking for worms in the back garden. He turned over the moist black earth and skillfully plucked the biggest, fattest worms out and placed them into a small wooden box. The box had a cover engraved with a picture of a fish and several small holes carved along the sides. Alika had made the box himself with the special knife that the High Lord Chamberlain Rhett had presented him in honor of his birthday. Alika sprinkled a handful of the moist dirt across the top of the worms so they would sleep comfortably on the way to the lake.
Next he went to ask Squire Spencer if assistance was needed in caring for their sister Hermione. Hermione had come down with a bad case of rutabaga – and although not serious – it did require she be carefully cared for each day. Squire Spencer informed Alika that his services would not be necessary that day – but to please check back as things could always change.
Finally, Alika was on his way to the lake with the sun warming the grass under his bare feet and a gentle breeze teasing his blonde hairs as it danced in and out of the trees along the path.
2. Alika settled into his favorite spot along the bank of the lake. From here he could see the rolling hills of fresh Heather and Blue Belles as they stretched over the land like a fuzzy blanket of blue and green. The sun reflected off the lake making the surface shimmer and an occasional fish would leap through as it caught a fly or water bug for breakfast. Alika carefully threaded his hook onto his line, placed a worm on the hook and with a mighty heave, cast his line far out into the lake where he knew the big fish lived.
His bobber floated lazily on the sunny waters and Alika tipped his hat to shield his eyes a bit from the reflection. Suddenly with a huge splash the bobber disappeared all at once and the fight was on. Alika reeled with all his might – his muscles straining against the fish trying to swim into the deepest part of the lake. He would reel in 20 or 30 feet of line – then the fish would fight back and swim 20 or 30 feet deeper into the lake. Back and forth they went for almost an hour until Alika was finally able to bring the fish to shore.
As he reeled the fish into the shallow water he could see his catch for the first time and he suddenly realized this was no ordinary fish. His scales were made of gold and covered in tiny rubies and emeralds, his fins made of the finest silver. Alika could barely belief his luck. Surely the King would be very pleased with such a beautiful fish and would reward him well. Just as Alika was about to put the fish in the net, it suddenly spoke to him.
“Kind Sir”…the fish started, “I am a prince from a far away land that was turned into a fish by an evil wizard. Although I could not stop the wizard from changing me, my royal blood resulted in me being the fish you see today. I have lived in fear that someone would catch me and keep me for my gold and jewels.” Alika listened intently as the fish told him all about the evil wizard, his home over the far away mountains and about Donna, the Queen of the good witches who was the only one with the power to turn him back. “Please, said the fish – would you travel to the mouth of the Fal River where her highness Queen Donna lives and ask her for a potion to change me back?
3. Alika sat down on the side of the lake and thought about the fish’s story. He had never known a fish that could talk – and so he decided the story must be true. How though, could he travel such a far distance to reach the Good Queen Donna and still provide the King with fish. Surely the King would not be pleased if Alika went on a journey of several days. Finally, he decided upon a plan and told the Fish Prince he would help him. He told the Prince to meet him back at this spot in 7 days and that he would have the potion. With that – Alika released the golden fish and set back about fishing.
All day Alika fished – catching the largest and finest trout and bass he had ever seen. He carefully took them and tied each one with a string and then released them back into the lake. Taking the last two he caught with him, he set off for the castle to deliver dinner for the King.
That night he told Squire Spencer all about the Fish Prince – and his plan to help him. He told Squire that he should go to the lake each day, pull in two of the fish he had tied up and to deliver these to the King. This way no one would suspect he was gone and the King would continuer to receive his dinner each day. Once he was certain that Squire Spencer knew what to do, Alika packed a warm coat and some food and set off for the River Fal on the other side of the mountains.
The sun was dropping slowly in the sky as Alika walked along the path that leads to the mountains. He had never been further than the lake before and as the scenery changed and become unfamiliar, he started to have second thoughts about his journey. He was not a very big boy, being still in school, but he knew he had to help the Fish Prince and so he continued on.
As the sun dipped below the hills and long shadows crept forth from the trees of the forest, Alika fastened his jacket about him to keep off the cold. He then pick out a glass jar and cover he had in his pack and waited quietly for the fireflies to start their evening courtship. He carefully caught five of the largest ones he could find and placed them in the jar. With their magic lights aglow, Alika could see the trail and was able to continue on throughout the night. Higher and higher into the mountains he went, the cold wind whipping through the night air and making his breath look like a tea kettle steaming over a hot fire. As he came to the top of the mountain pass he found a small cave protected from the wind and crawled inside to get some sleep. He covered the fireflies with a spare shirt so their light would not disturb him and fell fast asleep.
4. The first rays of the morning sun shone brightly into the cave, warming the interior and waking Alika from his deep sleep. He had trouble for a minute remembering where he was – and why he was not in his own bed. Then he remembered the Fish Prince and the promise he had made. Alika knew he had given his word and could not let the Prince down. He quickly packed away his things, ate a banana from his pack, and set off once again.
The trail now was narrower – twisting and winding down the mountainside. It rambled along over small boulders and tree roots, sometimes going up for a short distance before continuing its downward slope. In the distance Alika could see a beautiful blue river as it flowed along a forest of tall trees. Just at the horizon he could see where the river flowed into the ocean and that he guessed would be where the Good Witch lived. He walked along as the trail become flatter and he was able to go faster with the sun now overhead and warming his back as he moved along.
He walked for almost the entire day, pausing occasionally to drink some of the cold clear water that flowed along the streams he passed. He stopped to pick some flowers for the fireflies to eat and had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for himself. It was his last bit of food and he was glad that he could now clearly see the river mouth and knew he did not have far to travel. As he climbed over a hill that had stretched far along the path, he was suddenly standing on the banks of the great river Fal and in the distance was a small thatched cottage with just a wisp of smoke curling from its chimney. Alika decided he would stop there and ask if the owner knew of the Good Witch and where she might be found.
He knocked upon the large wooden door and could hear faint footsteps walking across the floor. The door slowly creaked open and Alika peered inside. He steeped back in awe as the most beautiful women he had ever seen stepped outside. She had long blonde hair and eyes as blue as the ocean and was dressed in a flowing white gown. Her smile was like sunshine and she carried a crystal wand that glowed like the moon on a cloudless night. He instantly knew this was the Good Witch and he knelt down on one knee and offered his greeting in a hushed voice. The Witch Queen smiled and laughed, and her voice was like a symphony as she invited Alika inside to rest and have something to eat after his long journey.
5. As Alika sat at the table, Queen Donna placed a plate carved from wood and a bowl made from pure turquoise in front of him. Next came a fork and spoon both carved from Jade. Then she placed a large bowl of fruit and a platter of cheese pizza in front of him. “Eat” the Good Queen said. Alika dove in and filled his stomach with the wonderful food. Then the Queen asked him if he wanted some dessert. “Yes please,” said Alika. The Queen told him to help himself. Alika looked into the bowl but did not see anything. “Go ahead said the Queen – your dessert is in the bowl. Not wanting to be rude, Alika placed his spoon in the bowl and pretended to eat. As his spoon touched the side, it suddenly was filled with Vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinkles. “WOW” thought Alika, this is pretty cool. He had a bite of the ice cream and when he placed his spoon back, the ice cream changed to chocolate with chocolate sprinkles. Next it turned into cake and finally the bowl was filled with cookies. Alika could not believe his luck. Finally when Alika could eat no more, the bowl suddenly became empty and clean once again.
“Now my dear, why did you come visit me” asked the Queen. Alika told the story of the Fish Prince and how he had promised to help. The Witch Queen listened carefully and when Alika was done with his story she went to a large cupboard where she stored her magic potions and took down a bottle filled with red liquid. Take this said the queen and pour it on top of the Fish Prince. Make sure he is not in the water when you do for his change back into a human must be done on dry land. Alika nodded that he understood. The queen then helped him pack his sack with fruit and sandwiches for the return trip. She gave him a kiss on the check and Alika set off once again for the trip back to his home.
The trail this time did not seem so bad as Alika skipped along, He was anxious to get home but was still careful not to go too fast. It was nighttime and the fireflies were burning brightly to help him see. There was full moon that hung lazily amid the stars and Alika thought he saw the Old Man of the Moon wink at him as he went. Alika finally reached the cave where he had spent his first night and decided that he would spend the rest of the night there sleeping. He crawled in making sure to place his pack in a safe place and then drifted off to sleep.
6. The sound of birds softly chirping stirred Alika awake. In the distance he could hear the tumble of water as it coursed over rocks and plummeted off a waterfall. He stretched – then slowly got up as the sleep wore off. He was excited now – only a day’s walk back to his home and he was anxious to get moving. He took an apple from his sack that the Good Queen had given him and bit into it. Little apple juice drops splattered across his face as he ate.
The sun was just peeking over the mountains as Alika started down the other side of the trail. Squirrels and chipmunks froze along the edges of the forest as he walked – looking at him with curiosity. Slowly the day became brighter and Alika walked a little faster as the warm wind chased the chill of the evening away. Hour after hour he walked, the scenery becoming more familiar as he went. He recognized the hills in the distance and knew that his journey would be over soon. As he rounded a bend, he could see his lake off in the distance and his heart was filled with joy at the sight.
The next two hours went by quickly and suddenly Alika found himself walking up the path to his house. “Squire Spencer” he yelled out and the door to his cottage was flung open and Spencer came running out. How happy they both were to see each other. “Come inside” said Spencer – “and tell me all about your trip”.
Spencer listened intently as Alika told his tales – about his long walk, the Queen, the magic dessert bowl and the red potion. Alika remembered that that he had a meeting with the Fish Prince in just a few days and carefully took out the magic potion and hid it in the cupboard. Finally he finished telling all his stories and it was time for bed. First, Alika took the fireflies and set them free in the front garden, thanking them for their help and promising to always be kind to fireflies in the future. Then he gave his teeth a good long brushing and crawled into his own bed, in his own cottage, and fell fast asleep.
7. Finally the big day arrived and Alika was up early. The roosters were still sleeping as he slipped out of bed and went in to take a bath. Soon he was having breakfast and afterwards removed the magic potion from the cupboard and placed it in his pack. He quietly let himself out of the house so as not disturb anyone and walked along in the crisp morning air to the lake.
There was a thin cover of mist above the water as Alika stood on the shore and called out to the Fish Prince. Suddenly there was a great churning of the water and the Prince lifted his head out and stared into Alika’s eyes. “I was not sure you would come back,” said the Prince. Alika told him he always kept his promises and not to worry. He explained how he would need to take the Prince out of the water for the potion to work and then lifted the fish and carried him to shore.
Alika laid the fish on a bed of pine needles and then reached into his pack for the magic potion. He took the cover off and just as he started to pour the liquid he heard a noise. Looking up he saw the king sitting on his horse staring straight at him. Alika was scared but it was too late to stop the potion and it splashed over the prince. Suddenly the fish started to change shape and grew and grew. He watched as the fish changed into a human and then looked up to see the King walking toward him. Alika fell to his knees and begged the king to spare him. He tried to explain what had happened so the King would not mad about loosing a golden fish – but the King put out his hand and motioned for Alika to be quiet.
The King then looked at the Prince that had been transformed and tears started to run down his face. “My brother” he said, “How long I have wondered what happened to you – and how long I have wished for your return”. Then turning to Alika he told him that from this day forward – he would become a Knight and would serve with the bravest of his men. Then the king bowed to Alika and thanked him.
Alika could not believe his luck. He had saved the Prince, become a Knight and received a royal thank you. It had been a perfect day.
After the King and the Prince left, Alika went for a swim in the lake and then decided to return home to share his good news. He reached into his pack to pull out a spare shirt, as the one he was wearing was wet. As he pulled it out, a bowl made from pure turquoise and a spoon carved from jade tumbled gently onto the pine needles.
Spencer and the Dragon
Once upon a time, a long long time ago, there lived a young boy named Spencer in a house on the edge of the Great Forest. And in front of that house was a big field and in that field there lived a dragon. And Spencer and the dragon were friends.
One day Spencer was at home coloring when a knock came at the window. He looked up to see Mr. Crow sitting on the ledge and looking very nervous. Spencer went over to the window and opened it up.
“Good afternoon Mr. Crow: said Spencer. What brings you to my house today?
Mr. Crow took a deep breath and started to talk. “Mr. Spencer” he said, “some careless humans were camping in the Great Forest and allowed a fire to start in the woods. It is starting to burn the trees and the animals of the forest are getting scared. We need your help right away to put the fire out and save our homes.”
Spencer knew what to do. He went to the closet and put on his boots. He put on his coat and put on his hat. He then went outside and walked into the big field and called out “MR DRAGON”.
Spencer waited for a minute. “MR DRAGON” he called again – just a little louder than the first time. Finally Spencer called out in his loudest voice “MR DRAGON!” Suddenly there was movement in the tall grass and Spencer could see the dragon’s tail as it arched up and the dragon took a big stretch. Mr. Dragon stood up and looked at Spencer.
“Good afternoon Spencer” said the dragon. “What brings you to my field today?” Spencer told him the story about Mr. Crow and the animals in the woods and the burning fire. He told Mr. Dragon that only he could help save the animals now.
Mr. Dragon stretched out his neck and lowered it to the ground. Spencer climbed up among the large scales and held on tight and Mr. Dragon stretched his giant wings and slowly started to lift off the ground.
Higher and higher they flew until Mr. Dragon and Spencer soared over the trees and they could see the smoke in the distance.
Mr. Dragon circled around the fire to get a good view. He had a plan and hoped it would work. He told Spencer to hold on tight and then he started to fly lower. Closer and closer the dragon got to the fire. Spencer could already feel the heat and was started to get a little scared himself.
Just before the reached the fire Mr. Dragon suddenly took an enormous breath. Flying low over the trees he started to blow on the fire with all his might. His breath was more powerful than a hurricane and he blew the flames all out and the fire was gone.
All the animals of the woods cheered as Mr. Dragon flew away and headed back to the house. When they landed, Spencer thanked Mr. Dragon for all of his help and told him what a brave dragon he was.
Then Spencer went inside and hung up his coat and hat and put his boots in the closet. Then he went back to his coloring book and started to color a picture of all his animal friends in the forest.
The end.
One day Spencer was at home coloring when a knock came at the window. He looked up to see Mr. Crow sitting on the ledge and looking very nervous. Spencer went over to the window and opened it up.
“Good afternoon Mr. Crow: said Spencer. What brings you to my house today?
Mr. Crow took a deep breath and started to talk. “Mr. Spencer” he said, “some careless humans were camping in the Great Forest and allowed a fire to start in the woods. It is starting to burn the trees and the animals of the forest are getting scared. We need your help right away to put the fire out and save our homes.”
Spencer knew what to do. He went to the closet and put on his boots. He put on his coat and put on his hat. He then went outside and walked into the big field and called out “MR DRAGON”.
Spencer waited for a minute. “MR DRAGON” he called again – just a little louder than the first time. Finally Spencer called out in his loudest voice “MR DRAGON!” Suddenly there was movement in the tall grass and Spencer could see the dragon’s tail as it arched up and the dragon took a big stretch. Mr. Dragon stood up and looked at Spencer.
“Good afternoon Spencer” said the dragon. “What brings you to my field today?” Spencer told him the story about Mr. Crow and the animals in the woods and the burning fire. He told Mr. Dragon that only he could help save the animals now.
Mr. Dragon stretched out his neck and lowered it to the ground. Spencer climbed up among the large scales and held on tight and Mr. Dragon stretched his giant wings and slowly started to lift off the ground.
Higher and higher they flew until Mr. Dragon and Spencer soared over the trees and they could see the smoke in the distance.
Mr. Dragon circled around the fire to get a good view. He had a plan and hoped it would work. He told Spencer to hold on tight and then he started to fly lower. Closer and closer the dragon got to the fire. Spencer could already feel the heat and was started to get a little scared himself.
Just before the reached the fire Mr. Dragon suddenly took an enormous breath. Flying low over the trees he started to blow on the fire with all his might. His breath was more powerful than a hurricane and he blew the flames all out and the fire was gone.
All the animals of the woods cheered as Mr. Dragon flew away and headed back to the house. When they landed, Spencer thanked Mr. Dragon for all of his help and told him what a brave dragon he was.
Then Spencer went inside and hung up his coat and hat and put his boots in the closet. Then he went back to his coloring book and started to color a picture of all his animal friends in the forest.
The end.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Thoughts on management
Remember you are the boss. You are the one employees will be proud of. You embody the reasons people work for your company. People will start off respecting you for the position you hold. Don’t minimize your position or act like their buddy.
Set standards that are fair and understandable. Remember that “fair” is a standard that evolves over time. People need to be reminded of this. You may give someone extra time off or the ability to work from home to meet a personal crisis. Make sure you can apply the standard to everyone in the same situation – but have them understand that they may not need this flexibility for years. Fight the temptation to do too much for one person (even if their situation deserves it) if you cannot do the same for others when they are in need.
Thank three people for something every day. Leave a voice mail for them on your way home from work if you don’t see them before leave.
Thank at least one person at every staff meeting.
At least once a month tell your boss that someone that works for you did a great job and encourage him or her to send a note to that person.
Get to know the people below your direct reports.
Have an extended management staff meeting (your direct reports and the supervisors/managers that report to them each quarter. Start to know them and work with them directly when appropriate. Your bench can be as important as your starters when crunch time comes.
When someone does something worth remembering, write it down and put it in their
1 x 1 file. This will enable you to provide positive feedback, and also is very helpful at review time (it is hard to remember what people had done 10 months earlier). Do the same with areas that need improvement.
Know that every decision you make will be reviewed ad nauseum among all your employees. Get used to this.
Listen twice as much (or more) as you talk. You can never learn when your mouth is engaged.
You do not run a democracy. Voting is a poor way to make important decisions (although can be very useful for minor decisions where the outcome is not really important).
Always solicit input – but make decisions that you are comfortable with. Expect you will have to justify every decision to the President. Just thinking that way will help steer you in the right direction.
Set performance standards that are easy to understand, controllable by the employee and easy to measure.
Have every person in your organization develop a list of 4 process improvements (one a quarter) they will own and implement in the coming year. If you do this consistently, you will improve hundreds of processes each year. Hold people accountable for meeting these goals. Your job here is to clear obstacles – not do the work.
Be known as an astute financial manager. Spend less money than you can.
When doing compensation increases, review total comp with the employee before getting to their raise. This includes current salary, benefit load, 401K contributions, training and development, bonuses, options and other forms of comp. Someone who makes $60K may be surprised to learn that it costs the company a $100K to pay them that. It helps put it all in perspective.
Find a way to benchmark efficiency (ex. Total payroll divided by total claims processed). Keep track of this and improve. It is helpful to have several measures to work against. Have your people understand these measures and set goals to improve results.
Try to visit people in their offices whenever possible.
The first few times you have to have a discipline conversation, write the whole thing out. Answer the main questions (what was done, why is was inappropriate, corrections needed now, actions required going forward, time line to check back with that ee and confirm that good progress is being made). Writing it out really clarifies your thinking.
Don’t soften the blow when having a performance related discussion. Nothing is worse than leaving an ee unsure of what he/she did wrong and what is needed to correct it. Deliver the news straight up and concisely. Then ask if there are questions. Make sure they really understand how their action impacts the company negatively (remember – this is not personal, invoking the company makes it more of a third person discussion). . End on a positive note (I want us to move beyond this situation…).
Performance plans should all build toward a goal. If you want to save $1,000,000 – then every single person from the admin to you needs to have this in his or her annual plan. Make every person accountable for results – in writing.
Be totally focused during 1 x1’s. Don’t take phone calls, eat, talk to others, read or do anything except listen and take notes. Nothing screams respect and understanding more than a focused boss.
Learn to recognize when you are jealous of your ee’s and deal with it before you open your mouth. Moving from an individual contributor to manager can be one of he most frustrating transitions there is. Things may seem to move slowly, other people may not perform as well as you did. Be patient with this transition and learn to gain satisfaction from your ee's success as well as your own.
Find a peer or two in other companies (non-competitors) that you can ask questions of. Go to a professional conference with just this goal in mind.
Prepare an agenda with action items when you meet with your boss. Send pre-work on issues that are larger or complicated.
Remember that every employee is hired to generate profit for the company. There is no other reason to hire or keep someone. Get everyone to understand how his or her role contributes to profitability.
People work for people – not for a company. Your people work for you. Make an environment where they can see the positive results and they will stay and flourish. Take the time to explain how comp increases, stock price increases, bonus checks and other recognition items are directly connected to their results.
Every situation has a solution. Make sure you know what it is before you act.
Remember that success is not guaranteed, hard work is no substitute for good thinking, acting impulsively will always come back to bite you and everyone is watching and evaluating you all the time.
Set standards that are fair and understandable. Remember that “fair” is a standard that evolves over time. People need to be reminded of this. You may give someone extra time off or the ability to work from home to meet a personal crisis. Make sure you can apply the standard to everyone in the same situation – but have them understand that they may not need this flexibility for years. Fight the temptation to do too much for one person (even if their situation deserves it) if you cannot do the same for others when they are in need.
Thank three people for something every day. Leave a voice mail for them on your way home from work if you don’t see them before leave.
Thank at least one person at every staff meeting.
At least once a month tell your boss that someone that works for you did a great job and encourage him or her to send a note to that person.
Get to know the people below your direct reports.
Have an extended management staff meeting (your direct reports and the supervisors/managers that report to them each quarter. Start to know them and work with them directly when appropriate. Your bench can be as important as your starters when crunch time comes.
When someone does something worth remembering, write it down and put it in their
1 x 1 file. This will enable you to provide positive feedback, and also is very helpful at review time (it is hard to remember what people had done 10 months earlier). Do the same with areas that need improvement.
Know that every decision you make will be reviewed ad nauseum among all your employees. Get used to this.
Listen twice as much (or more) as you talk. You can never learn when your mouth is engaged.
You do not run a democracy. Voting is a poor way to make important decisions (although can be very useful for minor decisions where the outcome is not really important).
Always solicit input – but make decisions that you are comfortable with. Expect you will have to justify every decision to the President. Just thinking that way will help steer you in the right direction.
Set performance standards that are easy to understand, controllable by the employee and easy to measure.
Have every person in your organization develop a list of 4 process improvements (one a quarter) they will own and implement in the coming year. If you do this consistently, you will improve hundreds of processes each year. Hold people accountable for meeting these goals. Your job here is to clear obstacles – not do the work.
Be known as an astute financial manager. Spend less money than you can.
When doing compensation increases, review total comp with the employee before getting to their raise. This includes current salary, benefit load, 401K contributions, training and development, bonuses, options and other forms of comp. Someone who makes $60K may be surprised to learn that it costs the company a $100K to pay them that. It helps put it all in perspective.
Find a way to benchmark efficiency (ex. Total payroll divided by total claims processed). Keep track of this and improve. It is helpful to have several measures to work against. Have your people understand these measures and set goals to improve results.
Try to visit people in their offices whenever possible.
The first few times you have to have a discipline conversation, write the whole thing out. Answer the main questions (what was done, why is was inappropriate, corrections needed now, actions required going forward, time line to check back with that ee and confirm that good progress is being made). Writing it out really clarifies your thinking.
Don’t soften the blow when having a performance related discussion. Nothing is worse than leaving an ee unsure of what he/she did wrong and what is needed to correct it. Deliver the news straight up and concisely. Then ask if there are questions. Make sure they really understand how their action impacts the company negatively (remember – this is not personal, invoking the company makes it more of a third person discussion). . End on a positive note (I want us to move beyond this situation…).
Performance plans should all build toward a goal. If you want to save $1,000,000 – then every single person from the admin to you needs to have this in his or her annual plan. Make every person accountable for results – in writing.
Be totally focused during 1 x1’s. Don’t take phone calls, eat, talk to others, read or do anything except listen and take notes. Nothing screams respect and understanding more than a focused boss.
Learn to recognize when you are jealous of your ee’s and deal with it before you open your mouth. Moving from an individual contributor to manager can be one of he most frustrating transitions there is. Things may seem to move slowly, other people may not perform as well as you did. Be patient with this transition and learn to gain satisfaction from your ee's success as well as your own.
Find a peer or two in other companies (non-competitors) that you can ask questions of. Go to a professional conference with just this goal in mind.
Prepare an agenda with action items when you meet with your boss. Send pre-work on issues that are larger or complicated.
Remember that every employee is hired to generate profit for the company. There is no other reason to hire or keep someone. Get everyone to understand how his or her role contributes to profitability.
People work for people – not for a company. Your people work for you. Make an environment where they can see the positive results and they will stay and flourish. Take the time to explain how comp increases, stock price increases, bonus checks and other recognition items are directly connected to their results.
Every situation has a solution. Make sure you know what it is before you act.
Remember that success is not guaranteed, hard work is no substitute for good thinking, acting impulsively will always come back to bite you and everyone is watching and evaluating you all the time.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Soulful Eyes
Michelangelo paints sunset above the distant mountains – his work already fading on the peaceful waters below
Changing voices fill the background with soft giggles and whispered secrets
A lamppost stands guard against the dark forces. Stillness surrounds. Night has come to claim her time.
Vibrant chords pour forth illuminating hopes and dreams and fears
Soulful eyes sing along filled with the harmonies of love
A private symphony shared. A moment frozen in time.
Learning that these are the only days. This is the only life.
Changing voices fill the background with soft giggles and whispered secrets
A lamppost stands guard against the dark forces. Stillness surrounds. Night has come to claim her time.
Vibrant chords pour forth illuminating hopes and dreams and fears
Soulful eyes sing along filled with the harmonies of love
A private symphony shared. A moment frozen in time.
Learning that these are the only days. This is the only life.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Kepeneke
Once upon a time on a small Hawaiian Island there lived a young boy named Kepeneke. He lived in a house surrounded by coconut trees on the edge of the town – halfway between the ocean and forest. It was a quiet place to live and his bedroom was warmed by the rising sun in the morning and cooled by the tropical breezes in the afternoon. At night, Kepeneke could stare out at the stars and the moon smiled at him when it was time for bed.
Kepeneke’s parents lived with him along with his brother, Ikilia. His father worked for the Luau, where the many tourists would come that vacationed on the island. His mother worked as the plantation manager where the most delicious pineapples and mangos were grown. Each was very happy with what they did.
Kepeneke was soon to reach the age of Malehala – or the time of the Decision. It was at Malehala that the men in Hawaii would decide what their future would bring. Some would decide to farm the fields and grow the largest pineapple and the juiciest papayas with which to feed their people. Others would become hunters, combing the forests and lava hills for small game and possibly a wild boar if the Gods were generous. Some would not work – spending their days surfing the pristine shores and powerful waves that appeared throughout the day. Most fortunate of all were those that would be gifted with a position of importance in the Kings Court.
Kepeneke often dreamed of working for the king – but he could not quite figure out how to do this. It required the very best grades, exceptional ability on the athletic fields – dedication to the ways of the ancient Hawaiians. Kepeneke knew he could do these things – but there were so many other distractions it was sometimes hard to be so focused.
Most days Kepeneke would go to school and learn of the great warriors and traditions of Hawaii’s past. It was during these times that he thought of the ancient times – and how he would have fit into. Would he have been a great warrior? Would he have been the wise elder that others sought advise from? He was sure that his future held greatness but it was so hard to know for sure when each day held a series of chores and trials to be endured.
On the days where there was no school, Kepeneke would search for Puka shells along the white sand beaches that stretched around the Island. It was during these times that he would sometimes encounter the surfers or the hunters as they went about their business. They would all try to talk him into doing what they did. The surfers would brag about how daring they were facing the giant waves and the hunters would tell him how brave they were to hunt for the giant boar that roamed the islands. None of these things much appealed to Kepeneke and he would often hear laughter as he continued down the beach searching for his puka shells.
On the evening of the full moon. Kepeneke was up in his room, practicing his writing and watching the moon beams play over the silvery waves as they washed up over the shore. Something caught his attention and he stared out over the horizon. Ever so faint, he thought he could make out a large canoe as it rode across the incoming waves. He rubbed his eyes and looked again. What would a canoe be doing out at night? It was dangerous enough to be out during the day when you could see each reef and wave but at night (even with a full moon) was almost asking for a disaster.
As Kepeneke looked out over the horizon, his mind slowly drifted away and he once again thought about the Malehala. He thought of all the things he already had to do – caring for his younger brother Ikilia, tending to the chickens that the family kept in the yard, working the small garden that supplied them with fresh vegetables
Kepeneke drifted back from his day dream and looked out the window again. The canoe was clearly visible now. It floated low in the ocean as if filled with water and he could not make out any shapes. Why he wondered, would not the paddlers be visible? He continued to watch and ponder this question as he started to realize the canoe was drifting toward Waimea ledge. It was then that he heard the sound. It was so faint at first – like the buzz the hummingbird makes as it flies by on a still afternoon. He listened harder. The sound become more intense. Not really a hummingbird – more like a small cat that was missing its mother. Surely he thought there could not be a cat adrift in a canoe.
The trade winds carried the sound over the tree tops – carried by the spirits of the Gods and suddenly a chill ran down Kepenele back. The sound was of a baby child. The sound his brother used to make late at night when he was scared and lonely – that sound that woke him up so many nights. He could almost hear his mother singing softly to Ikilia as she often did to help quiet him down and he wondered if she did the same when he was a baby.
He looked again. The canoe was dangerously close to the Waimea ledge. It would be just minutes before it would be crushed between the coral and the waves. He frantically looked up and down the beach. All the adults near him were working the Luau. They would never make it in time even if he could reach them. His heart beat faster, and his stomach tightened as he watched.
As his eyes stared at the canoe, he suddenly saw a glimmer of color reflected by the moonlight. The canoe was painted in the most brilliant and deepest blue that was only used by the Royal family. He suddenly knew it was up to him – but could he do it? He had to make the beach, swim in the dark to the canoe – and even if it made it in time, would he have enough strength to steer a full sized outrigger through danger and land it on the beach? The odds were not good, but this was the King’s canoe and it demanded his attention.
He thrust his torch into the hot embers of the hookelau and once lit – took off at a full run for the beach. His lungs screamed for him to stop and his heart beat as if a wild boar was chasing him – but he continued at full speed. He arrived just in time to see the canoe drift into the outer surf of Waimea and knew he had only minutes left. He dove in and the crashing waves tried to push him back to shore. His strong arms cut through the surf and propelled him out past the breakers. He was breathing hard now, his muscles aching with the pain but he continued on. Suddenly he looked up and realized the canoe was directly in front oh him and his right leg grazed across a rock on Waimea ledge cutting open the skin. Blood started to pour out and Kepeneke knew it would only be a minute before the sharks found him. The canoe was bouncing on the waves as he struggled to pull himself in. Every part of his body hurt as he tried again and again to pull himself in. Down he would go under the water – then break the surface gasping for air and try to get in before he went under again. Suddenly he felt a small rock under his foot and using it for leverage he was able to almost jump into the outrigger.
He landed with a splash and thrashed about for a paddle when his hand found a small basket floating in the canoe. In the glow of the moon light he could see a small child inside – wrapped in clothes dyed the most brilliant and deepest blue. His mind raced – was it possible this was the royal heir to the throne of all of the Hawaiian Island – and if so – how did he end up here? Suddenly the outrigger lurched and Kepeneke was thrown against the side with tremendous force. The shock took his breath away and he realized they had just hit the outer edge of the reef. It would only be a minute before the waves swamped them for good and then battered them against the rocks.
Perhaps then the moon shone brighter – or perhaps the Gods looked upon him with favor – for suddenly he found a paddle and swinging around quickly started to thrust into the ocean with all his strength. Each stroke was met with another wave that threatened to push them back against the rocks – but inch by inch he worked himself and the baby out toward safety.
100 yards – then 50 yards. He could see the beach clearly now. If he could keep the heavily swamped canoe straight for just another minute he would be safe. Suddenly he felt the sand underneath and finally breathed his first full breath. He grabbed the basket with the child inside and leapt out and dashed across the surf finally collapsing by a coconut tree to catch his breath. He looked out across the bay and could see the shark fins circling Waimea in the moonlight. He shivered at the thought and looked down at his leg. The blood was still flowing through the gash but strangely it did not hurt. He took off his shirt and tied it around the wound and then scooping up the basket continued on to his house.
The lights from the windows cast a glow across the driveway as he limped up. He could see his father through the glass – and his mother. They seemed angry and he was sure they were going to be really mad when he got in. The basket was heavy now – and the blood on his leg way sticky and mixed with dirt and sweat. Just a bit further. He kept telling himself to go just 10 more feet and then when he got there – he would convince himself to go another 10. And then – like a dream it was over. His front door – hobbling over the last step – his father catching him – his mother taking the baby. A blur of bandages, hot tea and then bed.
He could hear whispers as he came to. He remembered something vaguely about his dreams but it all seemed so unreal. He went to roll over and the pain shot through his leg. It wasn’t a dream after all… he had rescued a baby from a certain death. He rolled slowly and lifted his leg out of bed. It throbbed as he placed his foot on the floor and tried to stand. The whispers were clearer now – he could make out a half dozen or so adults talking downstairs. So early he thought for company. He surveyed his leg – bandages soaked in blood and thought it best to tell his mother right away. He braced himself for each step as he went down - biting down hard to not make a sound from the pain. He stepped into the kitchen slowly and was greeted by absolute silence as he entered. He looked up and saw 4 men dressed in the deepest blue robes – one wearing a crown of fresh Plumeria. Kepeneke stopped and stared. Only King Kamahamaha wore such a headdress. He suddenly realized he was in the presence of his royal highness and tried to bow. His leg gave out and he tumbled to the ground in a most undignified manner. Trying to recover – he suddenly saw a hand extended to help him. As he looked up – he stared into the bright eyes of the King. Kepeneke could not believe what was happening – the King himself extended his hand – and he helped Kepeneke up onto his feet, and then, without warning, the king knelt before Kepeneke and taking his hand in his – bowed before him.
The King told Kepeneke the story of his youngest son. A child in the village had wanted him to know the fun of the outrigger and so had put him in – never expecting it would drift out to sea. The King has searched frantically all day for his child and feared he had died. Never had he been so grateful in all his life.
The King told Kepeneke he could have any wish he desired. Anything in his kingdom would be his for the asking. Kepeneke thought long and hard. What did he really want? A job in the royal court? A life of leisure never having to work?
Kepeneke thought of the Malehala – he thought of the surfers and the hunters. He thought of his friends and teachers. He looked into the kings eyes and suddenly his voice grew strong and firm. What he wanted he explained – was just to be himself. He would make his own way in life. And while he was not yet sure what that would be – he knew now that he truly could be anything he wanted. The king smiled, and with a nod to Kepeneke’s parents, turned and disappeared out the front door.
Kepeneke tried not to moan as he worked his crutches up the stairs of his school. He was late – but this time he had a good excuse. Surely there would be no detention after what he had done last night. But then he thought no one would believe him. The story he had to admit was pretty far fetched. Rescuing the heir to the royal throne? Not likely anyone would believe that. Still, he knew the truth and that would be enough. As he entered his class the voices suddenly stopped. He looked around as his classmates stared at him. He turned toward his desk and then he suddenly saw it. A fresh crown of plumeria lay atop a sash of the most brilliant and deepest blue. Across the front in gold letters was written Kepeneke Kine Kuka – Kepeneke, the Kings Guardian.
Kepeneke’s parents lived with him along with his brother, Ikilia. His father worked for the Luau, where the many tourists would come that vacationed on the island. His mother worked as the plantation manager where the most delicious pineapples and mangos were grown. Each was very happy with what they did.
Kepeneke was soon to reach the age of Malehala – or the time of the Decision. It was at Malehala that the men in Hawaii would decide what their future would bring. Some would decide to farm the fields and grow the largest pineapple and the juiciest papayas with which to feed their people. Others would become hunters, combing the forests and lava hills for small game and possibly a wild boar if the Gods were generous. Some would not work – spending their days surfing the pristine shores and powerful waves that appeared throughout the day. Most fortunate of all were those that would be gifted with a position of importance in the Kings Court.
Kepeneke often dreamed of working for the king – but he could not quite figure out how to do this. It required the very best grades, exceptional ability on the athletic fields – dedication to the ways of the ancient Hawaiians. Kepeneke knew he could do these things – but there were so many other distractions it was sometimes hard to be so focused.
Most days Kepeneke would go to school and learn of the great warriors and traditions of Hawaii’s past. It was during these times that he thought of the ancient times – and how he would have fit into. Would he have been a great warrior? Would he have been the wise elder that others sought advise from? He was sure that his future held greatness but it was so hard to know for sure when each day held a series of chores and trials to be endured.
On the days where there was no school, Kepeneke would search for Puka shells along the white sand beaches that stretched around the Island. It was during these times that he would sometimes encounter the surfers or the hunters as they went about their business. They would all try to talk him into doing what they did. The surfers would brag about how daring they were facing the giant waves and the hunters would tell him how brave they were to hunt for the giant boar that roamed the islands. None of these things much appealed to Kepeneke and he would often hear laughter as he continued down the beach searching for his puka shells.
On the evening of the full moon. Kepeneke was up in his room, practicing his writing and watching the moon beams play over the silvery waves as they washed up over the shore. Something caught his attention and he stared out over the horizon. Ever so faint, he thought he could make out a large canoe as it rode across the incoming waves. He rubbed his eyes and looked again. What would a canoe be doing out at night? It was dangerous enough to be out during the day when you could see each reef and wave but at night (even with a full moon) was almost asking for a disaster.
As Kepeneke looked out over the horizon, his mind slowly drifted away and he once again thought about the Malehala. He thought of all the things he already had to do – caring for his younger brother Ikilia, tending to the chickens that the family kept in the yard, working the small garden that supplied them with fresh vegetables
Kepeneke drifted back from his day dream and looked out the window again. The canoe was clearly visible now. It floated low in the ocean as if filled with water and he could not make out any shapes. Why he wondered, would not the paddlers be visible? He continued to watch and ponder this question as he started to realize the canoe was drifting toward Waimea ledge. It was then that he heard the sound. It was so faint at first – like the buzz the hummingbird makes as it flies by on a still afternoon. He listened harder. The sound become more intense. Not really a hummingbird – more like a small cat that was missing its mother. Surely he thought there could not be a cat adrift in a canoe.
The trade winds carried the sound over the tree tops – carried by the spirits of the Gods and suddenly a chill ran down Kepenele back. The sound was of a baby child. The sound his brother used to make late at night when he was scared and lonely – that sound that woke him up so many nights. He could almost hear his mother singing softly to Ikilia as she often did to help quiet him down and he wondered if she did the same when he was a baby.
He looked again. The canoe was dangerously close to the Waimea ledge. It would be just minutes before it would be crushed between the coral and the waves. He frantically looked up and down the beach. All the adults near him were working the Luau. They would never make it in time even if he could reach them. His heart beat faster, and his stomach tightened as he watched.
As his eyes stared at the canoe, he suddenly saw a glimmer of color reflected by the moonlight. The canoe was painted in the most brilliant and deepest blue that was only used by the Royal family. He suddenly knew it was up to him – but could he do it? He had to make the beach, swim in the dark to the canoe – and even if it made it in time, would he have enough strength to steer a full sized outrigger through danger and land it on the beach? The odds were not good, but this was the King’s canoe and it demanded his attention.
He thrust his torch into the hot embers of the hookelau and once lit – took off at a full run for the beach. His lungs screamed for him to stop and his heart beat as if a wild boar was chasing him – but he continued at full speed. He arrived just in time to see the canoe drift into the outer surf of Waimea and knew he had only minutes left. He dove in and the crashing waves tried to push him back to shore. His strong arms cut through the surf and propelled him out past the breakers. He was breathing hard now, his muscles aching with the pain but he continued on. Suddenly he looked up and realized the canoe was directly in front oh him and his right leg grazed across a rock on Waimea ledge cutting open the skin. Blood started to pour out and Kepeneke knew it would only be a minute before the sharks found him. The canoe was bouncing on the waves as he struggled to pull himself in. Every part of his body hurt as he tried again and again to pull himself in. Down he would go under the water – then break the surface gasping for air and try to get in before he went under again. Suddenly he felt a small rock under his foot and using it for leverage he was able to almost jump into the outrigger.
He landed with a splash and thrashed about for a paddle when his hand found a small basket floating in the canoe. In the glow of the moon light he could see a small child inside – wrapped in clothes dyed the most brilliant and deepest blue. His mind raced – was it possible this was the royal heir to the throne of all of the Hawaiian Island – and if so – how did he end up here? Suddenly the outrigger lurched and Kepeneke was thrown against the side with tremendous force. The shock took his breath away and he realized they had just hit the outer edge of the reef. It would only be a minute before the waves swamped them for good and then battered them against the rocks.
Perhaps then the moon shone brighter – or perhaps the Gods looked upon him with favor – for suddenly he found a paddle and swinging around quickly started to thrust into the ocean with all his strength. Each stroke was met with another wave that threatened to push them back against the rocks – but inch by inch he worked himself and the baby out toward safety.
100 yards – then 50 yards. He could see the beach clearly now. If he could keep the heavily swamped canoe straight for just another minute he would be safe. Suddenly he felt the sand underneath and finally breathed his first full breath. He grabbed the basket with the child inside and leapt out and dashed across the surf finally collapsing by a coconut tree to catch his breath. He looked out across the bay and could see the shark fins circling Waimea in the moonlight. He shivered at the thought and looked down at his leg. The blood was still flowing through the gash but strangely it did not hurt. He took off his shirt and tied it around the wound and then scooping up the basket continued on to his house.
The lights from the windows cast a glow across the driveway as he limped up. He could see his father through the glass – and his mother. They seemed angry and he was sure they were going to be really mad when he got in. The basket was heavy now – and the blood on his leg way sticky and mixed with dirt and sweat. Just a bit further. He kept telling himself to go just 10 more feet and then when he got there – he would convince himself to go another 10. And then – like a dream it was over. His front door – hobbling over the last step – his father catching him – his mother taking the baby. A blur of bandages, hot tea and then bed.
He could hear whispers as he came to. He remembered something vaguely about his dreams but it all seemed so unreal. He went to roll over and the pain shot through his leg. It wasn’t a dream after all… he had rescued a baby from a certain death. He rolled slowly and lifted his leg out of bed. It throbbed as he placed his foot on the floor and tried to stand. The whispers were clearer now – he could make out a half dozen or so adults talking downstairs. So early he thought for company. He surveyed his leg – bandages soaked in blood and thought it best to tell his mother right away. He braced himself for each step as he went down - biting down hard to not make a sound from the pain. He stepped into the kitchen slowly and was greeted by absolute silence as he entered. He looked up and saw 4 men dressed in the deepest blue robes – one wearing a crown of fresh Plumeria. Kepeneke stopped and stared. Only King Kamahamaha wore such a headdress. He suddenly realized he was in the presence of his royal highness and tried to bow. His leg gave out and he tumbled to the ground in a most undignified manner. Trying to recover – he suddenly saw a hand extended to help him. As he looked up – he stared into the bright eyes of the King. Kepeneke could not believe what was happening – the King himself extended his hand – and he helped Kepeneke up onto his feet, and then, without warning, the king knelt before Kepeneke and taking his hand in his – bowed before him.
The King told Kepeneke the story of his youngest son. A child in the village had wanted him to know the fun of the outrigger and so had put him in – never expecting it would drift out to sea. The King has searched frantically all day for his child and feared he had died. Never had he been so grateful in all his life.
The King told Kepeneke he could have any wish he desired. Anything in his kingdom would be his for the asking. Kepeneke thought long and hard. What did he really want? A job in the royal court? A life of leisure never having to work?
Kepeneke thought of the Malehala – he thought of the surfers and the hunters. He thought of his friends and teachers. He looked into the kings eyes and suddenly his voice grew strong and firm. What he wanted he explained – was just to be himself. He would make his own way in life. And while he was not yet sure what that would be – he knew now that he truly could be anything he wanted. The king smiled, and with a nod to Kepeneke’s parents, turned and disappeared out the front door.
Kepeneke tried not to moan as he worked his crutches up the stairs of his school. He was late – but this time he had a good excuse. Surely there would be no detention after what he had done last night. But then he thought no one would believe him. The story he had to admit was pretty far fetched. Rescuing the heir to the royal throne? Not likely anyone would believe that. Still, he knew the truth and that would be enough. As he entered his class the voices suddenly stopped. He looked around as his classmates stared at him. He turned toward his desk and then he suddenly saw it. A fresh crown of plumeria lay atop a sash of the most brilliant and deepest blue. Across the front in gold letters was written Kepeneke Kine Kuka – Kepeneke, the Kings Guardian.
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