The Banyan TreeHonolulu, Hawaii. About 1955.
My Dad had just finished getting his degree at Stanford, when they were still the Indians, and people were less uptight and PC about things. My Mom was a stewardess when they still called them that, and people took 10 + hours to get to Hawaii via the airlines. She flew for United, dated a memeber of the Smuckers family, and was heading back to home base in Chicago.
Dad had signed up for the Army and was getting sent to Korea. Mom was killing time in Waikiki waiting to fly out the next day, or day after.
Dad, figuring the access to beach in Korea would be limited, headed to Waikiki for a swim and some body-surfing. Waikiki's waves broke differently in those days, and you ( I guess ) could body-surf them. Mom had donned the latest in 1955 beach fashion, (meaning - huge shades, big hat, probably polka-dotted, but who knows) and went to sun herself on the Kuhio Beach area of Waikiki proper.
Dad, being a hellofa stud, musta seen Mom and being the suave ( broke ) guy that he is, somehow conned my Mom into 'keeping and eye' on his shorts (old) and wallet (empty, and watch (not-working) while he went swimming.
Mom, being totally 1955 cool, said...'Eh' (artistic liberty taken; she was probably really nice about it)
Apparently after a surf and swim, Dad (stud) came back and began conversing with Mom. I have no idea what the pick up lines were, or how well they worked, but,.... Thanks.
In Honolulu, the rains will come down from the valley, and drench really quickly, or for a good spell. Liquid sunshine; if you wait a minute the weather will change.
So a squall of Ua (rain) came and had the two of them head for the protection of above Banyan Tree. It was much larger then, as it had to be trimmed to keep it alive about 10 years ago. They talked.
The rain came. They talked somemore. They told each other what was what (he going to Korea, she back to Chicago)
They exchanged address'.
They promised to write.
For 2 years they wrote.
When my Dad was getting discharged, he wrote my Mom, and asked her to marry him.
After meeting him that day, under that tree, she said yes.
I like that tree.
Aloha.
* I pass it everytime I work at the Royal; and every time I like to think i say thanks.
6 comments:
Killing time on Waikiki must have been absolute hell on Earth, eh? They bonded immediately through common suffering, and kept the bond strong via snailmail. Hahaha!!!
It's a great story, even with artistic liberties.
Match.com is the Banayan tree of the New Millennium. ;-)
sounds so much nicer than finding love via keyboard and pixel. you know?
kinda scary, how many relationships occur that way now. but that's just me. i prefer face-to-face attraction.
i love the banyan trees in hilo, too.
and coconut island!
That is an amazing story, simply amazing and, well, beautiful.
That tree needs a hug!
:o)
Tell it thank you for me as well next time...
alan
That's the best parent meet-up story every.
I don't even KNOW my parents' story.
Which means a pot party must have been involved.
Heh, Ange is a hoot, and um wasn't a pot party involved in lots of stories? I mean really, in the seventies, just sayin'...
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