In Memory of Graham R. Olsen

July 16, 2002 ~ September 28, 2006

 

Where did you come from baby, dear?
Out of the everywhere and into here
Where did you get those eyes so blue?
Out of the sky as I came through

What makes the light in them sparkle and spin?
Some of the starry spikes got left in
Where did you get that little tear?
I found it waiting when I got here

What makes your forehead so smooth and so high?
A soft hand stroked it as I went by
What makes your cheek like a warm pink rose?
I saw something better than anyone knows

Whence the three-cornered smile of bliss?
The Angels as one gave me a kiss
Where did you get this pearly ear
God spoke, and it came out to hear

Where did you get those hands and arms?
Love made itself into hooks and bands
Feet whence you come from, darling things?
From the very same box as the cherub's wings

How did they all just come to be you?
God thought about me, and so I grew
But how did you come to us, baby dear?
God thought about you

So I am here

George MacDonald - 1871

I read this poem three years ago at Graham's memorial.Ｉwas his nanny (his Emmy), caregiver, and friend.  One of my favorite memories is reading to Graham while holding him and studying his exquisitely beautiful face. This poem was in an anthology I read aloud from regularly and always felt like it was written for dear Bubs. It was always clear he came from the heavens.

About Oahu

I really admire strong, athletic people. Brilliant dancers and skilled surfers amaze me. I had fun watching the start the of the surf season in Hawaii. Here's a shot of my sister aka Lany Tany Bad Girl surfing the North shore.

Random shot from sitting under surfboards in the backseat.

Waikiki Aquarium: up close and personal with the fishies.

Baby Cousin Jove (aka Jovenstein). He is a serious little guy with an irreverent streak, a lot like his dad. I could be biased due to shared DNA but I think he's great.

On the Mainland

 
Depart: Honolulu, Hawaii

Arrive: Los Angeles, California

College Era Photo Memories

College years--Shannon (who danced at that Blazer game),
Meghan, me, and my sister visiting.

Family portrait: Dad and the sibs.

A glorious week on the west side of Oahu for my cousin's wedding.

Andrew & me as babies. First picture we ever took together, at a beach in Yachats, Oregon.

Visiting Lantana at college in Virgina.
Lany looking smug, Dad looking skeptical.

Hana, Hawaii

I would rather live one day in Maui than a month in New York.

                                                 -Charles Lindbergh

Keanae Church

Where the mountain stream meets the ocean.

One lane bridge over one of my favorite swimming spots.

Lone shell on Waikaloa Beach. Hana is one of the most vividly colorful spots in the world--still vibrant in black & white.

Avocado is the Aztec Word for...

testicle.

Really, go ahead and google it.

Santa Barbara County has its share of festivals...Lemon, Summer Soltice, Fiesta, French... I'm noticing a pattern--same vendors, food stands, different title. Today was the Avocado Festival. Avocados are definitely worth celebrating. So are testicles (healthy remaining ones especially).

The best part was it was in the adorable, dinky little town of Carpinteria (or Carp).

Carpinteria happens to be right on the beach. The water was a comfortable temp. Bouncing around in the waves cleared up any crowd exhaustion I felt. Hawaii restoked my desire to be in the water, not just at the water.

Two outgoing elderly ladies stopped me in the crowd to tell me I was making quite the fashion statement. This camo hat, the avocado necklace I made ages ago, and a ruffly green beach dress? I'm still not positive if this was a compliment...

Octoberness

My email to the world as Andrew put it.

Hawaii was Hawaii in all the ways I wanted it to be. It is impossibly beautiful--and it's home. I'm feeling more like myself. Ｉchecked in with my people (and miss them even more). Now I'm back in California and I've had a few teensy tiny pangs of homesick but I'm actually more content being here now than I was before.

I hit up my best yoga class and remember why I love it. My muscles are so sore from two days ago that I skipped tonight. I don't think my arms could hold me up.

My vision has worsened, which is supposedly normal. The good part about this is I hadn't realized and now my new contacts make me feel like I have super human vision.

My garden is comprised of clay beds with brown weeds sticking out. I'm visualizing these weeds gone, as well as composty, fluffed-up dirt, and fresh new seedlings. But, what? Any ideas? I'm drawing a blank.

I'm reading "The Tortilla Curtain" and I love it so far. The social commentary is gritty/honest/horrifying. A book hasn't made me look forward to bed time (read-time) like this in awhile.

I'm aware that this is a silly, random posting. I've missed blogging and it's October again. Some have asked and I'm Emily October only in a quick attempt to find a still-available domain name. October is my birth month and one of my favorites.