Dolphins Dance – Second Edition coming March 2014

I'm in the process of revising the Second Edition of Dolphins Dance, and I have decided to share with you the first draft of the cover – once again, the photograph is courtesy of Bradley Wong and the Photoshop work/design is by Daisuke Maehira. What do you think?

A little background... Dolphins Dance was my very first book published, with the vanity press organization called Publish America. I signed a seven-year contract with them, very foolishly. They set their prices much too high, asking readers to pay $25 for a paperback copy and $10 for the e-book – quite ridiculous. I didn't realize it at first, but they make their money NOT by selling books to readers, but by selling their bogus services to new authors like myself. A definite scam to be avoided... I argued with them for a couple of years, and finally they offered to sell the rights to my book back to me for $100. So now, I can revise it and publish through Amazon, set my own price, and have complete control over my first book. I'm very excited About it – I hope to be ready with it By early March 2014.

Four pictures on the wall...

Most of you understand that my physical view of the world is rather limited. I am blessed to have my voice and the ability to travel through cyberspace, the world of television, and the universe of my imagination through my writing, but what I actually see with my eyes every day is usually confined to what's in front of the hospital bed where I spend most of my time. With that in mind, I thought it would share with you some of the "things" that I do look at it each day and the meaning I have attached to them.

I'll start with the four pictures on the wall... (Take a look at the pictures in the entry below)

On the far left of my wall, is a print of a painting done by Peggy Chun. Peggy was a local artist that passed a few years ago from ALS. I never got to know her personally, but I always admired her work. This painting called "A Charmed Life" my wife and I purchased more than 15 years ago, long before I even knew what ALS was. We love the color and the hidden gecko amongst the mangoes. When I wrote The Hamster and the Gecko – a Survivors Story, I asked Peggy's daughter-in-law if I could use the artwork for my book cover –she graciously agreed.

To the right of that, is a cross-stitch given to me by a new friend, Michelle. She came to me out of the blue with generosity and kindness – something that I've experienced frequently in the last seven years. People that I only know as acquaintances, suddenly become good friends. They offer their time, services and friendship. Michelle's father died from ALS and when she read my first book, Dolphins Dance, she was inspired to give me this beautiful undersea world cross-stitch. I cannot even imagine how long it took to create. Whenever I look at it, I am reminded of the generosity of people.

In the center of my wall, just above the television, is this print of the town of Galilee, Rhode Island. My God mother lives in Rhode Island. I sent her a copy of Narragansett, and in return she sent me this beautiful signed print. It's exactly like one of the scenes from the book. Every time I see it, the painting reminds me of the importance of family and it also encourages me to continue writing.

Finally, on the far right of the wall, there is a beautiful South Carolina beach scene painted by my mother. My mother was a fabulous artist. She passed earlier this year and we spread her cremated ashes in the ocean not far from where I live. She's always with me. Looking at the painting, I remember all of the love that she gave me, and the lessons that she hoped I would learn. I think she would be proud of her son – I hope so. She inspires me to stay creative and to look for beauty in the world, no matter your perspective.

Four pictures on the wall – a different perspective

Pandora's Promise

Pandora's Promise, a CNN documentary about the perils and promise of nuclear energy is very much worth the time to watch. The documentary takes a unique perspective – four different lifelong environmentalists who were once anti-nuclear energy tell their stories and explain their journey from being against nuclear power, to becoming pro-nuclear.

The documentary is unashamedly biased from the beginning, but it does make an attempt to show both sides of the argument. The tipping point for these environmentalists is of course, global climate change, undeniably caused by the pollution created by human activity. If you still Doubt that climate change is happening, just turn on the news and take a look at the horrific video from Beijing and Shanghai, China – as well as the extreme storms, hurricanes, drought and monsoons occurring throughout the world.

Like the environmentalists in the documentary, I am against deriving energy from the burning of fossil fuels – oil, coal and natural gas. However, I differed with their stance against nuclear power in the 70s, 80s and 90s. For me, the nuclear energy question was always a confusing one. For several years, when I lived in Gaffney, South Carolina, I worked just a few miles from the Cherokee Nuclear Power Plant. I had friends who worked at the plant. I drove by it frequently. I swam in the Broad River, where it was located. I took students on tours of the facility. It seemed like a viable, clean alternative – well, almost clean, except for the nuclear waste that lasts for tens of thousands of years.

Then there was Three-mile Island, Chernobyl, and more recently Fukushima. Radioactive clouds, radioactive contaminated water dumped into the ocean and rivers, whole areas of land becoming uninhabitable – the images are terrifying. I think average citizens had every right to be scared to death of this radioactive technology. I believe that, as the documentary points out, large oil and gas conglomerates did everything they could to feed that fear. I had, still have, my doubts...

But, things have changed. If the world population continues to grow, develop, and utilize fossil fuels at the current pace – our planet will be in dire-straits within the next couple of generations. Kyoto protocols and United Nations Climate Summits will never solve the climate change problem... Solar, wind and hydroelectric power cannot produce enough electricity for the demand. And, for humans to change their insatiable desire for the necessities and luxuries that electric power brings, well, this is truly out of the question.

It's now the 21st century, technology has advanced considerably. Our understanding of Nuclear energy has grown exponentially. Many believe it can be deployed correctly and safely. Nuclear power is not the best solution, but at the moment it seems to be our only choice.

Some comments on "The Gunslinger" volumes

A good, but critical reader, friend of mine had these comments about my Gunslinger volumes. Getting these kinds of comments really help me continue to write – thank you!

Your writing is "compelling."

I am impressed with your knowledge of Native Americans. We give Native Americans far too little credit for their civilization and treated them like "savages during that time."

I wonder how Native Americans could have developed their mysticism. I think it was probably a natural evolution. I am impressed [from your writing] about their respect for nature – their ability to gain wisdom from nature.

You write well about things that are hard to understand.  I like the way you imply extra meaning and possibility of connection through time - as with the bird story of Nuuanu Valley.

I took from your writing that "all that happens has meaning." There is message for you in life.  Things around you have meaning.  [I particularly like the way you deliver this thought without beating the reader over the head with it.]

Yellow Ginger

 

'Awapuhi melemele is Hawaiian for Yellow Ginger, a beautiful, fragrant, common flower found here on the islands. My next novel, I'm still not sure of the title, has the sticky sweet smell of yellow Ginger as a central theme – it's a crime novel set in modern-day Honolulu. Many thanks to my friend Bradley Wong for the photograph. I think it will make a great cover – I hope to be published by March 2014.

Holiday mixed emotions

Many of us have mixed emotions during the holidays. I can remember as a child and young adult mostly enjoying the festivities, holidays and celebrations during this time of year. It wasn't until I was married with a family to support that the holidays began to lose their luster. I realized how hard my mother and father had to work in order to make our holidays special. I began to question the blatant commercialization, hustle and bustle, obligations and forced traditions. However, I was able to overlook these minor irritations and embrace the holidays for the sake of my son, wife, family and friends. Doing so, made the holidays a special time for me as well.

But now, in my current situation living with ALS for the last seven years, I find that I have extreme highs and lows during this time of year. My friends, caregivers and doctors assure me that this is normal—everyone has good and bad days. I'm sure it's a matter of perspective, so I thought looking back and reminiscing about all of the things I used to be able to do during the holidays might be therapeutic. Please indulge the following trip down memory lane.

Bringing holiday cheer to others make all the difference.

We usually invited friends and family over for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year. I threw myself into cleaning the house, decorating, and helping with the cooking. We played games, exchanged gifts and laughter. There's nothing like the joy of being with people you love during the holidays, and then the peaceful, soft, quiet of the house well-used after the parties are over. Christmas morning and New Year's Day were reserved for our small family only. We tried hard to wrap ourselves in the love we shared with each other.

Sometimes the quiet times are the best.

I am one of those that actually enjoyed writing and reading Christmas cards. I would include an annual wrap-up of the year letter, usually complete with photographs and pithy remarks. Sending the annual greeting helped me to remember how lucky and blessed we were as a family. Watching the news during the holidays was always difficult —the continuous war, natural disasters, poverty. I strived to understand our privileged place in the world as US citizens. I volunteered when I could at the homeless shelter or immigrant center, and even dressed-up as Santa a couple of times. We made what charitable donations we could afford.

Reflection during the holidays is an important endeavor.

As a small family, we tried to perpetuate some family traditions. My wife cooked special Japanese food for New Year's Day. While I enjoyed decorating for Christmas— hanging stockings, putting out Christmas lights, and setting up the manger my grandmother gave me. Even though we live in Hawaii—the land of palm trees, we still purchased a real Christmas tree each year. I remember paying over $100 for a tree one winter in the 1990s, and a week later, all of the trees on the island were sold out. I haven't checked, but I'm sure they are even more expensive today. Definitely crazy, but it was worth it! One of my favorite family traditions was the practice of opening one present each on Christmas Eve—this was easy to continue.

Family traditions, however small, bring peace and stability.

I even got into the shopping mood, occasionally joining the masses at the mall. I struggled to stay within budget and came home exhausted. I told myself not to, but I can even remember being pulled into the Black Friday discount spell. Looking for that special gift was a challenge, but when I was successful, the smiles or laughter the present brought was always worth the effort. Receiving was fun, but nothing gave as much joy as giving.

Gift buying and giving can really be lots of fun!

"So, why the mixed feelings?"

It really hit me hard yesterday, Thanksgiving day. There was no party this year. No friends or family visiting. Everyone was busy, and we just didn't make any real effort to plan anything. My wife was exhausted from work and from her duties as my caregiver. She needed a break. She did make a gallant attempt to cook a small turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and gravy for us. My son slept late, also tired from work, and he had to leave early because Black Friday now begins on Thursday! He was one of those retail workers on the job from Thursday evening until early Friday morning so that the rest of us could get a jump on our Christmas shopping and the big box stores could start ringing up the profits.

I fell asleep during the Macy's parade, the National Dog Show and all three of the NFL football games – since when are there three? There used to be just one football game on Thanksgiving. I drooled more than usual. And then, the thing that really brought me down was the fact that I could not eat more than a small bite of Turkey. The mashed potatoes and stuffing went down fairly easily, but I soon became full and I just did not have enough energy to chew. Swallowing was hard enough. When I choked and gagged I saw the tears in my wife's eyes, and I cried as well. I felt sorry for myself. I felt sorry for my wife. I felt sorry for my son having to work. My once semi-mixed feelings about the holidays, suddenly turned dark and depressing.

I guess I could go on and on, about the loss I feel. The loss of energy, the loss of mobility, the loss of independence and freedom, the loss of financial security, the loss of time with friends and loved ones. However, I know the infinite downward spiral this road can lead to if you allow it. Negativity breeds more negativity. Depression is never too far away.

The well-known author and inspirational speaker, Rita Schiano, sums it up quite well:

Talking about our problems has become our greatest addiction.

Break the habit – talk about your joys.  

So, I vow to finish this rambling about holidays past and present with a focus on the positive. There's still Christmas and New Year to come... I promise to be joyful. I will strive to be grateful. I will count my blessings. I will share my love with my friends and family. I will sincerely thank my caregivers. We will have a small party with friends and family. I will enjoy soft foods that are easy to chew and swallow. We will decorate the little artificial Christmas tree and place it near my hospital bed. My grandmother's nativity scene will come out of the closet and I will ask my son set it up in the living room. I will shop online and give the most important people in my life a few silly gifts. We will make a meaningful donation to a local charity, and I will send holiday messages through Facebook and e-mail. I will watch football and maybe even a Christmas special. I will make an effort to create new memories.

There's leftover stuffing and mashed potatoes!