Writing update for 2013

"NARRAGANSETT" my first attempt at a historical fiction novel is in its final stages, being reviewed by my "editor/friend." I'm very excited about this novel. It follows two Rhode Island families from colonial times to the present. The central theme is Rhode Island's strong connection to Narragansett Bay and the natural environment. One of the families harvests oysters for a living, and the other operates a large farm. Both families work together to overcome the environmental challenges of development and industrialization, while developing a deep love for the natural world around them. I hope to be ready for publication by March.

Painting to be used for the cover is by William Stanley Haseltine (1835 – 1900)

"Rocks off Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island"

I have several other projects in the works... I have decided to expand "The Birdman of Nuuanu Valley." Several friends that have reviewed the stories have suggested that I add to a couple of the chapters, giving the central character – the parakeets – more space to develop. This I hope to complete by the end of the summer.

Also, amongst all this activity I have started a new fictional story, "Not Too Late for Paradise." This story has two central characters, both adolescent boys. One boy, is traveling to the Micronesian islands with his archaeologist mother in the 1960s. He's very self-centered, typical moody and difficult teenage boy who would rather be at home with his friends and television, then traipsing through the South Pacific with his mother. This character will be loosely based on my experiences in Micronesia when I was seven and again when I was 16 years old. The other boy is a "purchased" cabin boy working for the notorious buccaneer Captain Henry Bully Hayes. This boy is part Tongan and part American missionary, discarded by his father and sold by his uncle to Captain Hayes. Somehow these two boys will work together to solve the mystery of "Bully" Hayes buried treasure – lost somewhere on the island of Kosrae. In this story, I promise to include ghosts, a magical journal, beautiful Polynesian girls, intrigue, and the search for treasure. So far I'm only four chapters into this new world, so not sure when I'll reach a conclusion.

So, as you can see I continue to write every day – even when I'm not inspired. Book sales are flat, I seem to sell one or two a month, but that does not deter me. As I've said many times before, I write to live and live to write. I don't expect to be a best-selling author, but I do hope that my few friends and supporters who read my stories find some value and entertainment within the pages.
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Start of the new year!

Happy new year everyone! Just wanted to share a little bit how the beginning of 2013 has been going for me... It started off a little bit gloomy. I had a couple of choking/aspiration episodes during the week of Christmas and New Year's Eve. That put a damper on things, and I also caught a slight case of the flu. Had a low-grade fever and body aches for several days. However, spent very quiet days with my family and caregivers. Enjoyed watching all the football – college and NFL. As the second week of 2013 began, I started to feel better and my energy slowly returned. I even felt good enough to go to the Sony Open golf tournament on Saturday. My best friend, Bob, my son and his girlfriend, took me to the tournament for several hours. I had a wonderful time! It's so much fun to see the pro golfers up close and personal. I watched Vijay hit a beautiful drive, not more than 10 feet away from him – what power! Reminded me how much I enjoyed playing golf in the old days. Unfortunately, I forgot to put the sunscreen on that my wife had so diligently packed for us – so now I have sunburn arms and legs! Silly, silly boy... She's scolding me, as I deserve it. Other news is that I was finally able to talk to my mother, she is been in the hospital and rehab since falling in October and breaking her leg. She had some rough times, but it looks like she's getting better and was finally up to having a good conversation with me! Also, Finished my final draft of my historical fiction book about Rhode Island, called Narragansett. Look forward to be published sometime in March. So, the year started off this little bit bumpy for me – but thanks to everyone's love and prayers, things are looking up. I'm looking forward to going out more often. Here's wishing that this year's a good one for all of us!

E-mail I sent to Mayor of Honolulu today

Dear Mayor of Honolulu,

Please consider taking action now to place qualified police officers and every public school in our county. I believe that the only way we can protect our children is to have a police officer stationed at each school for the entire school day when school is in session. I know this will be a drain to your city budget, but I'm sure there is a way you could work with the Governor And City Council to make this happen as soon as possible. The national debate over gun control, assault weapons ban, background checks, gun show loopholes, mental illness services – are all useful and valuable topics of discussion for us as a nation and for us here locally. But unfortunately, discussion and talk will not immediately protect our children. Armed and trained police officers can!

As a parent and educator, I would welcome a police officer at my child's school. The police officer would be a great deterrent to any crazy person thinking to copycat or create their own horror. And then if there was a tragic incident, at least there would be a police officer there on the campus ready to protect our children. There's no guarantee that the police officer could stop all of the violence, but perhaps the officer could limit the damage and delay the perpetrator until reinforcements could arrive.

I would also like to think that while the police officer was at my child's school, he/she could also serve and become an integral part of my child's educational environment. The police officer with proper training could teach my child the value of the civil society We take for granted. They could talk to my child and his classmates about drugs, guns, violence and serve as a role model. My child would go to school every day, learning and understanding that police officers are real people and that they are there to help, protect and serve. This in itself could be a valuable lesson for my child. I can imagine that police officers would jump at the chance to take school duty! What a rewarding experience for the teachers, the children, and the police officers involved.

Sincerely,
Richard Raker, Honolulu resident

Please stay in touch!
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An open letter on December 14, 2012

Dear President Obama, United States Congress, Governors, Mayors, and public representatives:

I cried this morning. I'm sure many of you, also cried on this day. The senseless violence that we witnessed in our country today, in Connecticut, threatens to tear the hope from our hearts. There's nothing much that I can do except express my opinion, and my thoughts, through this open letter.

I plead to you, those of you in power, those of you that serve the public. Do something about these acts of violence. No mother, father, sister, brother, grandmother, grandfather, uncle, aunt, friend, or child should have to endure such random acts of violence – especially in our schools.

There are approximately 90,000 public schools in the United States. A typical police officer is paid approximately $50,000 per year. It would cost approximately $4.5 billion per year to place one police officer in every public school in the nation. The requested Homeland Security budget for 2013 is $40 billion; the Department of Defense budget for 2013 is approximately $525 billion. Does it make any sense that somewhere between Homeland Security and the DOD we could allocate less than 1% of their combined budget to protect our children in our public schools.

Some will undoubtedly say that this is an overreaction. Perhaps it is, but we have to do something. We can never let this happen again!

I understand that we're in a climate of budget cuts and belt-tightening. I am aware that what happened in Connecticut is a very rare occurrence. I understand that we cannot have armed officers everywhere – in shopping malls, movie theaters, college campuses, and street corners. However, I do think we can afford to place police officers at our public schools.

I understand that by placing an armed police officer at each public school, there is no guarantee that a similar tragedy will not happen again – but if it did, at least there would be a first responder on the scene immediately. Instead of 26 or 28 innocent lives being taken, the police officer could possibly minimize the damage. The danger will still be there. However, if there was or a police officer patrolling every school, it would create a deterrent and the presence that could possibly stop this type of tragedy from happening. The perpetrator might think twice before acting.

Think about all of the wonderful things that the police officer could do at each school. While they are there to protect, they can also serve. They can give lectures about the dangers of smoking, drugs, guns and bullying. They could read to the children. They can be role models for our children to look up to, and to learn from. They can promote all of the good things, our police departments throughout this great nation stand for. They can help teach our children to respect the law, and understand how lucky we are to live in a civil society. The police officer's presence could become an integral part of our child's education.

There is no way that we can politicize this issue enough to stop the NRA and the rights of our citizens to own guns. That battle, I feel is worth fighting, but I'm afraid will produce little change or results. It would just add to the already unfathomable gridlock in our nation's capital.

However, reallocating just 1% of an already approved budget, should be something that we can accomplish!

Sincerely,

Richard Raker

Merry Christmas!

 Merry Christmas Merry Christmas everyoneMerry Christmas everyone! This picture was taken in the lobby of the condominium where we live. My son Chris and my lovely wife, Mineko, by my side. I could not live without them, without them I would not want to. I hope that all of you have friends and family that you feel as strongly about as I do. Without the special people in our lives, there would be no joy, excitement, frustration, and love. It's the people that make life worth living.

IMAX

I was able to go out to the movie theater for the first time in five years this weekend ! I had a wonderful, amazing experience, and a great time . Thanks to my wife, son , and his girlfriend. The movie was pretty good too! I took the wheelchair accessible taxicab , rather than the state run handicap Van .. This was a little more expensive , but much more comfortable and reliable. We went to the IMAX theater at Regal Theaters at Dole Cannery. Has anybody been to an IMAX movie lately? It was $17.50 just to get in the door – talk about sticker shock. I remember when IMAX down and Waikiki was expensive at eight dollars per ticket. I guess that's why the theater was practically empty! The air-conditioning was great, I needed two blankets to stay warm. The 52 foot screen was overwhelming, luckily I can still turn my head from side to side so I could catch all the action. The audio was outrageous! Every time there wwas an explosion my wheelchair would vibrate. I was afraid my ventilator was going to vibrate off the back of my wheelchair ... But I was so happy to be out of the apartment and enjoying some of the real world. Definitely, next time will be going to just a regular movie – no more IMAX for me ! , Leave that to the younger kids.

High Rise painters

My son took this picture for me yesterday, they have started to paint the condominium across the street. When I have my bed turned facing out from my bedroom window , I can lay here and watch them for hours. An interesting job. I wonder how much they get paid? . Do they get windy day compensation ? good weather right now, no wind and very dry .