Aloha, My Friend,
Laine has already mentioned that this newsletter is a tad wordy but this is sort of a Father’s Day/Memorial Day reflection so I beg your charity and I hope that this is worth the read. –
In my parent’s home the book shelves bulged. They had more than one room where, from floor to ceiling, from left to right, hundreds of spines invited a reader’s caress; a little of everything from my unopened text books, a copy of The Little Prince in French that was probably my sister, Maureen’s, book and books on nearly every topic under the sun.
Without realizing it my father seemed to live on the side of a Groucho Marx quote, “I find television to be very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go in the other room and read a book.”
I am more of the ilk to appreciate Groucho’s “Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read.”
Of all of the books piled around only a few stand out in my growing up memories and all have to deal with lessons my father tried to impart to me with marginal success.
As a child I used to look forward to the “before bedtime” with my father reading to me and my older sister, Colleen. After dinner and after he had finished the Chicago Tribune or the Sun Times he would read a mystery to us from Sherlock Holmes or a clever tale from O’Henry. As I got older I started to pay attention to what he would read for his own pleasure. For some reason he was fascinated with the WWII naval encounters and the Battle of Leyte Gulf in particular. Although he had served on the deck of several ships during the war, by his own admission he had never heard a shot fired in anger.
My teenage years could not have been that pleasant for him and if the choice were his I probably would have had to walk the plank more than once.
I remember one early evening in the living room with astonishing clarity because he paused from his book to talk to me.
He wanted to tell me about the incredible bravery involved in what is now referred to as The Mariannas Turkey Shoot.
This was the decisive naval battle in the Pacific. It was mostly an air battle fought over two days, June 19th and 20th, 1944. When the battle was over little was left of the Japanese fleet and they lost over 600 aircraft. The last engagement was a US launched night air attack, something almost never done at that time because of the difficulty for the pilots to find their way back and land in the darkness. Just before sundown 550 planes took off from the aircraft carriers and flew to the furthest extent of their safety margins to drive the final stake into the heart of the Japanese navy. The cost of their bravery was that the planes began to run out of fuel before they could return to the carriers. Radio operators cried as pilots would ask them to pray for their safety just before they went silent and crashed into the inky sea. In all, only 20 were lost in combat, another 80 had to ditch.
But what I think that my father wanted me to learn was about loyalty, honor and responsibility to our friends and to those who depend upon us.
Martin Luther King said “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
With no moon to light their way the pilots started to fall into the waves.
As those anxious and frightened young pilots disappeared from the fleet’s radar Vice Admiral Mitscher commanded all of his ships to turn on their running lights, the carrier swept the sky with their klieg lights and picket destroyers fire starburst shells to guide them home running all of the risks from Japanese submarines that infested those waters.
Sometimes in life we all face such decisions though the consequences are certainly, hopefully, less detrimental.
Vice Admiral Mitscher risked his life and the lives of many others to perform the only honorable alternative. His crew, his pilots, his friends were worth every risk and he didn’t fail them in their hour of need.
God forbid that I should ever be tested to such degree but God give me the strength to have shoulders enough to support my friends in their hour of need.
On a lighter note, Bali-HI at both locations will offer 15% off on most mirrors for the month of June. You know we have a fabulous selection from $5 to $55 and every kind of mirror you can imagine for your home or office! We will also be offering a special sale on our vintage aloha shirts just in time for Father’s Day on June 20th. Watch your e-mail or fan us if you are on Facebook and we’ll let you know what the skinny is!
Our selection of art and crafts from local artists continues to expand. Some very popular new items are the handcrafted cross stitched suede and leather bags, pillow covers, and beautifully crafted and painted boxes and bangles brought to us by Mariyam Bashir from her family in Kashmir. The passport bags are perfect for your summer travels and they are almost gone so come check them out before it is too late!
We love the new location in Railroad Square! We are both there on 1st Fridays until 9 PM. This 1st Friday falls on June 4th. We are air-conditioned and in the cottage at 565 Industrial Drive next to Star Seas Café.Our hours there are 11-6 PM Tuesday – Sat. and Sunday 12-5 PM. In Midtown find us @ 1123 Thomasville Rd. and around back with ample shaded parking. We are open there Tuesday – Friday 11-6 PM and Sat. 11-5 PM. Call 766-7175, email us at aloha@balihi.us, or visit our website www.balihi.us .
Best Wishes & Peace,
Elaine & Bill Grace
BALI HI Trading Company
565 Industrial Dr. – In Railroad Square
1123 Thomasville Rd – In Midtown
850/ 766-7175
aloha@balihi.us
www.balihi.us