Tag: The Elderhood Project

  • It’s Not A House – It’s HOME

    In 1992, when Hurricane Iniki hit the islands, my mother-in-law refused to leave the house. Both Linda and I were working and we called her over and over, trying to get her to go to a shelter. She wouldn’t leave her beloved dog behind and at that time, not many shelters accepted pets. Fortunately, she…

  • But, I Have Never Been to Vegas!

    In Hawaii, that’s considered heresy. Some call Vegas the 9th island. I’m not a gambler. I’m not much for crowds and bright lights. Mrs. Matthews says we need to go there for “the shows.” The fact, she entertains me every day. Why would I want anything else? Okay, okay — I know there are some…

  • The Greatest Generation

    Refugees don’t flee FROM America, they come TO America. There is promise here. There is hope. “The Greatest Generation.” That’s what Tom Brokaw called my parents and their peers, with good reason. They were asked to defend and support their country in whatever way they could. My father was in the Navy, served as a…

  • Caregiving, Near or Far

    My mother fell and hurt her knee. She’s 86 years old. I am thousands of miles away. My sister lives in the same town as my mother which makes her, by default, my mother’s caregiver. I feel guilty. That is not uncommon for siblings who are not able to provide assistance to parents who live…

  • International Adventure

    Mrs. Matthews and I just returned from a trip to Europe. We went to Lisbon, Portugal for a Rotary International Convention and then to Munich, Germany to visit with friends. The thrill of international travel can often be marred by the fact of international travel. Plane delays, for example, often derail plans and force travelers…