Still I rise (In memory of Maya Angelou, 1928-2014)

Maya Angelou passed on Wednesday, May 28. Below is a poem she wrote.

You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

 

Does my sassiness upset you?

Why are you beset with gloom?

‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells

Pumping in my living room.

 

Just like moons and like suns,

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high,

Still I’ll rise.

 

Did you want to see me broken?

Bowed head and lowered eyes?

Shoulders falling down like teardrops,

Weakened by my soulful cries?

 

Does my haughtiness offend you?

Don’t you take it awful hard

You may shoot me with your words,

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

But still, like air, I’ll rise.

 

Does my sexiness upset you?

Does it come as a surprise

That I dance like I’ve got diamonds

At the meeting of my thighs?

 

Out of the huts of history’s shame

I rise

Up from a past that’s rooted in pain

I rise

I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

 

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise

Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear

I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise

I rise

I rise.

 

 

To know more about Maya Angelou, please click on this link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/29/arts/maya-angelou-lyrical-witness-of-the-jim-crow-south-dies-at-86.html?_r=0

 

Posted with Aloha!

- ARIEL MURPHY

Thinking of Michael, a veteran, during Memorial Day

My best friend Michael Murphy, June 28, 1944 - May 26, 2006

Michael Martin Murphy  III was born  and raised in Newport Rhode, Island. He graduated with a degree in Sociology from the University of California, Davis and did graduate work in Communications at the San Francisco City College. He was in the US Army during the Vietnam war.

Staying first on Oahu and then here on the Big Island, Michael had been living in Hawaii for close to 30 years until he passed away Friday, May 26, 2006 after years of battling cancer.

Before he became a realtor, Michael worked in and co-owned a law office with his late wife Sheila Anne Murphy, Esq.

He was a member of the Keaau Christian Fellowship (a Hilo Baptist Church mission) and before that the Spring of Life Community Church (a mission of the Hilo Missionary Church). He was an ardent supporter of Alcoholics Anonymous,  Feed the Children, World Vision, the American Bible Society, and missionaries in China.

One of Michael’s favorite  sayings was: "It's all good."

 

Below are more pictures of Michael.

 

As a young boy

 

 

Deadly

 

Eating "balut"

 

Unexpected

 

With dancers after watching a cultural show

On my desk while visiting me at my old office

 

 

Doing yoga

 

 

Wedding reception

 

At the Bellagio, Vegas, 2004

 

At La Jolla, CA 2005



Goofing around, Christmas 2005



Our dog, Nui

 

During his last birthday celebration, 2005 

 

 

 
- Posted by ARIEL MURPHY on Memorial Day and Michael's death anniversary

An old soul

 

She was born about 60 years ago; but I believe that wasn't the first time. Judging from her wisdom and insight, Carol must certainly be an old soul. What she told me today must have only come from having had numerous ring-side views of  life and all it brings and does to nurture or kill faith in another person.  

 

"Focus very hard on what you really want and then go for it. Doesn't matter what you choose, just make it something that makes you feel good not bad," Carol said  today, the anniversary of her birth.

 

She was born about 60 years ago; but I believe that wasn't the first time.

 

 

 

Posted with Aloha!

- By ARIEL MURPHY

Two tutus on a 'tooter

 

When I saw the photo below of two "tutus" on a scooter as my friend Ken's profile picture, I thought that I just have to share it.  The photo perfectly says what living in Hawaii can do.  I firmly believe that my relocation to Hawaii was pre-ordained -- that I am meant to be here for very special reasons. I know now that one reason is to gain my own appreciation of  life (and whatever it brings), love,  as well as  my relationship to the "whole everything."

 

The photo below totally resonates with me.   I may be riding on a small scooter but heck, I can choose to ride it with exuberance, grace, enjoyment, laughter on my face,  my sister's warmth next to me, and  a lei of flowers on my head.

 

The picture speaks loudly of Aloha!

 

Can you hear it?

 

 

 

 

Posted with Aloha!

- By ARIEL MURPHY

Steel magnolia

 

I made a day-long trip  to the other side of the island yesterday with  a very  good friend I have not known for a long time. It might sound strange describing someone  I don't really know well as  "very good"; but considering how she has so far put up with me,  my friend cannot be any less than very good.  Also and if this makes sense to anybody, my very good friend's spirit is "fragrant" to me. I consider that to be  her main attraction.

 

My very good friend and I got to know more about each other during our trip.

 

I did not, for example,  realize until yesterday that my very good friend -- who is always gracious,  cheerful and funny whenever I see her -- has had major misfortunes in her life.  Until yesterday I had no clue that her only child committed suicide.  She had had to give up a business she had built painstakingly from the ground. She had gone through the ordeal of having her home taken away from her.

 

My very good friend shows no mark from the blows life has dealt her.  On the contrary, she has, about her, more love than rancor.

 

This morning  I  took a picture of two magnolias. They reminded me of my very good friend -- a huge, beautiful and fragrant steel magnolia.

I am grateful for the day's lesson. There is always a choice -- either wallow in bitterness and misfortune or opt  to nurture joy and attract more reasons to be joyful about.

 I am sure that living in Hawaii has much to do with my friend's attitude towards life. There is after all in the spirit of Aloha an intrinsic faith in the enduring goodness of the Universe.
 

 

Posted with Aloha from Hawaii!
- By ARIEL MURPHY