I thought that when I stopped playing Japanese weddings I would get my holidays back. (Japanese weddings are scheduled 7 days a week, and holidays such as Thanksgiving are not observed.) I thought that when I retired from church music, I would get my weekends and holidays back. I thought when I retired from Iolani… Read More The life of Riley
Today I attended Samuel Lam‘s last service as organist of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. I’ve known Sam for years now ever since he moved back to Hawaii in 1985 after getting his doctorate at the University of Michigan and living in Ann Arbor, MI. Sam grew up in Honolulu and graduated from Hawaiian Mission Academy. I… Read More Mixed emotions
For many, August is a month of transitions—the last days of summer, going back to school, starting up a new choir season, and so forth. For me, I always remember August 12th as the day “I got my new brain,” as my husband, Carl, used to tell me. In 2008, I was diagnosed with a… Read More August transitions
It’s been about a month now, that former student Joey Fala has been asking me whether I got the Iolani School yearbook supplement. You see, the regular hardcover yearbook comes out in late May, just before the school year ends. But because there is so much time needed to print it, the end of the… Read More The supplement
“No, no, NO!” When I woke up this morning, the first day of my “retirement,” I opened my eyes and looked at the clock. It read “3:51” (a.m.) I always thought retired people could throw away their alarm clocks — and I actually haven’t turned on my alarm clock since I came back from vacation… Read More Retired . . . NOT!
September is the traditional month for starting the school year. (However, in Hawaii, as in other locations, school has been starting earlier and earlier, and in fact started in July this summer!) September is also the month in which musical seasons begin— for example, the opening concert of Early Music Hawaii, Musica Poetica, last weekend which I… Read More Beginnings and endings
By this time next week, I will have collected my last paycheck and will officially join the ranks of the retired! Can you believe it — I never thought this day would come! but yes, there are only four more business days until October 1st when I will start collecting Social Security! (In case you’re wondering, I’m… Read More The REAL retirement is four days away!
So while the weekend has not quite arrived yet, it is the beginning of two crazy, busy weekends where I will play NINE services in just TWO weekends! As I write this, I’m in fact on the way to Honolulu International Airport to pick up Maui organist Clayton Logue who will be my houseguest and… Read More Nine services in two weekends!
Okay, okay… maybe this is a little melodramatic, but I’m currently in the process of refinancing my mortgage and the lender wanted to see a copy of the retirement letter. Retirement? I said I’m not retired, yet! But since I am the beneficiary of Carl Crosier’s annuity, I guessed they were looking for the official… Read More A voice from the grave
Sandy Theunick, Head of School of St. Andrew’s Schools was cleaning out her desk and found the words she wrote on the occasion of Carl Crosier’s retirement as Chief Financial Officer. I’ve posted it before, but perhaps you won’t mind if I post it again now. Sung to the tune: Ein feste Burg (“A mighty… Read More A Song for Carl