Kelika (Sherry), Close. Don Ho's trademark song was Tiny Bubbles, but he did another one titled Pearly Shells. The Hawaiian language does sing though. It's easily the hardest language I ever tried to learn and enunciate correctly. I am still a rank amateur after 40 years of trying. OK, another Hawaiian story since you liked the last one... Always the romantic, I planned and made arrangements many weeks ahead to take my ex on a surprise 9 day trip to Maui for our 25th wedding anniversary on January 25th. I was real sneaky and she never had a clue. We lived in St. George, UT then ('94). Three weeks before she lost her job, and started a new one just a week before the trip that threw a big monkey wrench into my plans. So I went and talked to her new boss (whom I had never met) and got him to give her the week off incognito. So when she came home that Friday after work on the end of her first week at the new job, I told her to pack a bag because we were driving to Las Vegas that night for a weekend of fun and good food. She was all for it and three hours later we checked into a hotel in Vegas. Then early Saturday morning I told her to pack her bag again for another surprise I had in store for her, and ushered her out into a waiting limo that whisked us to the airport. She didn't find out where we were going until we checked in for the flight, nor that we would be gone for 9 days until we were in the boarding area. After a long delay in San Diego we finally got over the pond and picked up the convertible sports car I had waiting for us at the airport. A long drive later, thanks to a torrential rain storm that closed the road temporarily from Kahului to northwest Maui, it was after dark before we got to the new bungalow on Kaanapali Beach that I had rented for our stay. It was a fun place out by itself, and with only 4-5 giant steps from the lanai you were in the surf. Luckily the storms were done so Sunday and Monday we just spent visiting favorite places and snorkeling. Then on the morning of our anniversary (1/25) I kicked her out of bed at 3:30 AM without prior notice so we would have time for breakfast before making the 2 hour plus drive to her next surprise that we had to arrive for by 6:30AM. We made it, and renewed our vows at a sunrise ceremony Hawaiian style atop the 10,000' Haleakala Volcano. I gave her a large black baroque Biwa pearl and diamond ring I'd had a local custom jeweler in Lahaina make up for her special ahead of time at the ceremony. We took our time driving back down taking a side trip to visit old friends at the Grandma's coffee plantation and at Tedeschi Winery before spending the rest of the day wandering through the art galleries and shopping in Lahaina, taking time to have a late lunch at Kimo's (our favorite restaurant in Hawai'i). Then that night we dressed for dinner and I surprised her again when we were the guests of honor at the original Old Lahaina Luau when it was still held at 505 Front St (now called The Feast at Lele). They played the Ke Kali Nei Au (old version of the Hawaiian Wedding Song) mostly on traditional Hawaiian instruments while a native lady sung the lyrics of all twelve verses in traditional Hawaiian as we danced together in the surf. Once back at the bungalow we went out for a moonlight swim aunaturel. It was the perfect end to a special day with a very special lady. The rest of the trip was divided between looking for Lepidoptera, shopping and consuming as much fresh seafood as we could. By the afternoon of the day before our flight back to Vegas we were so worn out that we just found a hidden deserted beach to lay in the sun, dive for shells, play in the tide pools and talk until well after dark before heading back to pack for the early morning flight. Our lives and interests change after almost 35 years together, but she'll always be a special lady to me. The link is a video of a Sunrise Ceremony at Haleakala similar to ours that I found on-line. Lali Here is a link that might be useful: Sunrise Ceremony at Haleakala

This indeed is a bit early for the year, this thread revival. I say what I want to say. If it is December 25th, I say Merry Christmas. If it is December 21st (MY actual holiday) I say Blessed Yule or Blessed Solstice. Otherwise, since there are so many of them, I say Happy Holidays. However, I will note if a shop clerk says "Merry Christmas" to me at checkout, I'll parrot back with the same. I hate seeing people bent out of shape over this "issue". The idea is that you are wishing someone something happy and joyful, or so I thought. PS, I call mine a Solstice Tree. I'm quite happy to call yours whatever you want me to call yours, as you probably don't share my religion, and so yours is probably a Christmas Tree. And yes, those things I mail out early December I do inevitably call them Christmas cards (although I don't buy the religious ones), and I hope we are still able to mail them this coming December. (You hear me, USPS???). And I love getting any I get, no matter religious, spiritual, or just simply fun the impetus is behind your sending them to me...

Though I've liked the "Baby, it's cold outside" song for many years ... I've long felt somewhat uncomfortable about the prolonged persistence of the guy ... who doesn't seem to understand a(n even half-hearted) "No". Isn't "No" ... supposed to mean ... "No"? It seems to me that, as a youth, I was supposed to respect a young woman enough that I wouldn't want to have her wake the next day to be smitten with deep regret ... or much worse. I'm sitting here thinking that that may be related to the lifestyle that many of us choose, that I'm to love my neighbour as myself ... and not abuse her/him. Ever. By the way ... did any of those of you who turned the radio/TV station off ... ... contact them to tell them that you'd done so? ... (and the advertisers)? ole joyfuelled

List of previously used themes for FNM: Walk, Run Light, Bright, Shine, Lightning Smile, laugh, happy (in general) When; Now, Later, Always, Forever, Until See, Look, Eyes, Vision Royalty, queen, king, lord, lady, castle Colors (includes white and black) Break, Breaking, Broken, Piece(s) No Not Never Nobody Nowhere No One Cry, Cried, Crying, Tears, Teardrops Who What or Why Dream, Nightmare, Bed, Sleep, Slept Birds/Flight Sun, Moon, Stars, Planets Happy 4th of July by with/without Hello/Goodbye - Greetings Lost and Found (I'm Deranged, from Lost Highway) Life Stages (Baby, Child, Teenager, Girl, Boy, Woman) Change Easter Passover Smoke and mirrors – fire, burn, reflection War and Peace Remember, forget, memories Architecture & Interior Design: Doors, windows, furniture, buildings, etc. Games, super bowl, Olympics, competition, win, lose, etc. Words: talk, tell, call, speak, write/wrote, story, tale, book, text, phone Hold me, Touch me, kiss and hug Happy New Year Beginning End Old Us vs Them, We or They Food & Drink Halloween Machines, Tools, Instruments Weather Come here or Go Away Time: seconds minutes hours Parts of the body House & Home Water/wet Like Me, My/Myself & I/I’ve Hot Fun in the Sun, Summertime Size/Quantity (How much, how many) Roads! (streets, avenues, blvds) Guys & Dolls, Women & Men, Boys & Girls Psych Out, Psycho, Illusion, Deception "To Have and Have Not" Directions (up, down, left, right, etc) Do, Don’t, Will, Won’t, Does & Doesn’t Plant Kingdom Flowers & Spring Clothes & Image The World & Places In It Physical Actions Animal Kingdom Heart & Soul You EltonJohnDenver's topics / already done: Movies Night & Day Cops & Robbers Is there a doctor in the house Pick & Mix Easy Living “Name” that tune Adjectives I've been working Lost in Space In the House Getting Around (similar to transportation) What's in a Date Tired of Waiting From Carol: for Mom