Got some Honey?

It was a wonderful Sunday for the Maku‘u Farmers' Market. The tsunami warnings had all passed us by, the breeze was cool and just a hint of light mist floated around on the air.

Part of our routine when we get to the market is for Bodhi to get his strawberry smoothie. We wait patiently in line as the smoothie maker throws in strawberries, freshly squeezed pineapple juice, ice cubes and a little bit of coconut milk into the blender and whips together a taste sensation that one sip will involuntarily make your eyes close and go, "AHHH. . ."

Ernie Cruz Sr. played country western music and captivated Bodhi with his fast guitar playing. Kim and Bodhi watched Uncle Ernie under the covered tent as I went about getting some veggies for us. I got a loaf of fresh, locally baked sour dough bread, a dozen eggs from happy local chickens, and organic kale and collards grown by local Hare Krishna folks. What a bounty of great stuff.

I bought a freshly made crepe chocked full with shrimps, spinich, artichoke hearts, avocado and lightly dressed with white sauce for our lunch. We sat and ate as Uncle Ernie crooned out a really good version of "Lucille". I couldn't help thinking of the the Frank Delima version--"Eh wot Lucille! You going leave me now? Da kids nevah eat yet, mango season not pau . . . Oh wow! Lau Lau!"

After lunch we walked around the stalls and Bodhi was thrilled to do some shopping. We found a guy selling all sorts of garage sale type items. Bodhi scored a free toy from the guy and bought a used copy of a Curious George book for a dollar. He was so excited about his purchase that he showed his items to each vendor booth we stopped at.

As we were about to leave the market, Kim took Bodhi to the bathroom and I waited outside of the restroom area. The sun had come out, so I put my sunglasses on to keep my eyes shaded.

As I waited a guy in his mid 50s, wearing an Indonesian batik print shirt, comes up to me.
He leans into me and whispers, "Hey man, you want some honey?"
He opens the plastic bag he's carrying and I see about five jars of honey. I tell him no thanks and explain that I already did my shopping.
He looks really disappointed and tells me,"Ah man--I was hoping to trade some honey for some ganja."
I was a little taken aback by what he said. I mean, no judgement on my part if he wants to smoke pot, but I had never been approached in that way before.
I just looked at him and said, "Sorry, can't help you man."

Kim and Bodhi came out of the bathroom. Before Kim could say anything to me, I asked her to step back and look at me objectively as if she didn't know me.
"Now look at me and tell me, do I look like a person that would have some weed on me?"
She stared at me for a moment then said, "Well. . . Actually. . . Maybe."
I laughed at her assessment and thought about how very interesting and inaccurate outward appearances can be.

It is very true that you cannot judge a book by its cover. It is especially true, I believe, here on Hawai‘i Island. At our local health food store you may see this grungy, grungy, dreadlocked couple with three snotty faced kids in tow shopping for groceries. When they leave the store, we see them all pile into a very late model Range Rover and zoom off. Trustafarians? Maybe, or maybe just people that would have ganja in their pockets. You never can tell.

There's this African American man in his 60s that walks around Hilo Town. He carries a big tribal looking walking stick and just cruises around. I would often see him sitting in front of Bear's Coffee. I always thought he was a homeless guy, until I was told that he is actually a world famous painter whose works have been displayed in the White House.

There are countless other eccentrics walking around Hilo Town that I believe have astounding and unexpected stories to tell of their lives. Michael Franti, lead singer of Spearhead, reminds us in his song, "Stay Human" that, "All the freaky people make the beauty of the world."

I believe the Big Island fosters a very live and let live environment. People feel free to express themselves without fear of judgement of what it looks like. I believe we all have a little bit of a freaky person inside of us that is desiring to get out. Let that person out, it'll feel so good. Nobody is watching really. People are too caught up in their own affairs to really care.

So dance like no one is watching
Sing out loud like you're in your car by yourself
If you have long hair, let it down and let it swing free
Show off those tattoos that have been hiding
Say "no" to the razor for a week--men and women
Laugh out loud
Be free
Nobody's watching--really

So do I look like the kind of guy, that would be carrying a bag of weed in my back pocket?
Who cares?