CLOSING THE DOORS

Last Thursday, I drove away from 224 Kapalu Street for the last time.  I've moved alot over the last 15 years and there's always this element of sadness when the doors close for the last time.   A house is a just a structure of wood and metal but we give it life by creating memories that connect us to the place forever.

I wasn't born here or raised here, but for last 12 years, it's been the central gathering place for the Medina Family.  The house I was raised in (727 Kahoa Drive in Kailua) was the landmark for our family for 40 years (1957-1997).   My parents sold the Kailua house in 1997 and after a brief stint on Maui, settled back on O'ahu, taking up residence at Kapalu Street in July of 1999.  But Mom and Dad were never alone.  There was always a steady stream of family visiting or staying there temporarily or dropping in unannounced for no particular reason.  I've been living there since 2008.

In this patio, we had dozens of birthday parties, Christmas and Thanksgiving gatherings, Father's and Mother's Day celebrations, going away and graduation parties, Super Bowls and UH football games.  We cheered, laughed, cried, danced, sang and shouted.   We joined hands to pule (pray) at the beginning of every event because those few moments of spiritual connection reminded us that the most important people in our lives were the members of that prayer circle.  When we all gathered and stayed up well into the night just talking story and laughing until we cried, we created indelible memories that will never be forgotten.   My family treasured these moments, especially my Mom.

Whenever we would leave, Mom had this habit of standing or sitting on the front porch.  She would wave goodbye to us until we were out of sight.  It was heart-breaking for us because we could feel her sadness.  I really felt those moments because I lived on the mainland for so many years and was never sure Mom and/or Dad would be alive when I had the chance to make my next trip.

When my Dad lost consciousness while watching television on the night of May 17th, 2006 and passed away early the next morning, the energy shifted at 224 Kapalu.   My Mom and the rest of us did our best to go on but it was never the same.   So when Mom passed away in her bedroom on October 7, 2009, our predominate memories focused on what we lost instead of what we celebrated.   Without our "anchors" (Mom & Dad) to keep us together, my brothers and sisters had to evolve to a new level where we focus on each other (and our families) instead of our parents.  They may be gone, but each us feels the "presence of their energy" in our own way.

A house is just place that gives us shelter.   But we make a house a home by creating memories that give our time there meaning and purpose.  So when we finally close the doors for the last time, its those memories that travel with us, not just our furniture and possessions.  The "valuables" of our lives are packed in our heart and soul and they never leave us no matter how many times we change our address.