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One night, twenty-five
years ago, we planned Ann's funeral. Once Kay and Edna (I was
supposed to convince Kay this was a good idea, meaning I
would get into the fight) were on board, we would head to
Oregon for the Scheans (Dan was to take over driving the
bus), Toby and the rest of the Pacific Northwest family.
On our way cross-country,
we'd pick up brother Bob (kidnap him if we had to) and his
family, go to Vegas for Melanie (who was not to be put next
to Kay), cross the country to New York for Danny (find his
ashram), Vermont friends and others (we were sure it
wouldn't be winter). Then, head for Chicago and on to the
Mindoro hillside where she would be placed beside her
father. She was sure Dolly wouldn't mind (and Dolly could
talk Bob into taking the cows out of the barn) putting up
the multitudes -- and Mindoro would recover. I know she'd love that her
bus is making its way in cyberspace. There are only a few people
I have loved with both heart and mind. Ann is one of them.
Traditionally, some
Hawaiians would keep the long bones of a much-loved one. The
`uhane resided in the bones, and by keeping the bones a
spiritual presence would be retained by the one left behind.
This presence was described as an `uhane kihei pua -- a
protective soul worn like a flower cape. These bones would
not be buried "until the love died." Like the kupuna kahiko
(ancestors), I will take Ann to my grave. Linda Delaney
*Friends were shocked when Linda passed away just a year later, on June 25, 2003, one day shy of what would have been Ann's 79th birthday. I also found an old photo of Linda which I took during the occupation of the University of Hawaii's Bachman Hall in 1968.
Honolulu,
Hawaii
She was to wear her then-favorite purple nightgown (a sheer
number, but then no more revealing than what she usually
wore to the door); hold Missy-Pissy in her arms (which would
be a real stunt since I refused to kill her cat just for a
good effect); and be accompanied by the whole Hawaii gang
(reducing Hawaii's population by half) to San Francisco
where we would rent a bus (more likely, a train).