Living in limbo

[Frankie Stapleton]

I did another article for Civil Beat that went online today. It's about how many in our community are going thru this frustrating eruption experience for a second time now. Interviewed the mayor and Mary Dressler of Aloha Aina Wellness Center. Here's the link: http://www.civilbeat.com/2014/11/lives-i...-in-pahoa/

Hope you like it...

[missydog1]

Frankie, I like it very much.
You're a wonderful writer. You get to the heart of the feeling. I like that you writ without excessively dwelling on the wuwu factor, keeping it real and focusing on the psychology of denial and of grieving and acceptance.

The situation is both hard to believe and exactly what can be expected when living on the most active Volcano.

Living in limbo is tough. One doesn't know what is worth doing with respect to the property that was always something to nurture and improve. Let it go and do other things that the lava can't touch, or keep going as if it will endure? Each person has to decide. Sadly, it is easy for the anxiety of limbo to get in the way of starting anything new while waiting, more so for older adults I think. (In my 20's, I didn't have plans that ran more than a month or three into the future ... more like as far as the weekend ... )

I'm very glad you are writing these articles. There's too much crap being written and getting play nationally too.

Kathy

[Rob Tucker]

Nicely done Frankie,

My first reaction was recalling a Jimmy Cliff song.

Sitting in Limbo

Sitting here in limbo
Waiting for the dice to roll
Sitting here in limbo
Got some time to search my soul

[missydog1]

I have always loved "Sitting in Limbo," Rob.
Our local "former members of Cat Mother" band in Mendocino played it as one of their staples for decades. It was a great song for getting the whole room dancing together, really a special song for uniting everyone, the last line so uplifting.

Highly recommend it for any SOTF bands looking to pump up the set list. [8D]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPI3dhcmYEI - Jimmy Cliff live
http://youtu.be/b0Be8eDb_kY?t=17s - Jerry Garcia & David Grisman live
Kathy

[opihikao]

Good article, Frankie. Mahalo.

Mr. Tucker, love the song! lol...Ain't that the truth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRoJyaZW6SA

Be safe all.

JMO.

[pahoated]

The funny side is Pele has been very gentle and almost eerily aware of property lines and homes. For all that has been going on for the past several months, the actuality is some forest, farm land, sheds, a cemetary are all that has been covered or burned. There is no real disaster, only potential disaster. Considering Pahoa is well over 100 years old, for the flow to get this close has been enough to change local life into the distant future. There are all the imagined scenarios but they are all imagined so far. Many may be years away.

The biggest real effect, probably the biggest disaster, affecting people right now is the "normal" real estate market is wrecked and people are stuck with their mortgages. If the federal government can buy up poisoned subprime loan mortgages to save banks, they can buy up distressed disaster area mortgages to provide victim relief, at assessed value or fair market value, whichever is less. It would only be fair but that word isn't in the US government handbook. It would be less than the cost of a relocation program, which they will have to provide if there is FEMA designation.

"Mahalo nui Pele, 'ae noho ia moku 'aina" - kakahiaka oli

[Rob Tucker]

Kathy, Are you referring to Cat Mother and the All Night Newsboys?

[missydog1]

yes, the band moved to Mendocino in the early 70's and became the main boogie band for the coast and recorded three LP's. They lost and gained members, broke up, formed new bands with some or all of them Cat Mother members, and really were a focal point of the community for thirty years (and I considered them friends. Not to go off of Frankie's topic, it's just that lead guitarist Roy Michaels loved to sing Sitting in Limbo and it took me back in time when you mentioned the song.

Kathy

[JohnDW]

Insightful to read the Mayor's perspective. Thanks Frankie!

Un Mojado Sin Licencia

[Carey]

Frankie, this covers many of the emotions we are seeing in friends.. Thank you!