Globull Warming Strikes again!
I am sorry you are having such cold temps!
Thank You for mentioning Pearl Harbor Day. Here is a little essay I wrote about the “Sleeping Giant”.
Remember Pearl Harbor.
On the Hawaiian island of Kauai, the is a mountain called “The Sleeping Giant”. Although it has nothing to do with Admiral Yamamoto, its story DOES have a relevance for today.
The giant’s job was to protect the ancient “Little People” (Menehune) of Kauai. One day, they were attacked, but the giant was asleep. The Little People did EVERYTHING they could to wake him up, but the giant had drunk too much the night before and would not wake up. They tried pelting him with rocks, shouting, playing drums, whatever, but the giant never awakened, and the Menehune were conquered. The only trace left of them is their superb engineering feats (dikes, fishfarm ponds, water systems) that dot the island to this day. The Great Spirit was so angry at the stupid lazy drunken giant who had been derelict in his duty and caused the extinction of a wonderful civilization, that he turned the giant into a stone mountain. When the tide rushes into Kauai’s lava caves, you can still hear him snore.
I doubt if Admiral Yamamoto knew this legend, yet he speaks of the Sleeping Giant. He spoke of awakening him, and Pearl Harbor sure did.
Right now, I feel like the Menehune, screaming, yelling, and throwing rocks to wake up the Sleeping Giant that is America. Please God, let the Giant awaken, lest our Civilization face the same fate as the “Little People” of Kauai.
I know this has nothing to do with gardening, (Except that Kauai is known as “The Garden Isle!)but I was moved to share it from your Dad’s Story.
Thanks for posting that story. Pearl Harbor Day is never far from my mind, especially during the holidays. I identify with your desire for the sleeping Giant to wake up.
The garden thread is a group of friends near and far helping each other.
Just as conversation between friends often strays from topic to topic, so too with the garden thread. It’s all good-generally a respite from the political discourse to just relax and share stories and knowledge not just of plants, gardens, and such.
Ratifying your prayer for the awakening of the Sleeping Giant again. Loved that story and that analogy.
Lovely and appropriate story. Thanks for sharing.
-I doubt if Admiral Yamamoto knew this legend,-
Harvard University (1919–1921) and two postings as a naval attaché in Wash. DC, so he may have been aware. He was a very smart and educated man.