Monday, October 7, 2013

A Grandmotherʻs Deposit: My Grandmother is AWESOME.

A Deposit on life.

I was just having a discussion on Deposits. Not the kind you put in the bank... Nope. I'm talking about the sort that cost you money. When a business asks for a deposit, that business is basically making sure that their investment of time and money into YOU and your project is not wasted. They are making sure that you will use their services and will not backout. Most businesses that require deposits put time and effort into you... Time and effort that you may not see or realize.

On the flip side... Make sure that when you are paying a deposit that you 1. Have read the fine print on the contract, 2. Are absolutely sure that you will use those services 3. Make sure that the deposit amount is fair and reasonable and 4.Did I mention READ the contract.

And so you read the contract that states that the deposit is the property of the business. You sign that contract saying that you will put down a deposit of X amount of dollars as good faith that you the customer will follow through and use the services that the business is preparing to offer you. You pay that business your deposit.

So... All life threatening and natural disasters aside... If you, the client, decide not to use the service you put a deposit down on... Do you deserve to get your deposit back?

I'm actually asking.

All life threatening, acts of God and natural disasters aside... Do you think you should get your deposit back? 

AND...

Welcome to another installment of Happy Nathaniel. 



I went to an awesome wedding a few weeks back that I want to mention here and now!!! It was the wedding of two great friends, Joel Young and Lindsey Warp. May their lives be fuller and filled to the brim with happiness!

And...

That's not what I called you here for. I called you here because My Grandma is the best Grandma ever!



Speaking of deposits... This woman has deposited so much LOVE and HOPE and STRENGTH into her family. Let us do some Math on the CARING/LOVE DEPOSITS Grandma has made over the years...

Because its rude to mention a ladies age without her consent... let us use a span of roughly 60 years of KIDS: 

1 older sibling, 3 younger siblings, 1 husband (oh I love you Grandpa), 4 daughters, 13 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren and lets say roughly 2 dozen Hanai Kids... you know who you are!!! And thatʻs just the IMMEDIATE Family! I would be here FOREVER if I wrote down everyone that has benefited from Grandmas LOVE.

Grandma and her two oldest Grandchildren.
... Think about how much food Grandma has made for us in 60 years... There was ALWAYS food ready or ready in 10 minutes if you were hungry. 

... Think about how many hugs, kisses, spankings (hey... love hurts and you know you deserved it... you know who you are), more kisses you were given.

... Thatʻs a SHIT-LOAD of diapers in 60 years!!!

... Think about how much ti-leaf sheʻs wrapped around you to calm a fever and huli opu (tummy rubs) sheʻs given. Remember the cloth diapers (clean) she would wrap around your tummy to keep it warm.

... The house is ALWAYS OPEN.

... Grandma prays for you everyday... even if she doesnʻt particularly like you at the moment. That just means she prays harder!!!!

My family is now returning the favor. To my family...

Thank you.

I keep on hearing the sentence... "If you were here you would do the same. You would care for Grandma too."

To that I say:  Thank You For Making Me Feel Better.

To my family who ARE THERE... And you know who you are... To my family members who are staying up late and sleeping with Grandma... To my family members who have put their blood, sweat, and time into fixing the house on Lanikaula Street that WE ALL call HOME... To all my family members who have made multipule trips from the outer islands to care for OUR LADY... To my family who live their lives for family...

To my family... Here is one of Grandmas stories... When Great-Grandpa Nathaniel and Vovo got sick, Grandma took care of them. Yes... I am sure she had help... Yes... She could have done other things. She could have put Vovo and Great-Grandpa Harry in a care facility. But she didn't. She cared for her Mother and Father. 

Thank you for that Grandma. Thank you for installing... DEPOSITING... in your children and grandchildren AND GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN the power of CARE. The power of BEING THERE for your family. 

And now it is our turn. We will CARE for you, Grandma, like you cared for us. 

Thank you AGAIN and AGAIN for my Family who ARE PRESENT. Thank you for my Family that send their prayers every day. Thank you for you.

Thank you Grandma.

I love you,

Your Grandchild, Child, Niece, Sister, Cousin, Friend...

Happy Nathaniel


RANDOM FAMILY PICTURES IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER...