Uncle Soko's Tea Party

Okay, not literally, although the event did take place at a beautiful tea house with a panoramic view of Diamond Head and Waikiki.


It was Uncle's 72nd Birthday Party!


Tara and John flew in from NY, and a bunch of other family flew in from Hilo to celebrate Uncle's long life, eat a yummy Japanese buffet, and to imbibe a little sake (sparkling apple cider for the teetotalers and the underage!). Aunty Jan, who organized everything, set the tables with cute year of the ox centerpieces, and the rest of us helped to decorate the room with helium balloons.


After dinner, Uncle told me funny stories about my Dad's wayward youth (I won't go into details, but one story involved outhouses and firecrackers). And the cousins found non FDA-approved uses for the helium balloons (Donald Duck voices, lost brain cells). Did I mention the sake?

Flat Lauren Retires to Florida

I wanted to post the last of our Flat Lauren pictures before moving onto more recent events. So here is the two-dimensional gal herself, with Greg and Lara, friends from Astoria Community church, who stopped by to visit us for a few days between jaunts to Maui and to the North Shore.



FL also accompanied Sophie to our friend Jasmin's promotion at Fort Shafter, April 1. Sophie was privileged to be a part of the ceremony - here she is with Jasmin while the General is conferring Jasmin's new rank. Sophie also got to pin Jasmin's beret with her new Major insignia - and keep her old Captain pin for a souvenir!


That, alas, was FL's last hurrah with the Honolulu Myers. Soon after, we sent her packing back to the real Lauren in Jacksonville, where she is hopefully making all the other Flats jealous with her tan. I know that's what I'd do.