Between tai chi meals

Maybe I'm glad I didn't climb your same tree?!? Thought it was just sap...

Come on down and visit!! Visit your old tree, @Bear and me. All for different reasons, of course...

 

I think there are more banyan trees in the Waikiki area. The ones pictured are monkey pod. Although monkey pod, banyan and rainbow showers trees are pretty common in our public areas.

 

There was a dad with a big honking camera and his cute little 19 month boy who came by near our tai chi class a week or two ago. So I gave the class a short break and helped them pose with swords and took pictures for them. Didn't think to take one for myself until after they left. Hope they have good memories.

 

I'm probably older than you. That's why I have a t-shirt that says "Older than Dirt."

About 8-9 years ago, I joined a nearby newly formed tai chi class, thinking I could get some practice in. Most of the students had never done tai chi before and were mostly seniors. I had started my martial arts around 5 or 6 and tai chi at 17 or 18. So I told them that and said tai chi can help keep you young and healthy and that I was 87. They were like, "Oh wow..." Not sure if I should be upset or not that a lot of them believed me... Was in my early 40's at the time.

Probably had a couple of decades of experience on the teacher. But it wasn't about that. Just wanted to practice. I still go.

 

Well, mahalo for that @Yard Dart. My body feels old, but my mind and spirit don't. Some days, I am happy as a clam...other days, I laugh and think, look out! But overall, I feel very blessed, even on the "look out" days. I have had colleagues and clients tell me I have the right approach. I try to spend time with the family and take care of what needs to be taken care of, and everything else works its way out in the long run.

 

My mostly eaten lunch... Vietnamese cold noodles (bun) with grilled pork and lemongrass chicken. Thanks for a good lunch and better company, @Bear.

 

Breakfast before tai chi.



Lunch was sushi, but I didn't take pictures.

Cool clouds over out tai chi trees.



Today was like the unofficial bring a guest to tai chi class day. We had several folks bring guests. Including my friend, who brought his cute daughter with adorable dimples.

 

My student texted me that the cloud formation was on the news. High upper winds cause that shape.

She also gave me great bananas. Her trees are prolific.

 

Today, I got a new student in my class. A very large Hawaiian man, who is a long time Shaolin Kung Fu practitioner. Showing one of the early movements in the form and explaining attacking pressure points. So I asked him if I could use him to demonstrate. First thing I said was, why would I mess with someone like him. He is a really big guy. So he asked is the pressure point was around the neck area. I told him generally yes, but why would I try that on him. I would have to really reach and that would be bad. So instead, take the points in the arm where I can easily reach. And hopefully disarm him. Then I would feel more even.

I don't even remember why I started typing this. Taught two classes and just finished soccer practice. Had a reason, then I heard my daughter outside. Went to check on her and forgot. Getting old...

 

Quick lunch.

 

My tai chi students are awesome. Pulled a fast one on me yesterday. My 92nd birthday was last week. So just before class ended, they sprung a cake on me.



And then when they were done singing "Happy Birthday," a second one came out to a super loud and boisterous "Happy Birthday." My buddy, the kung fu master, brought it out and yelled the song out at the top of his lungs. The cakes were some of the best I have had. Chantilly and lemon crunch. Yum!



As I was minding my own business, talking with the students as they came up to wish me well, a couple of them wanted a picture of me with the cakes. They made me do this. Others were more plain vanilla and took pictures with me (without the cakes). Not sure why they would want to do this, but I felt honored and thankful. The other thing about getting old... wife was fiddling with my chest hair the other night and mentioned that she spotted some white hairs in there.



Then I had lunch with @Bear. Thanks buddy!

 

After my first two classes today, I went home and made a quick lunch before my long afternoon class. Leftover steak and cheese sandwich was pretty good. Wifee even too a few bites out of it.



Right after I got to class, one of my students gave me a bag of eggplant. I told her that her garden was both promiscuous and prolific. Stuff grows like crazy in there. She credited her husband's green thumb.



And I noticed a big branch of the rainbow showers tree was cut off. Nice looking wood.



So after two morning sessions and a two hour afternoon class in really hot and humid weather, I was ready to cool off before I did some work. So I made a most perfect iced plantation tea and the little monkey jacked it.



Fortunately, I saw it coming and made more, so I got some too. But only one glass instead of two. She loves taking my food too. Especially bacon. But then, I can't really blame her for that.

 

Your 92nd? Looking great at 92

Happy Birthday! However old you are

 

Doesn't look a day over 90.....

 

Mahalo @Ganado. Eight years ago, I told my class 87, so it would be 95... tai chi can keep you young. There is a lady at Wudang Mountain. If iI recall, she is over 100, still practicing and she is super limber, her teeth and bones are strong, and her hair is turning back to black. Freaky!

 

Well, they only put one candle per cake... fire code...

 

After my morning classes, I had lunch with some of the tai chi students. Mexican was the choice this time around. I had enchiladas.



And I brought home fish tacos for the wifee.



After coming home from my afternoon class, I polished off the last chunk of @Bear sourdough. And as I was wondering what I should have for protein, my neighbor drops of a bag of freshly boiled peanuts. It was like he read my mind.



And since I have work to do, I washed it down with some cold pressed coffee that wifee made and has been sitting in the fridge. Hit the spot.