The Inspirations of Ohana and Of Hanna

In Hawaii, there’s a marketing push built off of the local saying, “Eddie Would Go.” It’s based on the true life hero and surfer legend Eddie Aikau and refers to his going after big waves that other surfers would shy away from.  The saying also honors his many life guarding saves and his courage to make a rescue in impossible situations.  What would Eddie do?

EDDIE WOULD GO

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I dropped Steve off at the Tucson airport super early this morning. We had a great Road Tripping week together of food, opera, music, writing, and running. After hugging him goodbye at the departure terminal curb, I got back into the car to begin my long drive back to Los Angeles. Steve had surreptitiously left the second packet of our BOGO M&Ms we had picked up along the way at some gas station convenience store. It was a wonderful little surprise from my big brother.

I got peckish in the early hours of the drive, long before lunch possibilities would be available and thus enjoyed every last one of those almond M&Ms. I drafted a Facebook post in my head and reworked it into what I hubristically thought of as a pretty impressive and pithy turn of phrase.  I hoped it would entertain the internet and make my brother laugh when he inevitably logged in during his layover in Dallas Fort-Worth.

Here’s a screengrab:

Facebook Post
Because I’m an adult, I don’t have to share my breakfast M&Ms. Hashtag – Adults rule, kids drool.

For the next 7 and a half hours, much of which was spent along the very boring desert landscape of I-10 West, I slowly made my way back to the City of Angels.

imageI did stop for my traditional snapshot at the Cabazon Dinosaurs, famed for Pee Wee’s Big Adventure and the site where one must always say, “Large Marge Sent Me!”  They must be under new management as both dinos are sporting fresh paint jobs and I swear the roadside attraction sign announcing “Mr. Dino’s Museum” was new.

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Traffic in the last hour was particularly daunting and I was missing my Road Trip companion Big Bro.  But I muddled through.  After unloading the car of dirty laundry and scraps of receipts and area attraction brochures, I flopped down on my couch and popped open a Diet Coke.  Sitting there, letting the A/C cool the stuffy apartment despite the downright reasonable temperature of 81 degrees (down from the 106 in Arizona along the route this morning), I thought about the need to go for a run.  It would be good to stretch the legs after sitting for so long and to make up for some of the food extravagances I happily indulged in over the past week.

But it was so very tempting to just sit on that couch.

And then I thought about of all things Eddie Akai… and even more I thought about my brother.  Last Friday in Santa Fe, after days of hearing thunder and seeing lightning bolts on the horizon, Steve said he didn’t think it ever rained in Santa Fe proper.  He was changing into running gear to go for a post-lunch afternoon run down to Meow Wolf and back.  And that’s about when the heavens opened and pelting rain pummeled the streets of New Mexico.  Steve sighed heavily and we watched for a brief period.  But he didn’t give up.  He said he’d just wait a few minutes and see how it went.  I thought it wishful thinking and even though I run a lot, I would have bagged it, not wanting to endure the rain and road conditions.

But sure enough, the heavens parted in about 15 minutes and Steve went for his run.  I was incredibly proud of my brother.  He’s an inspiration to me, always has been.  He pooh-poohs accolades and is far too humble;one thing that really truly bugs me about him is that I don’t think he takes enough credit for just how great he is.  I resisted writing this while we were on the Hanna Boys Southwest Road Trip 2016 as I knew he might be embarrassed by my heaping praise on him.  But he deserves it.  We all feel overwhelmed at times and get into funks and wonder what’s it all about, Alfie, but here’s the one thing I know unquestionably about my brother – he’ll be there when you need him.

I’d say he and I are fairly even, Steven, when it comes to friends in need — 9 times out of 10, I think we’d both be there if a pal absolutely needed something.  But we are markedly different when it comes to strangers.  Whereas 9 times out of 10 I’d say I’m inclined to avoid helping a stranger, seeing conspiracies and trouble arising from anything I might do, Steve’s the opposite.  Nine times out of 10 he’ll stop and help a complete stranger with only the thought that it’s the right thing to do.  Whereas I tend to see the world nine-tenth’s empty, Steve sees it as 9/10’s full.  He’s also just about the smartest guy I know, a writer of immense talent, and an all around great person.

And so as I was sunk deep down into the couch cushions, I thought to myself, “What would Steve do?” And in this instance, co-opting the Hawaiian saying, I realized that:

Steve Would Go Faint

I like to think there are times when I inspire Steve to run, Steven, run.  But this afternoon, without a doubt, Steve’s the one who got me up off the couch and onto the streets of LA.

So this 10K’s for you, big brother!  Thanks for this past week and everything you do.  You, sir, are a force for good in a world that needs more people like you.

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