This might sound like some fiction story you'd find in a Book. Or discover at some run down
book store or library. But it's not this experience is actually a true story. Finally the day has arrived where I can say I'm ENGAGED!
It began this past Friday night as I was preparing to meet up with a few of my girl cousins on my father's side. We try to get together at least on a monthly basis. Celebrating special
occassions,holidays or just time away from our households.lol When I found out that we'd be going bowling the night before our get together. I can honestly say I wasn't to thrilled. Not because it was bowling. Because I absolutely love sports. However dealing with day to day stuff on a personal level. I really wasn't feeling up to getting together with my sisters. I know such a hater.
So Friday evening rolls around, babysitting duties were completed and we were on our way.
My younger sister Uila and cousin Kassie Feinga rode together. As they teased about "Married Talk" something I was too shut my ears off to suggested by sister Kass.lol It was
nice to just sit back and listen. Despite the fact that I couldn't add my 2 cents on a matter I have no experience in. And in the moment it was totally fine with me because I was still learning. Well we arrived on time only to be greeted by our cousins Tina & Kinga Mapu.
And as time passed slowly everyone began to show up.
As I got to talking to a few of our sisters I couldn't help but to think. "Alrightie Ova be a good
sport, don't lose interest in chilling w/the girls and focus on how good it is to be family." And it's not because it's a pain to spending time with these women I'm blessed to have in my life.
But for some odd reason I just couldn't get over feeling so anti-social.
Anyway the evening consisted of Me,Uila,cousins Tina & Kinga Mapu, cousins Frankie & Leta Fau'olo, our cousin-in-law Tini Mapu, cousins Ane & Tile Mapu, Kamie Afo Aiono, Kassie Afo Feinga, Kuiipo Afo Vea. We laughed, danced, took pictures, caught up on each others lives and enjoyed one anothers company. And that reason alone proved to me that's why I needed to attend. Merely to appreciate that I have a wonderful extended family and to realize moments like that don't happen everyday. So like a sponge I was soaking it in and figured that's all I was to learn that night. Never expecting what was to follow would open my eyes up even wider to what life can really be about. Especially when your not looking with your "Spiritual Eyes"..
Immediately after our game of bowling we headed over to IHOP for some grub. I began to feel weary so I had to regroup. Determined to keep soldering on w/my sisterly bonding. In other words I was giving myself an attitude check. Which totally worked out until we were seated.
Directly across from us two gentlemen caught my attention. Especially because they'd look at our table, whisper, then look away, look back and whisper again.. So I found that very annonying and creepy. Since we were trying to plan out our next Girls Night, sharing recent updates and more funny stories. And to have two strangers continue to interrupt us in the middle of all that was causing me to truly lose my patience.
Then out of no where one of the gentlemen had the nerve to ask our youngest sister Frankie
the following. "Hey that flower in your ear, which side means your taken?" OMG at this point my blood is pumping, more annonyed, and feeling like a bomb. Which would've exploded if I didn't take a breathe and held my peace. So yes I went into "Big Sister I'm gonna throw my plate at you if you don't stop talking to us mode." I know so violent sorry but that's how I was feeling cause he wouldn't quite. Anyway
Frankie the innoncent young woman that she is was blinded by any of our efforts of warning. She continues to answer not understanding what he was doing. Then replies with "Oh when its on the left ear means your taken as she at this point has the flower in her right." Everyone begins to laugh and blushing she repositions the flower to her left ear as to say. "OOps I'm taken."lol Our meals arrive we continue on with our conversations. And this dude still doesn't give up with interrupting our time together. Offers more comments and questions..
Then Kass has to leave because her husband arrives we say our goodbyes.. Not to long after Tini prepares to leave. When one of the cousins jokingly blurts out "Bye Auntie!" we laugh.. Then we hear the same annonying voice from the gentlemans table say "Ya bye Auntie." Before any of us could react. Tini the little firecracker that she is blurts out "WHAT?" "WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?" and I guess by his facial expression and not wanting to start nothing Tini brushes it off with a laugh heading to pay her half of the bill.
Five minutes later I notice the gentleman that wouldn't shut up gets up from his table to leave. I being the paranoid one was like "Awww this fool better stop."lol Tini runs up to our table and is speaking so fas that I barely understand what she's trying to express. Because my thoughts were already on fastforward remembering the guy just left his table. So my thoughts were "He's gonna get it."And once I calmed myself and ("ENGAGED" LOL) myself in what Tini was expressing this is what she had to say.. "HEY YOU GUYS that guy who was sitting here, Tyler Winegar he just paid our whole bill and tip the waitress and all he wants is a hug from all of us."
OMG RIGHT??? this guy a total stranger, we've never met in our lives, who we were ignoring, who I was wanting to hurt from jump just paid our bill. Very odd right? But this is what end up happening. Yes of course we were nicer, we had him come to our table to chat for a few minutes. Only to have his friend give Ane aka Bella her dreamcatcher necklace..lol another story for another day lol@bella.. But I will never forget these two men esp Tyler.. And yes maybe to some its not a big deal and they may even say score good for you guys..Free Meal!
But I was taught and reminded that I need to truly look at people with my "Spiritual Eyes" from the inside out focused on their hearts. And how dangerous it is to jump to such quick assumptions of other peoples motivates. When I should do the opposite and show appreciation for kind acts their tryna render.
Tyler said he was trying to get our attention somehow being that he's from Maui. His motivates were to show us how he appreciates our culture and that he missed being in Hawaii. And seeing us made him miss home. Tyler's example truly put me in check and I was grateful that he was really kind. Giving me a greater desire to pay it forward by showing someone or a group of someones how much they mean to us. Whether I know them or not. By giving of time, common courtesy and just being there for people. That's what truly matters. I will forever brag about this "Girls Night" until something even greater comes along. Not only for the time I got to be with my sisters. But for people like Tyler and his friend that teach me "Because I have been given much I too must give." Finally "Engaged" in seeing people as they are and not what I mistakenly assume they are!
P.S. my badd about having a different meaning
of what type of engaged you might've assumed I was
referring too love ones and frenz..
hahahaha 2010 aiming for it.baah or I mean preparing..
