PhotoCredit: “Around the world in 80 days”
♦
Chief among the things that might pop up in your mind on hearing the word is: a sandy beach, the sea; calm waves lapping about the shore… a svelte, full-hipped lady with a flowery wreath around her neck; sporting a raffia skirt, curling her fingers and palms in an alluring manner, and coconut trees… lots of coconut trees; leaves swaying gently in the wind.
Aloha!
It’s a Hawaiian word. I daresay it is quite unique, in that it has no single, particular English equivalent – non-slang or colloquialism, that is – which fully encapsulates its meaning; the deep, profound meaning and usage of this simple, five-letter word.
Aloha!
Another thing that might pop up in your mind is the quick word, “Welcome.” That does little justice to it. It’s a fair enough approximation sometimes though; but depending on the situation it is used in, it can fall desperately flat.
Aloha is described as “…a word expressing different feelings; love, affection, gratitude, kindness, pity, compassion, grief…”
Naturally, my bias for this word would be quite considerable, owing in no small part to my being a minimalist. “Live-out-of-a-suitcase, packed-for-travel-in-one-bag” would not be an entirely wrong description for me. My introverted nature would come to play as well, you know; what with the efficiency of bringing such varied emotions together, communicating them in fewer words, and not coming off as unnecessarily pretentious, aloof or uncaring… and this done with a short, non-syntactically complicated word that’s pleasant-sounding to boot! What’s not to like?
Aloha!
It is a lot appropriate, that we greet whenever we meet. And then; as a shockingly large number of people would agree (I don’t, for the life of me, know exactly why): “some things are better left unsaid.”
It was nice to meet again, truth be told; things whether left said or unsaid. Truly nice. Yes, indeed. The mood told of this, as did the light air, as did the wine (bad call, in retrospect), as did the almost-happening… and the calm-saving segue of our mutual furtive laughter; better judgement thankfully having come to save the day; in the shape of the realisation that pursuing another escapism is the least needed manner to conduct the enterprise of a new, improved existence.
Ideal is illusory, but we get by.
It is a lot appropriate, too, that we greet whenever we part; as parting is a constant reality of the treasure which is existence; human or inanimate.
We are kept alive in our memories, and the departed among us are honoured; those deemed as worth the honour. Through our deeds, we may become immortal; with the blessing here being that we live forever without having to experience the encumbrance of living; the daily pitfalls, the struggle, the feelings of inadequacy and the angst.
We trade off the successes, adulation, joy (and the not infrequent occasions of happiness that are also known to come along in existence), with the bliss of the eternal hope which departing bestows upon the departed.
And then perhaps all that a veteran might rightly hope to ask of those he is to leave behind is that they “remember this old soul fondly”. If not so generous in their enthusiasm, then perhaps remember only just, “kindly”. Devoid, perhaps, of even that smidgen, one may then as a last resort say, their actions at least be judged “fairly”.
For they will be remembered, as all dear ones are; as all our faithful departed… dare I say, as all our unfaithful departed as well.
In heaven and earth, the chorus ring;
The king is dead, long live the king!
Aloha is described as the “…modern common salutation at meeting and parting…” and with that I couldn’t agree more.
So that with every sip “stayed”, and every muse taken away, LeCoffeeSpot bids you good day… For it has indeed been great! That’s all one, our play is done. God bless us, everyone.
Aloha! ♦
The Coffee Spot 