đł My ship ticket was booked through only to Hawaii and then …
The ship arrived in Honolulu and I was at the thrilling roundabout in my life; time to redeem my sealed envelope which carried the efforts I had been working on most of my life. Â Standing in the immigration line still on board the ship, my adrenaline was certainly raised a bit more.
There was just a few of us and now it was my turn to come forward. Â The sealed envelope was opened and along with my passport, I was recognized, stamped and received. Â âWelcome to the United States.â the immigration officer said to me pleasantly.
I was given my golden ticket (legal resident-green card) and now I could leave the SS Orsova. Â As I disembarked the ship, there was a line of island girls dressed in their grass skirts ready to greet us. Â âAloha!â Â they warmly said to each one of us along with a few extra Hawaiian words I cannot recall exactly. Â
Perhaps âloaa i kou makaikaiâ as they placed fresh and fragrant flower leis around our necks, each with a sweet and lovely smile.  Aloha indeed!  đ¸
Going into the Customs Building I found a big locker to store my suitcase. Â My flight was not until the night time so first thing on my to-do list, food! Â
I called a cab and asked the driver to take me to a decent and nearby Chinese restaurant. Â The manâs attitude was pleasantly laid back and he was more than willing to help. Â He promptly delivered me to a street where there were a few eateries; I didnât miss the Chinese writing on many of the business signs. Â
I began to look into the windows hoping one would call to me quickly. Â As I was looking into the window of this one restaurant, I saw how quickly the seats were filling – it was lunch time and now I am even more hungry because Iâm smelling the food too. Â
Remember I just disembarked a ship where I was constantly being fed!
As though breaking into my thoughts of a delicious lunch, the front door opened and a caucasian man stepped right up to me. Â He said, â I see you there and I think you were hoping to come in and have some lunch, am I right?â
I replied without thinking twice, âYes Iâd love to but I see there are no open tables.â Â He smiled and said âDonât worry about that, if you want you can join me as thereâs no one else at my table.â Â
I didnât have to mull anything over when it came to the increasing sounds in my tummy and so with a gracious smile I went in with him, following him to his table. Â We sat down and he handed me a menu. Â He mentioned his order was already placed. Â Right away I saw a couple of items I desired and ordered them. Â My food came shortly after his hit the table.
He introduced himself as a basically retired U.S. Marine, having served during WWII and a few years after that; beyond Pearl Harbor, he loved the islands and decided to plant himself in Honolulu. Â
This kind-hearted American man, James, wouldâve been my dad, by age I mean to say. Â He was at least 25 years my senior. Â We enjoyed a wonderful conversation over lunch, and yes the food was good too.
James asking me where I was from, where I was going âŚ.I told him I was from Fiji and he said, âOh I know Fiji!â  and I told him San Francisco is where that eveningâs flight would take me. Â
Seeming slightly alarmed James said, âOh Blue youâre gonna freeze over there, especially coming in from Fiji.â Â I had to laugh at his unexpected concern for me. Â
He thought to tell me that San Francisco is definitely into winter now and itâs very cold there. Â He then made suggestion that I consider remaining in Hawaii, â…at least through the winter and let the western U.S. warm up a bit!â he said with a chuckle.
I thought that a marvelous plan but then I had to say, âI think thatâs a great idea but I havenât anywhere to stay, I mean to say I hadnât planned on a detour.â
James didnât miss a beat. âYou should stay with me. Â I have a big house and itâs only my wife and our dog.â Â Say, thatâs a fabulous idea I thought and said as much with a grateful smile. Â I think he would read my face.
I agreed and we talked more about what he wanted to do to help me; he seemed to enjoy this very much. Â James said he could take me to the office of employment and that heâd help me get on my feet in no time. Â âAt least we can try, right?â he offered.
James wouldnât let me buy my lunch treating me as his guest. Â That was such a nice thing and I was feeling comfortable. Â We left the restaurant together and as we walked towards the parking lot, we stopped at a phone booth to ring up his wife. Â He told her he was bringing home a friend for a couple of nights.
We first went to recover my suitcase and then he took me straightway to the Employment Office. Â âMight as well get you registered right away. Â We wouldnât want you to miss any opportunities.â Â Thankfully that was a fairly quick and easy process.
James drove me around the town, pointing out this and that and Pearl Harbor too as we went by it. Â James told me he was grateful to have survived it but was deeply saddened by the losses, some very personal. Â
After leaving the town area we began ascending the hills towards his home. Â It was such a beautiful neighborhood, lots of green of course and spacious lots with large ranch-style homes neatly placed upon them.
I turned to look in the direction from where we came and the view was sprawled out clear down to the Pacific Ocean, truly a brilliant blue from that vantage point!
We approached a driveway which he turned the car into. Â As we pulled in a car was pulling out. Â âThat would be my wife. Â Sheâs gone to visit her family.â Â He stopped in the driveway up by the front door. Â
Iâm sure you can picture this in your mindâs eye; Â the circular drive, the small flower garden in the center and the relaxed laid out home, glorious in its day, fantastic today too Iâm sure! Â We got out and walked into the house.
James warmly welcomed me into his home, âWell hereâs the house. Â Iâll first take you to your room so you can leave your suitcase there and Iâll show you around.â Â
As I am experiencing an Americanâs home for the first time in my life, I was wowed to say the least.  It was something like a palace of sorts to me; so spacious and well, just beautiful.  He showed me the bathroom, the kitchen, the den ⌠do you remember dens?
He then walked over to his telephone and I took a seat nearby; at this point we were taking care of changing my flight. Â He called Pan Am and after a few words like calling on behalf of his friend who’s feeling under the weather and needs to cancel his flight, it was done.
I remember thinking to myself about who this man James really is when I heard him say to the person on the other end of the line something about his military status, it somehow reassured me in a calm way; it was like he was well known or something.
While we sat in the kitchen I had a soft drink although he had offered me the run of his entire liquor cupboard. Â âWe had a fabulous dinner last night, are you interested or should we go out?â Â James asked me. Â
My honest thoughts; I didnât have a lot of money in my pocket, he had already treated me so kindly and anyway I was feeling tired, I said whatever he had would be perfect.
He attacked the refrigerator breaking out all the goodies. Â There was a large, neatly wrapped in aluminum foil package he opened up. Â It contained several delicious looking pork chops. Â All the trimmings were there and we feasted. Â
đşđ¸Â Good choice to stay in – first American dinner in an Americanâs home.
All in all it was a nice night. Â I enjoyed it very much including an evening stroll around his property. Â And this time I enjoyed looking at the island lights from the opposite end of where I had seen them before, for the very first time; I’ll never forget that feeling, that sight.
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James: Â fictitious name for the real mcCoy! Â What a sincere, caring human being and what a perfect welcome into American life! Â
Sometimes we just cannot help but to say with a twinkle in our eye and a fondness in our heart, âAh, the good âol days!â