On Terra Firma

I’m back from Waikiki, where I almost had a shark encounter of the scariest kind.  No kidding.  Check out this newsreel from KHON2 News.  I had been snorkeling around these waters during that very time period on that exact day.

Here’s how it went: After snorkeling for a while I felt that I was getting a little too far out and a little too deep.  The coral was far behind.  All was silent, still and turquoise, and I got a ‘funny’ feeling that I was in shark water.  I  tried to imagine how quickly a shark could appear from ‘nowhere.’  I got scared and  swam at a pretty good tilt toward shore.   Once on terra firma I got cleaned up, drank a pomegranate smoothie, and headed to the Ala Moana Hotel where I presented my conference paper on drug policy.  After a brief Q & A session I had a couple of drinks with colleagues at Cheeseburger’s and told them about my earlier frightful experience.   Needless to say, when I returned to my hotel that evening, clicked on the news, and learned just how close I had been to a  10 foot tiger shark, I felt pretty, uh, pretty relieved.  I don’t eat tuna, but the least I can do is thank Lady Fortuna.

Anyway, that’s not terribly exciting.  What’s really exciting is my art exhibit opening at Havana Gallery on Commercial Drive, on Sunday, March 23, from 4 to 7 pm.  I will even be having a book launch at that time.   Everyone is welcome!