Peggy's Early Thanksgiving

Sunday, 16 November 2008

Chase and I are on our own today, since Daddy has to work with Keora again today at the park helping her do raku. He works at the park (where we met) a few times a year doing the hard labor for her. Today, he'll come home all stinky and sweaty after pulling hot ceramic pieces out of a garbage can.

This afternoon, Chase and I went to Peggy Chun's early Thanksgiving party at her house. Though we weren't close, Peggy is a well-known local artist who has been such an inspiration to others. She was gracious enough to "talk" to my dad when he was struggling with ALS, and now, close family and friends and others from the ALS support group, as well as many whose lives she has touched, will be thanking Peggy for being such a wonderful artist, friend, wife, mother, and grandmother. Over 130 RSVPs were sent in. Tents were ordered for the front lawn. A hospital bed was rented for her to join the activities outside. They rented a bouncer for the kids. We crossed our fingers that we wouldn't get drenched in the already wet neighborhood of Nu'uanu. It was a potluck. So everyone brought food and drinks to share. We brought chow mein noodles and got there at the start of the party, at 2 pm.

Over the next few hours, people came and went. I kept commenting on how I never saw that dish or that dessert. I guess the best thing would have been to wait till the end, but then again, you took a risk of food being gone. I described the day to Chris as being a celebration of life. It was almost like a funeral, except the person (Peggy) was lying there on her hospital bed under the tent, with her ventilator on and nurses close by. A friend gave a blessing. Other local celebrities, like Wally Amos, from Famous Amos cookies, was there. Her husband Elroy did a "eulogy". One friend got on his guitar and sang a song for her, the song that had inspired her to paint a cover. People went up to Peggy to say a few words to her. One little girl got on the microphone and told Peggy that she was her biggest fan and that she was so sad that she had ALS, such a terrible disease. I talked to Peggy's husband, son Eric, and daughter-in-law Kimi. Kimi said Peggy is loving today. This is exactly what she wanted, to be surrounded by the friends and family (many of whom, including her new granddaughter, flew in from the mainland to pay their respects) and have fun. Prayer flags hung from the awning of the house. People sang and played guitar. Kids jumped like crazy in the bounce house. Once Chase woke up from his nap, he thoroughly enjoyed petting Peggy's dog Maka, going up and down the slide, riding the swing, and dancing to the live music. He even got to go fishing for mud (since he missed all the crayfish) in the pond.

Though Peggy has had a huge support network of friends and family (often referred to as Peg's Legs) that have been by her side over the past 6 years she's had ALS, members of the ALS support group came by to visit and bid her farewell as well. Even Vi Jones-Medusky brought all her kids, including her eldest daugher, model/surfer Malia Jones. I had fun talking to Malia's husband about my baby carrier and baby stuff, since they're expecting their first baby in a few months. Vi, who recently had a fun run/adventure trek to raise money for ALS (check it out on the support group's new 'work-in-progress' blog: www.hawaiials.blogspot.com), still can feed herself, but is in a wheelchair. It's always so heartbreaking to see these healthy athletes afflicted with such a debilitating disease.

Today was a big day for Peggy and her family and friends. It was a bittersweet day filled with lots of music, kids, art (We got to take away her 2008 calendar filled with her paintings.), love, and laughter. I'm fortunate to have been able to spend some time with her. As I told her before we left, she has been such an inspiration to everyone, through her love of art, life, and laughter. Even though I never knew her pre-ALS, I can tell from today's celebration what a wonderful person she is. Happy Thanksgiving, Peggy, and to the rest of the Chun Ohana!