H. Hsu Word Salad

Ukelele sounds

Somewhere over the Rainbow/Wonderful World

Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, oft referred to as IZ, sings this song which strangely penetrates the head with it’s haunting sweet sadness. One reviewer on Amazon (where I ordered the CD) described hearing bits of it played in a commercial and always feeling…"misty."

I’m the kind of stoic gal who didn’t cry as a little girl when I toenail was torn off by a door or when my mom left me at pre-school for the first time .  And have had a reportedly irritating history of failing to shed appropriate tears at important relationship junctures with past loves.  But when this song wafts by I also feel  uncharacteristically "misty".  Mom loves, loves, loves the Louis Armstrong song Wonderful World.  And the wistful hopefullness and innocence of over the rainbow with those simple string tunes just somehow sends me over the edge.

Saturday morning pre-Mermaid Triathalon I was trying hard, and failing, to contain my anxiety.  Setting up my transition area I could not help but feel intimidated by the beautiful, sleek racing bikes of other women, and my heart just about dropped out of my chest when I saw the actual swim lake marked off with distant buoys. (more on the entire Tri later)
But they played this song over the intercom, and I became lost in a reverie of ukelele sounds, which calmed me sufficiently to stop wasting energy fretting that I would be needing for swimming.
More about IZ
Israel died in 1997, a young man (not even 40), a fiercely loved artist. 
For god’s sake I can’t help but wish he had done some triathaloning as well to have taken better care of his health.  But we all have our different outlets, strengths, gifts, and weaknesses.
Someone referred to Iz as "the Bob Marley of Hawai’i"
I hear that this song was recently performed on American Idol, who therefore has introduced it to a whole new generation of fans.
Folks chatting on youtube have reported playing this at everything from their graduation ceremonies to funerals.

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