Category: my stories

  • The Things We Keep #3: Dad’s Ray-Ban Aviator Sunglasses

    In honor of my father’s memory, and in gratitude to all veterans, everywhere, who served their countries in time of need, may all human conflicts be resolved peacefully. My father wore these sunglasses during his service in the Korean War. With polarized green glass lenses, these vintage Ray-Ban Aviator Sunglasses are a classic and iconic…

  • The Things We Keep #2: Holiday Bowl 250 Club Lighter

    This lighter was awarded to my father Akira Kiyohara for bowling a scratch 250 game, which, as any bowler will tell you, is a big deal. Dad loved bowling and Holiday Bowl was his one night out a week with his buddies. Dad passed on his love of bowling to his children, who can all…

  • Melody Dancing Machine

    http://vimeo.com/107978958 Melody isn’t supposed to be dancing on the table, which explains her joy at doing so. I love the way her performance ends with, “Grandpa’s turn!”    

  • The Things We Keep #1: Fender Guitar Pick

    Fender Guitar pick used by Eddie Van Halen at the Whiskey a Go Go live on the Sunset Strip, with David M Appleton c. 1977 It’s not the things, it’s the memories.

  • Baby Ducks at Kapiolani Park

    When I forget to look around and appreciate life Melody says, “go feed ducks park, grandpa?” And we go to discover baby ducks everywhere much to Melody’s delight our popcorn disappears Quack, quack, quack! Quack, quack, quack!

  • Life Comes Full Circle #10: Shishi-mai

    Granddaughter Melody saying “no! no!” at her first encounter with shishi-mai, the lion dog dance, reminds Mimy of when she was a child, terrified of the lion dog dancers. Shortly after, Melody giggled when we pulled the tail of the lion dog, hehe! @jikoen hongwanji Obon 2014

  • Life Comes Full Circle #8: Baby Photos

    Granddaughter Melody in 2014 and son Akira Kendall with his cousins Saki and Natsumi in 1987.

  • Kerplunk!

    kindness spreads to all      like ripples on the water           be the stone, kerplunk!

  • My Ano Teaches Me an Important Lesson

    Scene: AA Meeting, Somewhere in Tokyo “Hi, my name is Kerry and I’m a recovering asshole.” As my ol’ buddy, the buddha, once said, “Do bad shit and bad shit happen to you.” Becoming an ad agency executive seemed like a good idea at the time but I didn’t realize the price of admission included…

  • The Big One that Did Not Get Away

      A spectacular day off of Cozumel, Mexico, which must be the bluest place I’ve ever seen. The sky melts into the depths of the ocean, light bouncing off the pure white sands at the bottom, and reflecting back up into the sky as clouds. The blue is so big, so all-encompassing that it shocks…