When I was 11 years old I flew on a prop airplane to Kauai with my cousin to visit with my favorite Aunt Sally. She taught me how to crochet, sew, play the ukulele and clean house. On this first trip over there my cousin and I vowed we would find all sorts of mischief to get into.
We went crabbing with my Uncle Doug and we found a stray cat. We 'snuck' him in the back of the car and managed to muffle the cat's cries....for help wondering where we were taking her. We hid the cat under a wash basin in the back yard and ran in to have lunch. My Auntie Sally yelped and pointed outside.
The wash bin was mysteriously gliding across the grass!
We borrowed took the neighbors boat without asking. As the boating gals we were I told my cousin to get in and I'd push the boat out and jump in. Yeah, right into the river!
The best one was going down to the Menehune Ditch and my cousin trying to go into the cave....I drew the line at that one. No bad luck for me! You can read all about it in Hawaiian Spirits, Superstitions & Lore- Do You Believe?
Right across from the Menehune Ditch was the SWINGING BRIDGE. As little kids who thought we were invincible this was one feat we did not conquer. At that time there were stray dogs (mean ones) who guarded that bridge and we weren't about to see if we could intimidate them.
The Swinging Bridge of Waimea on Kauai was the only access across Waimea River to the farms on the other side. That original suspension bridge was wiped out by Hurricane Iniki in 1992.
Last year we went to Aunt Sally's funeral service and we took a picture of the Swinging Bridge that was rebuilt in 1996.
All I have left are the memories.
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Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs, she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents.
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Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate® and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocations, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents, Home Buyers and Sellers.
© 2007-2012 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's Hawaii Real Estate and Relocation Blog.
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When I first read the title I thought it said "Singing Bridge" and I wodnered what you where writing about the Hilo bridge? Thats what we call the bridge over Wainaku heading up coast because of the sound it makes as the car tires hummmmm across it. Love the great memories!
Those are great childhood memories to cherish, Sally. Great picture of the bridge too, you can almost see it swinging.
Sally,
As we age, the memories become more important, ne'st pas?
Neat bridge, Sally. So did you EVER get across it?
Jeff
Sally I love your childhood memories, I too had many cousins and we could be very creative.
I can't imagine you not outwitting those dogs on the swing bridge.....lol
Sorry for your lost, it is great to have relatives who you look forward to visiting.
Travella: I sooo love your profile pic! Yeah..those bridges sure echo sounds don't they?
Jane: I don't even know if this one does...but the other one did :) We didn't cross back then or now....but the doggies made it swing :)
Terry: Of course.....when we're young we fail to realize the significance of the memories...the legacy ..
Jeff: Nope...not back then and last year it wasn't the same....
Jennifer: Thanks... but at 11 yrs I was a wimp lol. I couldn't sleep without a night light back then either :)
Hi Sally - What a great post - How grateful we are for our memories...of loved ones and places that have special meaning. And what a cool bridge! This is a wonderful time of year for memories....
Debi
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Woo Hoo, Childhood memories revisited. Seems to me that you should go and walk that bridge as sort of a completion to that once intimating stuations that prevented it. Congratulations on being awarded our group's Award of Merit for a wonderful photo story.
Sally I have a few stories of my own, of things I did as a kid, that I would have gotten a good whopping for if my father ever found out .............. LOL
Love the picture of the bridge, but if it moves, no way I would get on it :)
Sounds like you guys were a handful Sally. Memories are such a powerful thing and it's amazing how certain things can send them flooding back.
Sally - that was really enjoyable - ah, the things we did when we were young - memories are wonderful - thanks so much for sharing those!
Interesting bridge...I'm kind of a fan of all types of them...most be cool walking across it while it swings.
Hi Sally - I've always been fascinated by swinging bridges. Even though this isn't the same bridge from your childhood, the combination of your Aunt Sally and that bridge seems to have triggered some pleasant and fun memories. Condolences on your aunt. It's hard to lose our close family members - just knowing that you can't share those stories with them.
Menehune Ditch sounds like the Kukuihaele School slide in Honokaa, full of childhood memories. Were you named after your aunt?
Sally - memories are powerful things. They can stir things in us that we never thought possible ... and provide smiles at just the right time, when we let them. Merry Christmas!
Cousins and trouble . . . they just seem to go together! But those are the best memories, too!
Hi Sally, This is a beautiful photo and enjoyed your post. Thanks so much for sharing with us.