I grew up eating bananas. My mom had a half-brother who had a banana farm in Waimanalo. Sometimes when we’d come home from going out some place, there’d be a large grocery bag on our doorsteps filled with bananas. As soon as I would see it, I’d say “Waimanalo uncle was here!“.
Other times when we were home, I’d see his black Ford Falcon station-wagon pull up and park in the front of our house. He’d walk to the back of the station-wagon, use the crank to roll down the back window and pull out a big brown bag of bananas. I’d quickly call my mom because I didn’t know how to speak Japanese.
Waimanalo Uncle’s station wagon looked like this one but was black with red interior
Of course we couldn’t eat all those bananas being that it was only my mom and me who used to eat them. So my mom would pass some out to the neighbors and other relatives.
But there was a certain bowl that was used to hold the bananas. The only time it was used to hold something other than bananas was for assorted nuts during Christmas time. The bowl was a heavy glass bowl with a deep dark red coloring to it. It made the yellow bananas really pop out and look so appetizing.
When it came to snacking, it was hard to get mom’s permission to eat Oreo cookies or even breakfast cereal. But I knew that I’d always get the green light if I asked to eat a banana.
Over the years I’ve distanced myself from bananas. It’s not that I don’t like them, but it’s not that I love to eat them either. I think it’s just that there are unhealthier (meaning tastier) things to snack on.
Paula often buys bananas – a few at a time – that she and daughter #2 eat. When nobody eats the one or two left over, then I know we’ll be having banana pancakes come Sunday.
But after seeing this piece of information – I think I’ll start eating bananas once again. Bananas are like the perfect fruit.
They don’t require refrigeration
They come individually wrapped (organically)
They don’t required any utensils to eat them
They’re not messy to eat
They keep fresh for pretty long
Even after they start rotting on the outside, the inside is still good for baking
Bananas contain potassium and iron and vitamins such as B6, C and A
They posses no cholesterol and practically no fat
And if they get too old, you can make banana bread
Do you remember these bananas?
Are you a banana lover? Did you used to eat bananas small kid time? Do you still snack on bananas today? Did you know that bananas can be healthy for you? Do you have any special banana recipes? Banana jokes? Banana friends? Share your banana stories with us.
It’s time for the obligatory Halloween post. Are you ready?
Halloween falls on a workday (Wednesday), so are you planning on dressing up? If so, as what? Me, I start a class on Wednesday so I don’t want to show up in costume on the first day of class – so I won’t be dressing up.
Although… this past Saturday (during the tsunami), The Beat’s Disguise was going on over at the C’est Si Bon. And Paula and I did dress up for it. As soon as I can locate a picture of Paula in costume, I’ll edit this post to include it.
So, I leave this open to everyone to talk “Halloween”. List your favorite memory of Halloween. Maybe it was a certain year you went trick or treating. Or maybe it was some college Halloween party. Or maybe it was the time you and your friends went out on Halloween night to make trouble.
Remember in elementary school when we used to have to take a paper bag to school and we’d cut out the eye holes and decorate the package? And on Halloween day, our grade would have a Halloween parade so everyone could wear their package/masks to show them off.
How about listing your favorite Halloween song:
What was your favorite Halloween treat or candy.
Got any ghost stories to share? Sally loves ghost stories.
Halloween jokes!
Here’s a Halloween commercial:
So have a safe and fun Halloween and post something – even if it’s just a Happy Halloween message.
Oh, as for me – what did I dress up as at The Beat’s Disguise? he,he Do you really want to hurt me?
Rodney Lee is a Baby Boomer - and proud of it. Rodney started the Midlife Crisis blog back in the days of The Honolulu Advertiser and ran it for about 3 years. After The Honolulu Advertiser shut down, Rodney decided to continue his blog here at Midlife Crisis Hawaii. New blog entries are added every Monday and Thursday.
So join Rodney as he reminisces about the good ol' days.
Midlife Crisis Hawaii - where the memories live on.
