Late November 2003: I was heavy with my second child, nervous about losing her as I had miscarried in January that year already. A week before Thanksgiving,

I put together a CD including lots of the Hawai'ian music that became such an important part of my life when I lived in Honolulu in the early 1990s. Lots of slack key guitar, Bruddah Iz, etc.

Thanksgiving Day came, and so did my labor. My precious little turkey was born in haste, I was unmedicated, and closed my eyes to listen to my relaxation CD--that got me through it! I will never forget the moment when my 5 year old son came in the room to see his new baby sister for the first time--Iz's version of "Over the Rainbow" was playing--it seemed so beautiful and so right.

That was November 27, 2003. Adele, my daughter, turned 4 yesterday. The past 4 years, I have played that CD for my classes on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, asking the students to, silently, write thank you notes to people important in their lives. Hawai'ian music will always be the perfect inspiration for this activity!

Aloha! Missing the sweet smell of pikake...

Deborah G.