Posted by Paul T. Burke on May 01, 2001 at 23:13:48 from 64.105.35.207 :
In Reply to: Ed's 'aumakua posted by Debra Powell on May 01, 2001 at 19:37:06:
That is very beautiful literature,,and gut loving..Write to me if you wan't a friend.....So very touching....Big Love Sis!!! Paul T. Burke : Where to start after 27 years of being married to Jim Powell, I have stories. I know this is a sad time for all of us who had the pleasure of having this wonderful man in our lives. It has been healing to read all the stories on the websites and I remember a lot of them. I remember when Ed spent the 14 days in jail, he loved it. Ed got to read and didn’t have to cook, they delivered food to him. Ed was the only person I knew that liked hospitals, what more could you ask for breakfast, lunch and dinner in bed and people to take care of you. : Ed always shared whatever he had, be it his house or food or wine. If you needed help, head for Dr. Powell, he was always there and willing to help or to listen. : On one of Ed and Karen’s winter trips to Maui, Jim and I took Ed to a local beach that we enjoyed. Ed went in to swim and as he was swimming out in the ocean a turtle came up and started following Ed. : Ed would swim a few strokes and stop. The turtle would swim a few strokes and stop. If Ed turned to look back to shore, the turtle disappeared under the surface, only to pop up again as he resumed his strokes. : Jim and I just sat there and watched… neither one of us had seen anything like that before. : There was an old “local” [Hawaiian] guy on the beach looked at us who smiled and pointed to the turtle and to Ed. “That’s his ‘aumakua” he said. “It’s trying to stay close to him.” : Many cultures believe that we have animal spirits – or ‘aumakua. It seems Ed’s is a turtle. (Which Hawaiian’s call 'honu' and regard as very good luck, as it’s the most peaceful creature of the reef.) : We told Ed later of the turtle and that is was his ‘aumakua, Ed just gave a little laugh and decided he like the idea of having a turtle as his ‘aumakua. : On April 22, of this year the day after Ed passed away, Jim and I had planned a snorkeling trip for friends that where visiting. I didn’t really want to go but I did, when we got to the second snorkeling spot I spotted a large green thing in the water, as I moved closer to it I realized it was a turtle. A guy on the boat asked one of the crew how long turtles lived and the answer was about 125 years. The guy then said what a nice life to have floating around in beautiful warm waters. Thank you Ed for coming to say aloha. : Ed was always great about quoting people so to quote one of my favorite singers -- Israel Kamakawiwo’ole “For all I have been blessed with in my life… In this life I was loved by you.” So aloha my friend and thank for sharing your life with me. Ed, I will always carry you in my heart and think of you often with much love. : Aloha ‘oe until we meet again. : Debra Powell
: Memories of Ed Powell
:
: When Ed was here in Maui in March of this year. He said he was a very lucky man, for he got to do what he wanted to do in life and that was to teach. And to top it all off he got paid to do it. Well I consider my self very lucky for having known Ed and being a part of his life for 27 years. Ed never ceased to amaze me with all the information that he had inside of him.