My Community

I am a person influenced by many communities.

First, there was the community of my upbringing.  

A small town.  Rural.  White.  Intolerant.  Unsophisticated.

Buried by snow in the winters, which lasted an eternity.

Shaped by values not my own.

My restless spirit longed to escape this community.

Having crossed the endless sea to the land of Geisha,  

I was a foreigner.

Absent was the feeling of belonging; the ability to conform.

Often looking in from the cold outside.

Yet developing cultural appreciation

And giving voice to the minority

Finally, washing up on the shores of aloha.

A rich tapestry of people, colors, heritage, and opportunity.

Have I finally found my home?