aloha: hello, love, and goodbye

some lovely and/or memorable moments on Saturday:

• a statue of buddha we had thought lost, found his way to Helen's altar on his own
  
• the sound technical problems getting solved moments before starting the program
  
• finishing her tribute video at 12:30am
  
• Jorge, Aimee, and Jen singing "Hindi Kita Malilimutan"
  
• excellent dinugan, pancit, and lechon from Rafael's in Vallejo
  
• hauling the leftover lechon tray up THREE flights of steps to the after party
  
• sitting roundtable with the older generation of activists sharing and discussing issues of "that was then" "this is now" and wondering where the bridge is
  
• learning how to cook lechon paksiw (including the secret ingredient Mang Tomas sauce)
  
• playing with Wiley's delightful and pleasant Madelaine who was supposed to be grumpy for missing her afternoon nap, but wasn't
  
• reconnecting with folks I hadn't seen in years and years, and watching tables of folks do the same
  
• a standing ovation and unity clap for Ninong Abe