Coconut on the Highway: Coconut connections | Lifefashion

Last weekend felt like a reunion with out invites.

We can go months, even years, with out crossing paths with individuals we all know whereas transferring by means of our routines right here on Guåhan. Paying payments, grabbing a meal, or reminding ourselves why we love this island with a quiet sundown. Life strikes, and other people drift out and in of view. Then, each on occasion, one thing shifts, and the island reminds you simply how small it truly is.

It began Friday night at a lately opened espresso store within the Maite-Hagåtña space. We have been there to help buddies, Charlie and Jess, take pleasure in a meal, and ease into the weekend.

Not lengthy after sitting down, I bumped into Kass, our waitress and daughter of one in all my oldest island buddies. We hugged, caught up, and promised to not let a lot time go earlier than the subsequent go to.

As we have been heading out, Michael from Western Pacific Maritime Academy (my occasional boss) walked in to satisfy our mutual buddy Charlie. No planning. No coordination. Just good timing.

The subsequent day carried the identical rhythm.

We attended the delicate opening of one other buddy’s espresso store in Dededo. The place was transferring quick, espresso flowing, turkey wraps disappearing as shortly as they have been made.

While ready in line (once more) for what I almost forgot I got here for—banana pudding—I ran right into a former colleague, Derek, from my port engineer days. A fast handshake become a kind of “small world” realizations.

My buddy Ruben, the store proprietor, and my former colleague have been shut buddies themselves. Connections layered on connections.

Then a few our operating group buddies, Jenn and Raymond, walked in, contemporary off a triathlon within the Philippines. We caught up over one other spherical of espresso, absolutely committing to the concept that a nap can be negated by caffeine.

From there, we made our approach to the twenty first Annual Agana Heights Coconut Festival. I couldn’t keep away, as I’d possible lose rights to the moniker, coconut guru.

Somewhere between the meals distributors and the music drifting by means of the warmth of the afternoon, we bumped into the mayor, Richard Arroyo. What stood out wasn’t the handshake or his politicking, however seeing him quietly selecting up competition trash in his village when he thought nobody was paying consideration. I don’t do politics on this column, however nice island stewardship, Richard.

The competition rolled on with music, laughter, and some dancers discovering shade beneath a palm tree. Chance, our son, even made his approach up the rock-climbing wall and rang the buzzer on the prime. Small victory, massive smile.

On our approach out, one other acquainted face and former colleague, Ricky, discovered his approach over to say whats up. Another promise to catch up…quickly… over a beer or two.

By Sunday, we thought we would sluggish issues down.

We headed into Hagåtña for an early afternoon meal, assuming we had missed the lunch rush. We hadn’t. Standing in line, we bumped into Joe and Nicole, who moved off-island final yr after a correct send-off through a “booze cruise.” Seeing them once more felt like no time had handed. Plans have been shortly made to reconnect earlier than they head again to the icy chilly of Chicago.

Inside the restaurant, we discovered extra acquainted faces. A wave from throughout the room from our buddy, Church, adopted by a fast introduction to his lunch company.

Before lengthy, one other of Sarita’s buddies, Jessica, arrived together with her household. Her husband, Billy, and I struck up a dialog about their son’s drumming, which someway become an extended alternate than both of us anticipated. Funny how music does that. Two strangers, snug in dialog like we’d met years earlier.

Later that day, I finished by the mall to see my buddy Richard from the Guam Running Club. While there, I bumped into one other of our operating buddies, Kat. On the drive residence, I noticed Ruben transferring by means of site visitors, possible wrapping up his personal lengthy day on the espresso store.

By then, it was arduous to not discover the sample. It wasn’t only a coincidence. It felt like one thing extra refined. The type of reminder you don’t ask for, however someway want.

On an island like ours, you’re by no means actually as disconnected as you suppose. Lives overlap; paths cross. People reappear at simply the best second. Not as a result of it was deliberate, however as a result of this place has a approach of bringing issues full circle, particularly when meals is concerned.

We spend a lot time chasing work, dealing with obligations, and the subsequent household operate, that we typically neglect to note the threads tying us all collectively.

Last weekend felt like Guåhan gently pulling these threads again into view.

A handshake right here. A dialog there. A well-recognized and smiling face while you least count on it. Not a coincidence. Connection.

And perhaps a quiet reminder to decelerate lengthy sufficient to understand it.

Even within the busiest moments, the island has a approach of bringing us again to at least one one other. Until the subsequent coconut connection, laissez les bon temps rouler, my buddies!