Here's to Hup

Three days until Paddlefest and I’m about as revved up as I can be without blowing a gasket. It’s the culmination of year of work and an opportunity for us to enjoy the fruits of that labor. As it winds down, there’s that elation of accomplishment, knowing we pulled it off and it was bigger and better than the previous year.

But, this time, I’m thinking of Hup, who died late last year at the age of 89. He wasn’t a paddler, just someone I looked out for.

Over the past few years, I sadly watched his decline. But, there was always one thing that ramped him up. His annual reunion of Pearl Harbor survivors. People he’d shared something special with and had known for decades. He relished that event.

The dots are connecting this year and I see that in Paddlefest. I really look forward to uniting with a multitude of good friends who I’ve known for decades and shared a lot of fun times with. There will be a great deal of reminiscing about that, which pretty much makes all the work worthwhile.

And, I’ll drink a silent toast to Hup for helping appreciate this even more.