V

7/2/08

Although Ann did not confide the much hoped for details of her survival during the following years through which she endeavored to persist in finding her place in Canada, and I was not in the habit of pursuing such information from the elderly and frail, she did, however, leave me with a rather vague impression of how she managed to survive. “I was very fortunate to make many friends while in Canada. I was a pretty girl.” Ann once said. This statement from Ann was more of a confession, I believe, than an explanation, as the many years since she had become far too modest to disclose what I expect was the true vehicle of her survival. It would appear that the oldest profession in the world is not limited to those of impoverished grade, but rather to all those of desperate circumstance as well. Another cup of tea was certainly called for.

VI

7/16/08

Ann soon rose jauntily to retire to apartment 402. With a very polite “Thank “you for a lovely tea, dear” she was again off to her temporary room. I believe she saw 402 as being little more than such. All of the apartments were of the same relative size, give or take 20 square feet, and all were no more than bedrooms really with rather small baths, some of which were without even sinks. “Ann? I hope to have another visit soon,” I said, as she turned and grinned. “You are still young, my dear”, Ann replied as she then headed quirkily on her way.

Yes, I was, at the age of forty-two, still seen as a young man young through Ann’s milky eyes and timeless vintage. She would go on through anything. She had lived through “the great war” and countless others which were not so great, The Industrial Revolution, air and space flight, etcetera. There were to be teas on Thursdays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, but never during the week’s end, and never on Tuesdays. Tuesdays were spent downtown shopping, visiting her Social Service Aide, or doing those simple things which eighty-two year old ladies of little means might do. I imagine she kept her visits within the building short, as she knew that she might not be staying with us for long. Ann and I were wanderers on this earth. In this we shared an almost spiritual connection.

Short walks around the block together were wonderful. I had the impression that we were the best of friends on the fourth floor, although we all were certainly friendly with Oliver. I believe that, besides being a humorous character to begin with, his carefree spirit gave Ann that extra bit of will.

I must admit that Oliver’s often inebriated humor and passions offered us all on the fourth floor an added appreciation for life. He was certain to often tease me personally for being a recluse and appear at my door with his wonderful four-legged companion, Figgy Pudding, and his typical lively spirit attempting to reverse the depression which had overtaken me for some time. Truly, I had become far too reclusive to manage the daily visits to the beach to which I had so looked forward during the first few initial years of my life in Waikiki while living on the fourth floor of “The Pacific Islander”