Jeno, as 4-H adviser, prepares a honeycomb for honey extraction. Photo courtesy of Jeno Enocencio

Does anybody really care?

By Jimmy F. “Jeno” Enocencio

While enjoying my son Orion-Independence's birthday on the Fourth of July in Hilo, the question came up, “Does anybody really care?” I looked at my wife, Caroline, and asked why she asked a question like that. “If it wasn't Orion's birthday, would we have woke up early in the morning, made Kapu of this canopy that the county put up and stay here all day waiting for a fireworks show that's gonna start at 8 o'clock?” I said, “Yeah, because I'm an American – and I know you wouldn't 'cause you're a Communist.” I got that look.

Upon returning to work, Caroline extended her belief that nobody really cares. She conducted an experiment. Bravely, she went to the bathroom and left some toilet paper hanging out from her dress. The objective was to see if anyone really cared in telling her of her “embarrassing moment.” She walked up and down the aisle of her co-workers' cubicles, went down to the break room to get a snack, went up in the elevator to a union meeting and back down to her work station and meeting with her boss. “Carol, you get toilet paper stuck to your a__!” Acting in a state of shock and awe, Carol exclaimed, “OMG(osh)! Carol immediately called me and said, “See I told you nobody cared! Ova' one hour I walked around with toilet pepa' stuck and nobody said nuttin'!” Realizing the circumstances she had placed herself in, I asked, “So ... wot now, Babes!? Dis make A, eh?” Silence. Then a dial tone.

Carol got pen to paper and wrote this note and stuck it on the bulletin board in the break room. It was entitled: “Does Anybody Really Care?” It read: “Does anybody care about anybody else other than himself or herself? When you see something wrong, like a shirt inside out, or toilet paper stuck to a shoe or from a dress, do you let it pass you by and say nothing? We should all be more courteous to one another and mention when something is wrong. Someday you might be a victim. Someday you'll have that moment of embarrassment and wonder, how many people saw and laughed at you and never said a word?”

Jeno looks on as Big Island Beekeepers Association member Cary Dizon prepares a comb. Jeno's fly is open and nobody said a word. Oh well, this is one way to let the bees get some air. Photo courtesy of Jeno Enocencio

Which comes to mind, do we really care about what's happening in our current situation – the gas and food prices – the layoffs and terminations – the escalating rent, foreclosures and bankruptcies – companies closing their doors while others price gouge? How about the nonprofits depending solely on funding for their survival without means for self-reliance while kids and young mothers and the homeless and old folks are left fending for themselves – cuts in teachers' wages, cuts in books and supplies, and repairs? What about the heightened use of ice, alcohol, barbiturates, opiates and other means for escape – the continuing saga of tūtū wahine and tūtū kāne raising their mo'opuna because daddy stay in jail and mommy stay somebody else's house li'dat? When you think about it, having toilet paper sticking out of your butt or stuck to your slippahs, and having to showcase it without anyone demonstrating any sign of courtesy is the same, if not worse, than all the current economic situations we're in. You might not think so until it happens to you. So why do we let it go?

Why do we allow folks to continue talking when they're foaming at the mouth – catsup and mustard at the corner of their lip – boogars whizzing in and out of their nose – maka piapia – holy Moses, halitosis – and ammonia kine BO? Why do we let folks continue to wear their shirt or blouse inside-out – rice or spaghetti stuck on their shirt after having lunch – cookie crumbs on their mustaches, including wāhine with mustaches? But the worst for me has always been, letting a wahine know she has “that time of month” stain. While very embarrassing for me as a macho dude mon', I'll crawl up to her with my tail between my legs and very quietly say, “Excuse me, Miss ... I'm sorry to tell you, but you have a stain.” They'll get the message right away, I won't have to explain further, and respectfully walk away.

Still the question remains, “Why do we let it go?” Becuz it's funny (aside from a wahine's mishap). With all the crap that we're faced with and with all the muck and the mire that has sunk us deeper in debt. With the realization that someone else controls our lives; the fact that we are contained in a little box from 8 to 5, and wrapping ourselves up in another box stuck on the freeway for hours coming and going. It's nutz for wutz happening in our lives – but when you get to see a person making a fool of him or herself, it lightens your load of despair. Within that moment we're taken away from our hopelessness and depression and have a good laugh. I believe that these moments are actually sent by God to lighten our load by sacrificing someone's dignity as a means of punishment for some sin they had committed. But, that is not to say that you let it go on. You too must respectfully conform to the laws of decency and good nature and let them know, “Eh Carol, yo' shirt stay inside out, you foaming at the mouth and you get toilet pepa' hanging from yo' a__!” li'dat.

Let's try and take care of each other mo' betta' – afta' a good laugh of course. Let's lighten up to lighten da' load.

Jeno Enocencio writes about the many hats he wears.
Email pointman_jeno@msn.com