Bright spots on journey leave a joy unshooable

On the road to Naalehu back in the 1970s, there was a house with a plumeria tree that had been decorated with tin cans and handmade ornaments that glittered and clanked as you drove past. That fancy tree broke up the monotony of the drive. It was something to tell the kids to watch for, something to distract them for a few minutes while they anticipated the turn in the road that would reveal the magical sight.

In Kahului there was the Feiteira home on the corner of Kamehameha and Wakea streets, which had elaborate seasonal displays in the plate glass windows. For decades the homeowners kept open the curtains of their spotless home to share Christmas decorations, Easter tableaux, Thanksgiving and Fourth of July displays.

On Oahu there was John Rogers, the man people called The General, who waved at morning commuters and held the American flag at the corner of Kapiolani Boulevard and Kalakaua Avenue. He died in 2001, but people still remember him and tend to the flag that stands where he once stood. He was part of every work and school day, a reminder of those who served in the military and a friendly face in an otherwise unfriendly commute.

There are many others, like the gate along Kalanianaole Highway that was painted with a new design every few months. An image of geese was there for a while, but recently a new, abstract design has appeared.

There’s something altruistic about these roadside attractions meant to brighten the day of strangers. They acknowledge the burden of a journey and cheer on those who are courageously on their way, even if they’re just driving to work.

And now we learn from my colleague Christine Donnelly why the Pali Peace Lady is no longer at her post during the morning commute. Somebody got into an accident and said Tamara Barria Montana and her peace sign and joyful waving were a distraction. A police officer suggested the Peace Lady leave, so she did. Peacefully.

In a fairly short amount of time, she came to mean something special to commuters. One man took a picture of her every morning and sent it to his friend on the mainland to cheer her up; children looked forward to waving at her; people started pulling over to join her in wishing peace for their fellow travelers. People looked for her, like a beacon lighting their way.

We all do that, you know — point out little things along the way to brighten the journey, even if it’s just you alone in the car without the kids, even if the thing you’re pointing out is just a misspelled sign or a funny-colored house or a raggedy cat that always sits on the same fence. It’s how we measure distance. It’s how we reassure ourselves that good things remain, fixed in the same place though everything else seems to be changing. It’s why the empty spot on the Pali seems extra empty now and why you might find yourself still smiling at that flag on the corner of Kapiolani and Kalakaua.

Reach Lee Cataluna at 529-4315 or lcataluna@staradvertiser.com.