Circles of Life

Recent events have reminded me of the circle of life.

Lyrics of the Burt Bacharach song used in Lost Horizon:

The world is a circle without a beginning
And nobody knows where it really ends
Everything depends on where you
Are in the circle that never begins
Nobody knows where the circle ends

I recently visited the mainland and reunited with friends. One had a daughter who was born while I was there decades ago and now is about to have her own child.

At my high school reunion I was reminded of Veterans who gave their lives for our freedom. I also saw some educators who were there in the 60’s but now retired.

I also found that a classmate of mine from those times, just passed away suddenly this week, well before his time.

As all this was happening, my island was undergoing its own circle of life. Kilauea Volcano was active, rumbling like thunder and seeping lava from cracks in the earth. At least 30 buildings were destroyed and about 2,000 people are currently displaced  as lava flowed near their houses.

Some may wonder why live near an active volcano? We wonder why people live in tornado alley or on an eroding cliff-side at the beach?

In the case of Madam Pele the volcano Goddess, she does what she will. It is not her fault that there are homes and people in the way. This particular island is comprised of 5 volcanoes and this is the currently active one. Had it not been for all of the lava, our island would not exist. It is 4,000 square miles and extends from the sea floor, 20,000 feet up just to sea level and then another 14,000 feet to the top.