The 50th State

Leina has been out of the news for the past few days because she is in the middle of the Pacific in our most exotic state, Hawaii. Before getting all worked up about the extravagant vacation Leina has taken so early into her social working career, please be informed that the purpose of this trip is business, not pleasure.

Leina does a better job of explaining it, but her father passed away two years ago, and there is a Buddhist ceremony one year after a death and then another one two years after the death. And a few more after that. And they all have to be in close proximity to good surfing. Maybe not that last part; Leina has lots of relatives in Hawaii, and maybe even little nephews who she can drive to sleep. But when she's not doing that, she will likely be participating in the highly organized Japanese Buddhist rituals that go with one's death.