Wall Clock December 2014: "Hibiscus"

I was concerned that my wall-clock-athon posts were gonna end with Novembers' Mastercrafters clock. I didn't want it to end, as I thoroughly enjoy the monthly ritual -- as well as the charity. But November was a busy month for me -- and come Thanksgiving, I still had no clock for December.

But then, out of the blue, I received a "restricted" call on my cell phone. It was the old guy who sold me last months' clock. He said he found another clock among his things and remembered that I liked clocks. His tone was defensive as if to say: "This is not a social call...we have business". So I swallowed any of the normal phone call pleasantries and went straight to the point.

Whoa, far out man, a fractal!

He told me the clock looked like "some kinda hippy flower" and wanted me to have first crack at it since he remembered I'm into "weird hippy things". I was surprised first by the out-of-the-blue phone call, considering the privacy lecture this man gave me on our last visit, and I was also surprised that he even remembered me at all. I suppose he had me pegged as the "weird-hippy-dude-who-likes-weird-clocks". And so what's more perfect for a dude like that than a flower clock?

I agreed to meet him for the second time. But as he hung up the phone without saying goodbye, I wondered if this was the right move. Part of this monthly routine is to meet new people, forge new experiences, and learn new lessons. And I was concerned that I wouldn't find anything new to share. I already had a good experience last month with this man and I felt another meeting could taint that. 

Grrr...again!

The meeting was quick. He was waiting for me outside his place with the clock in his hands. When I reached him, without saying hello, he quickly handed me the clock and said "here". He was wearing the exact same hat which covered his eyes, and possibly, the same clothes as our last meeting a month before. I could tell he was in a rush as he refused to look me in the eyes. Or maybe, he wasn't in a rush, but just wasn't in the mood for any talk. And to be honest, neither was I, so I handed over the money, thanked him, and left. 

I liked the design of the flower clock but I didn't know what kinda flower it was. After a few days of research - and help from a very nice co-worker - it was decided the design of the clock is based around the hibiscus flower which has several hundred species. The clock is very light, made from plaster, has thin metal hands, and a battery slot in the back. It seems the second-hand is missing. This particular hibiscus has yellow petals and a red center.

I could not find anything else out about the clock besides the obligatory "made in China" etchings on the back. But upon further research, the hibiscus flower is an endangered flower. It is used in tea and is a popular diuretic. The yellow hibiscus is also Hawaii's state flower and is traditionally worn on the ear of Hawaiian and Tahitian girls. 

If you weren't aware, today, December 7th 2014, marks the 73rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. I had the privilege to be on a military ship from Pearl Harbor to southern california with five hundred Marines many years ago near the beginning of the Iraq War. And as we sailed out of Pearl Harbor, everyone was on deck, in perfect attention to honor the fallen. The silence, as the ship passed wreckage and Pearl Harbor monuments, was unbroken. It was an epic and emotional tribute to those that lost their lives. I wrote about my week aboard this ship many years ago; the conditions, the personalities, and the politics. And while the piece is fairly naive, I still find the conclusion to be worthy of repeating today: "I would be a fool not to show respect for every one of the men and women aboard the Ogden and elsewhere, risking their lives for what they believe in. If all Americans had an ounce of their determination and courage, there wouldn't be a need for a war.”

You can read the whole piece here.

And so, in summary, while my second meeting with the same man wasn't as fruitful as I hoped, I still feel I made a decent connection to the clock, and with the memories of Pearl Harbor and Hawaii's state flower, the hibiscus.