First of all, I want to wish all the MLC readers a safe and healthy new year.  2008 was brutal.  Let's pray that 2009 will be a much, much better year.

We all know about popping firecrackers as we shared our stories in the previous blog entry. It's a tradition practiced in Hawaii to scare off the evil spirits for the new year.  But as you could tell from reading our stories, it was mostly a chance for us boys to blow up things.

Some traditions are cultural - like blowing up firecrackers, and some are simply family traditions.  For example, when we were in our late teens and early twenties, we'd be partying at a friend's house on Kalama street in Kailua, but one guy in our bunch had to go home for the midnight hour.  He'd sneak away around 11:30 to spend midnight with his family, then return around 12:30 to continue partying with us.  Now that he's married and has his own family, I'm sure he has outgrown that tradition.

One tradition that I too have outgrown was our New Years Day visits.  The first day of the year always started pretty much the same - waking up early and heading straight outside to scrounge for unpopped firecrackers.  The legal time to pop firecrackers was over, but that didn't matter as you'll read about a little bit later.  Later in the morning, we'd all hop into the car and head on out to visit relatives.

First stop was halmuni's (or grandma's) house.  We'd visit for an hour or so with halmuni and other relatives who would drop by.  Halmuni would always have "duk" or Korean new years mochi soup ready for anyone who stopped by.  I miss halmuni's duk soup.

Then it was on to "soda uncle's" house.  Soda uncle always blasted a long string of firecrackers the night before and never cleaned up the rubbish that night, so as soon as we got to soda uncle's house, it was a bee-line to the pile of firecracker paper looking for more unpopped firecrackers.  Then we'd go inside and visit with everyone.  Of course, as you might've guessed, soda uncle always had a small refridgerator filled with Kist, Diamond Head, and other bottled sodas.  As soon as he gave us the green light - we knew exactly where to go to get our bottle of cold soda.  His soda always tasted the best!

Then it was on to auntie Alice's house.  She was the classy auntie with the nice house and plush carpet.  The coolest thing at auntie Alice's house was the two saloon style doors that lead into her kitchen.  We'd get such a kick walking back and forth through the doors trying to walk bow-legged and acting like cowboys going into a saloon.  Auntie Alice would also have "duk" but instead of in soup, it was sliced in round silver dollar sized circles and coated with kinako.  There would be a dish of honey next to it for it to be dipped into before eating it.  Mmmm!

Then it was on to our last stop - Waimanalo uncle's house.  That's where other cousin's from my mom's side would be waiting for us.  Waimanalo uncle's house was located deep in the farmlands of Waimanalo as he had a banana patch in the back of his house.  Inside the house in the parlor would be a long table set up low to the floor (Japanese style) filled with all kinds of Japanese and Okinawan food.  From boiled tako with miso dip to shrimp tempura to sushi, sashimi, fried chicken, nishime, kanten, and sake - it was a feast.  But, no time to eat as we'd get together with the cousins and grab whatever firecrackers we scrounged up and headed for the back yard.  Between the house and the banana patch, there ran a stream with an old wooden bridge.  We'd stand on the bridge and throw our firecrackers into the stream trying to time is just right so it'd pop on the surface of the water.  And even though it way past the legal time frame to pop firecrackers, this house was so far back in the foothills of the Koolaus, nobody was close enough to hear our firecrackers popping.  In between playing with firecrackers, I'd run back into the house, drink some soda, dip some shrimp tempura into the miso sauce meant for the tako (weird, but it tasted good), eat some sushi, then run back out an play more fireworks.

Then in the late afternoon/early evening, we'd head on back home and my auntie Betty and family would come over to our house for more eating and playing.  Once they all loaded into the car and headed back home, that signaled the end of another traditional new years day.

Of course, that tradition ended as halmuni and other relatives passed on or moved away, but the memory still lives on.

Another tradition I always see is one of our neighbors up the street who always makes it a point to come home just before midnight and set off a long string of firecrackers.  After cleaning up all the rubbish, they hop back into the car and head off for church service.

I've noticed a "tradition" if you will, that seemed to have started some years ago.  During the midnight celebration, all of us in the neighborhood are blasting all our fireworks out in the street.  Then about 30 minutes or so after midnight - when all the long strings have been blown and all the novelty fireworks set off, everyone starts sweeping up all the rubbish on the street.  But at the same time, we're all talking with each other and wishing each other a Happy New Year.  It's kind of amusing when you think about it.  Sweeping up the streets and wishing each other a happy new year.  But you know what?  It's become a tradition. 

What traditions do you recall from your childhood?  What traditions have you created today?  Are there some traditions that you've carried over from generation to generation and hope your children will pass on - like popping firecrackers?

What about the tradition of food?  Do you pay up to $29.95 per lb. for premium Ahi for new years sashimi?

And speaking of traditional new years day food, what foods do you try to make it a point to eat?  Ozoni and/or Sekihan?  Or duk?  Or jai?  Any other foods you can think of?

Oh yeah, Omamori or Japanese amulets.  I always make it a point to stop by Shirokiya on that one weekend in January to turn in my old omamori and get new ones.  You might say, it's a tradition.

Anyway, I just want to wish all the MLC readers:

 

Now that Christmas is behind us, it's time to focus on the upcoming New Year - and that means stocking up on FIREWORKS!  Okay, maybe it's mostly a "guy thing" but firecrackers is something that we Baby Boomers grew up with.

Back in the day - on Oahu - we didn't need no stinkin' permit to purchase firecrackers.  We just needed someone over 18 years of age.  And it was simple then: Baby Camel or Checkerbombs.  Oh yeah, and "cracker balls".  Do you remember cracker balls?  Little colored balls about the size of a small jawbreaker.  Came in a square box similar to the box that mosquito punks come in.  Cracker balls were made out of what looked like paper mache and had little gray rocks inside them.  We'd throw them on the concrete floor hard enough so they'd pop.  Sometimes we'd have to give some stubborn ones a few overhand throws to the floor until they'd pop.  I always wanted to try shooting them against a wall with a slingshot - but we weren't allowed to have slingshots.  I don't know what ever happened to cracker balls.  My dad said they looked too much like candy and little kids were getting hurt by biting on them - so they banned them.

I remember on the days leading up to new years eve, we'd have our cigar boxes filled with stripped apart "Camel" firecrackers and our coffee cans with stripped apart Duck checkerbombs.  And we'd have some of our older model ships/airplanes/cars all set up with firecrackers taped on them ready for the big day when we could blow them up.

My dad always had to work a full day on new years eve and even though popping firecrackers was allowed after 1:00 PM back then - we weren't allow to light 'em up until my dad got home - which was a 4:20 PM.  On that day, we'd be sitting on the side of the street where he got dropped off from his carpool and watch every car come down the street until his carpool driver showed up.  As soon as he got out of the car and gave us the green light - we'd be running into the house to grab our stash and light our punks.  Since it was still daylight then, we'd always start off light - with the "baby camel" firecrackers - saving the bigger checkerbombs for the dark of the night.  We'd burn up the "baby camels"first -kind of like a prelude to blasting off the checkerbombs.

Then it was time to take out the checkerbombs and all the plastic models that we had set up for demolition.  Blowing up all those plastic models was the best!  Light it, run back and watch all the plastic pieces fly around the yard.  Then walk up to it and check out the damage to it.  Sometimes it called for another firecracker strategically placed to make sure the whole thing was in ruins.  Boy, those were some happy times!

Ever had a firecracker blow up in your hand?  Of course you did - it's a part of growing up, right?  I remember throwing the checkerbombs into the air trying to time it just right so it'd explode in the air instead of landing on the ground.  So I'd light the fuse, hold it for a bit, then throw it as high as I could.  Each time I'd try to hold it longer and longer, feeling braver and braver, until - BAM!  Right in my hand.  A little scared - and with my ear ringing loudly - I'd gently put out the punk, head into the house, and turn on the TV acting as though I was taking a break.  Actually, I was waiting for the feeling to return to my fingers and for my ear to stop ringing.  As I looked down at my fingers - I notice them all silver from the firecracker powder.  I go to the bathroom and quickly wash it all off before anyone notices it and teases me about having a firecracker going off in my hand.  Like I said - it's just a part of growing up.

Then as night fell - we'd have the small "throw packs" of firecrackers that we'd be tossing up into the air.  None of this single firecracker thing as it was night - time for the "throw packs".  And as midnight rolled around, we'd have some of the longer packs to blast on the street.  We never did get the long strings with the bomb on the end, but our neighbor always did.  And we'd make sure we walked to the end of the street to watch his long string go off and wait for the huge bomb on the end to mark the finale.

Any favorite firecracker stories?  I remember one time I was playing firecrackers in the back yard and looking for stuff to blow up.  The neighbor's avocado tree had dropped some avocados in our yard that looked pretty tempting.  I just had to try it.  Stuck my firecracker into the old rotten avocado, lit the fuse, ran back and watched it explode!  Whoa!  That thing disintegrated!  Then I looked up at the bed sheet that our neighbor had hanging on their clothesline - splattered with rotten avocado.  Oops.  Time to put out the punk and nonchalantly slip into the house, turn on the TV, and act like I'm taking a break.  And don't play firecrackers in the back yard for the rest of that new years eve.

What used to be hard to take for us living on Oahu, was the KTA Stores TV commercials that advertised not only firecrackers, but roman candles, bottle rockets, and other aerial fireworks that was illegal on Oahu.  We'd hear so many stories of friends who spent the new years eve holiday with relatives on Maui or the Big Island and how much fun they had shooting of the aerials.  Ho, those country hicks - they sure had it good.

Come on you FBI (From Big Island) folks - tell us how much fun you guys had playing with the rockets and stuff.  Make us Oahu folks all J.

Today's fireworks are weak compared to what we had back then.  The paperless firecrackers make about the same amount of noise as the "baby camels" used to.  If you want the original Duck Brand checkerbombs, you have to pay the man for a permit - which is a racket IMHO.  And have you noticed a lot more illegal aerials nowadays than before time?
Here's my theory on why that is:  It's a hassle to fill out the form and pay for the permit to buy the good stuff - I mean the checkerbombs - so people go to the black-market to get them.  But then their connection says that besides the boxes of 10,000 and 20,000 - they also have aerials - from penny rockets to mortars to professional grade stuff.  So the buyer figures that since he's gone through all the trouble of meeting up with his uncle's sister-in-law's neighbor's nephew - he might as well pick up some aerials too.  Now if the city would just get rid of the firecracker permit scam and let people buy firecrackers like they used to, they wouldn't go through all the hassle of going to the black-market route and in turn, wouldn't have the opportunity to purchase aerials.  If it's just about the money - then tax the fireworks with stickers the same way that cigarettes are taxed - but make it easy to purchase firecrackers and the aerial black-market will subside.  That's my take on it.  ** stepping off the soapbox now **

There is one no-permit-required novelty firework that is pretty good.  It's the Ground Blooming Flower with Report.  These puppies spin and shoot out multi-colored sparks like the others - except this one pops at the end.  And because of the size of the Ground Blooming Flower - it's a LOUD pop.  But you have to make sure it says "with Report" because the "report" is the pop.  Some are just spinners and some will spin then crackle - and you'll have to pick up all the burnt ones after they're done.  But the ones with "report" just explode to smithereens so there is no rubbish to pick up.  Oh, and did I mention that they are LOUD?

 

So what are some of your firecracker memories?  Were you fortunate enough to play with aerials?  Did you do naughty things that got you or almost got you in trouble - like blowing up rotten avocados?  Do you still pop firecrackers today to keep the tradition alive?  And do you know someone's brother's uncle's next-door-neighbor's ex-wife's kid-sister's niece who can score some illegal stuff from?  Share your firecracker stories with us.

My stash.

Remember the anxiety of waiting for Christmas morning to come so you could open all your presents?  The days leading up to Christmas would seem to go slower and slower as Christmas day got closer and closer.  Remember picking up and shaking your presents - trying to get an idea of what's inside?  Taking inventory daily to see if any new presents might have arrived?  Planning your strategy of which presents to open first and which ones to save for last?

How about Christmas traditions?  When I was a kid, we used to go to church on Christmas eve night for candlelight service.  Those were the best because that meant we got to hold a candle (and play with fire).  Then after that, we'd head home and get ready for bed - just so the morning would come sooner and we'd get to open our presents.

But first, one tradition was that we would open 1 present before going to bed.  Of course we had it all planned out days before of what that present would be.  It was the one from the uncle/auntie that always gave us clothes.  Mine would always be too small for me, and my older brother's one would be just my size.  We could tell just from the size, weight, and feel of the present that it was a clothes box.  And a quick shake confirmed it.  My theory was that if I opened a good present the night before, I'd want to play with it and not go to sleep.  So open the junk one as the-night-before-gift so it's out of the way and I wouldn't get too excited to fall asleep.  Why even bother to open a gift the night before knowing that it's a junk one?  Tradition, I guess.  btw, this was when I was just an ungrateful kid when the motto was: Toys, good.  Clothes, junk.

As I got older - 11 years old to be exact - I remember this version of T'was the Night Before Christmas.  I must have had the poster or something because I can remember pretty well.  But before you read it, remember - this was back in 1969 - when love, peace, and drugs were "in".

---

Ole Saint Narc

a parody by John Rock
Berkeley Free Press 1969

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the Pad,
there was nothing much happening, a real bummer, “Dad”,
Our Hookas were hung by the fireplace with care,
and a thick pungent smoke was filling the air.

Now Ma in her headset had just popped a Cap
and was laid in her bed, where she started to Rap.
The children were loaded on bennies and reds,
and visions of acid cubes danced in their heads.

From out on the lawn we heard a great crash,
pulled up the window and threw out the stash!
Then POW!, in an instant I heard it again,
We thought maybe someone had called “The Man”!

Instead, there he was, a hash pipe jammed 'tween his teeth,
and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath!
He kicked down the door screaming “Freeze, it's a BUST!”
and my ole lady shouted, “Hell, who can you trust?!”

But then he assured us it was only a gag,
after we’d already thrown out the bag!
His threads were all tarnished from ashes and smoke,
but he fired up a number and offered a toke.

He was pale and anemic, if not underfed,
and his eyes were like pinwheels that spun in his head!
What a bundle of junk he had flung over his back,
He looked like a pusher when he opened his sack.

We offered some acid, his answer was “No”,
we could see he was skinny from snorting the Snow!
Then he laid out his presents down next to the tree,
a kilo of “Gold” and some great LSD!

Some Uppers for Ma and some Downers for ME!
He was surely Saint Narc and we had to agree,
“Sorry I’m late folks but “man am I beat!”
I’m really exhausted from dodging the heat.

I was high over Reno up in the Blue,
when they started to tail me in a B-52!
It was aerial combat with a big flying Pig,
but I made it to Frisco to finish my Gig.

Then laying a finger aside his red nose,
he sniffed six rails of coke and a cap of No-Doze.
He ran to his craft, not a reindeer and sleigh,
but a giant balloon that went up and away,

And we heard him exclaim as he flew in the night,
“Stay stoned till next year, you’re all “OUTTA SIGHT!”

---

I told you it was from that druggie/hippie era.  One song that reminds me of Christmas day is Liz Damon's 1900 Yesterday.  Actually, the whole album does.  I believe I bought this LP for the family one Christmas.  Actually, it was mostly for me.  And as you know, whenever you get a new album - you play it over and over, again and again, side A and side B.  I guess I must have over did it as hearing that song reminds me of Christmas morning - after the presents are all opened and everyone is laid back, busy messing with their new stuff. 

Do any of you remember downtown during Christmas time?

Fort Street mall 1969

Fort Street mall 1971

I remember seeing pictures of a downtown street during Christmas time with lights and decorations strung across the street from one side to the other.  I tried looking for those pictures, but unfortunately all I found was the Fort Street mall ones.  My Big Bro was telling me that King St. used to have lights or decorations strung across it all the way to Kaimuki.  Does that ring a bell for anyone?

Kaimuki is an old town.  I could image lights and decorations strung across Waialae avenue.  Does that jog anyone's memory?

---

How about Christmas parades?  When I used to work at Windward Volkswagen, I used to stand alongside the gas pumps on an early Saturday evening and watch the Kailua Santa Claus parade go by.  I'd look for anyone I know marching in the Kailua High School band.  Then later after we moved to town and had our 2 girls, we'd make it a point to attend the Liliha Christmas parade - always on the day after Thanksgiving.  Paula once marched in that parade with the Kawananakoa band so it has a special meaning to her.  Me, I go for the candy.  For the kids, of course. 

How about it?  What are your Christmas memories?  Did you have certain Christmas traditions when you were small?  Do you have Christmas traditions today - maybe some of the same ones you passed on to your children?  Is there a certain gift you remember getting one Christmas that was so special that you still remember it to this day - like the Liz Damon LP I bought for myself? Okay, it wasn't so special then, but because it reminds me of that Christmas morning, it's special to me today.

I'll be taking Friday off for the day-after-Christmas sales so there probably won't be a Friday entry.  Please feel free to continue commenting on the Do You Remember...Toys? entry or posting what cool presents you received to this entry.

But before I go, I want to wish all the MLCers:

 

 

Toyland, toyland,
little girl and boy land,
when you dwell within it,
you are ever happy there.

Childhood toyland,
mystical merry toyland,
once you pass it's borders,
you can never return again.

We all passed it's borders a long, long time ago, but I'm going to return you back to toyland.
Do you remember the toys you grew up with?  Toys you received for Christmas?  Or your birthday?  Or maybe for no special reason?  Come on, let's take a visit in the MLC Toyland:

Lincoln Logs - I remember getting this for Christmas

Tinkertoy - I got the Lincoln Logs, my brother got Tinkertoy

Mattel "Crackfire" Winchester rifle - Santa brought me this one

Hot Wheels - Remember the familiar orange track with the purple connectors?

Spirograph - I used to spend hours with this thing

Electric Football - This was about as high-tech as it got

View-Master - The scenery pictures were okay, but the cartoons were the best

Lite-Brite - I never had one, but did play with the neighbor's one once

Coon Cap - My 2 older brothers made my mom look all over town for this.  Right, big bro?

Mr. Potato Head - You know this one is vintage - he still has his pipe

    
Do you remember the other Vegetable Heads?  They kind of creep me out now

Gumby & Pokey - Played with them until the copper wire poked through

Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots - Our day version of robotics

Easy-Bake Oven- I didn't forget about the girls

Trolls - Another one for the girls

Pick Up Sticks - Seeing these containers brings back memories

Whee-Lo - Hours and hours of mindless fun

Wizzzer - Man, I loved this toy

Barrel of Monkeys - Remember playing this game?  Loved the storage container too

Time Bomb - This was another fun game.  I imagine this game would be banned today

Monster Magnet - Remember this toy?

Rat Fink - For all you hot rodder's

Panasonic 8-Track Player - Not really a toy, but had to throw this one in

Okay, those pictures should've shaken up your toy memories.  What toys do you recall from your small kid days.  Not necessarily a toy that you owned, but maybe a neighbor's toy that you always played with.  Or a favorite toy at your pre-school/sitter's house.  Or that cool toy at your cousin's house.  Why is it that the cousins always had better toys than us?  I remember my small-kid-time friend (and his brother) both having their own Panasonic 8-Track player.  I thought it was so cool.  Share with us what are some of the toys you remember growing up with.  We can add them to the MLC Toyland memories.

Special mahalo to Shoyu Burner for the topic idea.

The holidays are a joyous time.  But they can also be a lonely time.  I received the following email earlier this week:

Rodney,

I'm a mom in my early 50's and I am experiencing the "Empty Nest" syndrome.  My son (who I dedicated my earlier life to), doesn't need me like he did when he was younger. I've concentrated so much on my son's life for the past 18 years, that I did not pay much attention to my life.  Now that I have a lot of time on my hands, I need to work on my social life, but I need people to be social with.  Where can I find women my age to do things with? Where can a women my age meet men without going on the internet dating service?  Are there any social spots for people our age? Any suggestions?

Thanks,
No Social Life

I emailed her back, first of all applauding her for devoting a big part of her life to raise her son.  Then I ask her if I could use her email as a blog topic, in which she graciously approved.  She then added:

Some of us are at a very low vulnerable stage in our lives, where most others our age are happy and enjoying the fruits of their labor (looking forward to retiring and relaxing). To everything, there is a good and an ugly side and in this case, middle age is no exception. Middle age is when you reflect upon your life so far and ask yourself, "Do I really want to live the rest of my life out this way or do I want to change"? Some of us don't have the choice of change. It's a time where some of us experience the "empty nest" syndrome, caring for our elderly parents, dealing with death, having to deal with our own failing health issues, the Big "M" (menopause for women), the Big "D" (divorce), starting all over again, being alone and lonely, struggling making ends meet, and opening our eyes to see if we really do have enough to retire on or not. It's times like these that some of us wish we had someone to share it with.  I hope your blog can help some of us deal with these issues much better knowing that we are not alone and that we can make friends by blogging and by physically meeting others going through similar situations.

Thanks again and bless you.

Happy Holidays,
Over 50

Wow.  Sometimes we take for granted that everyone is happy during the holiday season.  And we don't think about the ones who are longing for some company.  There was a time when I was there - back in my early 20's.  No girlfriend, no family, no friends.  It was a especially hard during Christmas and New Years when you want to share the joy of the season with someone - but you're all alone.  Back then, I considered it as "the pits".

There is one tool that's available today that wasn't available back then.  That's the internet.  Now don't get me wrong.  Communicating with someone over the internet is nothing like having a real person sitting on the sofa and sharing a conversation.  But it beats lying in bed listening to sad songs and feeling sorry for yourself (as I did).

There are blogs - such as MidLife Crisis - that you can read and post to if you feel like contributing.  I have to admit that posting to blogs or forums does give me a sense of belonging.  Just be careful of which blogs or forums you post to as some of them can be very hostile.  After following one for a while, you kind of get the feel for it and it's community.

Another tool on the internet is Twitter.  Like blogs, Twitter is a social network where people communicate with each other.  You choose who you want to follow (some will require their permission) and others will choose to follow you.  It's like a chat room where only your friends are invited.  It can also be informative too.  For example, choosing to follow Honolulu Advertiser, you can have breaking news come to you instead of you having to look for it.  Basically, it's like friends helping/teasing/informing/educating other friends.  And if one of your friends "talks too much", you can simply stop following that friend.  And just because someone is following you, you don't have to follow that person.  If that person is creeping you out, you can block that person from following you.  But be warned - Twitter can be addicting (in a good way).

But again, there is nothing like having people IRL (in real life) to talk to and perhaps share a movie or a meal with.

I did some research on the net and found some tips that can help fight off the blues during the holiday season.  Here are some suggestions for helping you to ease this time.

• Be kind to yourself. Buy yourself a Christmas present and special holiday food. Think of ways to celebrate the goodness of you.
• Go easy and have realistic expectations. Don't expect "glorious" holidays, rather look for ones of peace.
• Acknowledge your feelings of sadness and loneliness. Recognize that it is natural to want to share this time of year with someone special. Journal about it or talk it over with a friend and then find a way to let it go. Focus on something or someone else. Do not let yourself travel too far down the path of unhappiness, rather head it off at the pass. Rarely is there anything good that comes from thinking too much or letting these thoughts overwhelm you.
• Do something for another person. This can be anything from volunteering to help out in a shelter to baking cookies for neighbors. Reaching out to others, often ones in a more difficult situation than your own, can help put your own loneliness in perspective.
• Write a list of the good things about you and happening in your life right now. What do you do well? Who are your friends? What are your strengths? What would others say that they most like about you? Make copies of this list and keep it near by so that you can reach for it whenever you need to bring yourself back to a happier place.
• Make plans. If you do not have a lot of people to keep you busy ... or money to cover costs, find ways to attend events at the library, show up at a church, walk in the neighborhood where you might see other people. Get out of your home and be active. We have a friend who has organized an "Orphans' Christmas". She invites others that she knows are alone for the holidays. They all bring a small gift to open and exchange and share a meal. This tradition is now 12 years old and she has requests from others who hear about it and want to join the group.
• Remind yourself that this time does not last forever. January 1 will come and life will return to a more normal place. You have gotten through tougher times in your life. You can and will get through this as well.

I want to add that living in Hawaii helps too with our year round warm weather.  During the winter, we're not shut in due to the cold.  We continue to go to the beach, walk or jog around Magic Island, hike up Diamond Head, play tennis at the park, etc.  And like the weather, the people here are warm all year round too.  Every so often when I'm walking pass someone, if we make eye contact, I'll give a little smile to that person.  Who knows, maybe that person is having a hard time getting though the holiday season and my little gesture was just what that person needed to lift their spirits.

Come on folks.  How can we help out our fellow MLCer?  After putting her life on hold for 18 years to properly raise her son, now it is her time.  How can she meet people to be social with?  Where does one go to network with others around the same age?  Maybe the next MidLife Crisis get together?  Join a Jaycees society?  Please share your ideas or experiences.