Grow Through Life Experiences

Written by Wally Amos  4 Comments

As I deal with the changes and transitions of my life after closing both Chip & Cookie stores in Hawaii, I am reminded of a quote by the late, Great, J. T. O’Hara, “When you are going through hell, do not stop to take pictures”.   I firmly believe the thing we must do is learn to GROW through our life experiences.  Extract the lessons and insert them into our future experiences.  We are still a work in progress.  By the way, J. T. was not famous, however, she was a lady of much wisdom and a great big heart.  We can also learn a lesson from the Quaker quote, “When you pray, move your feet.”  Leave the pity party behind and get on with your life.  BE POSITIVE REGARDLESS!!

Aloha,

Wally

My Kazoo

Written by Wally Amos  13 Comments

I recently ran across a photo of myself in 1986 in Japan opening a store with a kazoo salute.  I look pretty good in that picture.  Not so much grey hair.  But the kazoo is disappointing.  Just a standard old metal kazoo.  Now I’ve moved up to a hand-made wooden kazoo layered in bright colors.

 I am virtually never without my kazoo.  I wear it on a ribbon around my neck so as to always be ready to announce my presence, cheer a child or just amuse myself.  In my baking, I consider my kazoo-playing an important “secret ingredient” to the process, second only to the love I put in everything I make. 

 It is often said that the kazoo’s closest relative is the African horn-mirliton, with a tube made from the horn of a cow and a membrane consisting of the egg-shells of spiders.  Horn-mirlitons were used by witch doctors as far back as tribal history can trace.  There are also pretty substantial rumors that place Roman military kazoo bands leading Caesar’s legions against the Celtic hordes of Vercingetorix in 52 BC.   Pretty impressive history for such a modest instrument.

 I’ve used kazoos not only in Japan but all over.  In 1972 I celebrated my birthday in Winter Park, Florida, by visiting the children’s ward at the local hospital for a one-man kazoo concert.  In 1976, on a promotional tour in Tucson, Arizona, I ducked into a Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlor and recruited some of their employees to play kazoos in an impromptu marching band announcing the arrival of a freshly made cookie which was carried on a satin pillow through the mall to a local department store. 

 In 2009, I was Grand Marshal of the 4^th of July Parade in Kailua, Hawai‘i, complete with a Kazoo Band.   In 2010, I “kazooed” in Malaysia.  And last week, at a private dinner in the home of some friends, I quietly slipped away to their kitchen to whip up a batch of cookies for dessert, announcing their exit from the oven with a rousing kazoo fanfare.

 The kazoo is not often found in classical music, a rare exception being David Bedford‘s “With 100 Kazoos.”  Rather than being played by trained musicians, kazoos are handed out to members of the audience, who accompany a professional instrumental ensemble. 

 I feel I have been training all my life and can’t wait to attend a performance!  It makes me smile just thinking about it.

See Spot Run

Written by Wally Amos  13 Comments

What do you want your legacy to be?  I can tell you with certainty that fame and fortune are not what I have in mind, and I’ve had both.  I would like to be remembered as a good father to my children.  I would like to be remembered as a baker who put happiness and love into every cookie and muffin.  Most of all, however, I want to be remembered for helping to create a more literate society.

My commitment to ending illiteracy has been a lifelong journey, and a personal one, because my parents were both illiterate.  I know that the only way we are ever going to get rid of the problem of adult illiteracy is to create an entire generation of kids who love to read.

And, as important as good schools and excellent teachers are to a child’s education, the love of reading does not begin with, “See Spot run.”  It begins with funny stories of animals that can talk, and fairy-tale journeys that chronicle super-natural powers.  It begins with happy endings.  That is why I helped create the Read It LOUD! Foundation, which encourages parents to read aloud to their children for 10 minutes every day.

Read stories filled with happiness and wonderment.   Expose your children to tales of adventure and emotion.

In your heart you know that no kid really cares whether Spot runs or not.  But they can get very emotionally invested in cheering for the little mouse whose brave escapades result in winning the cheese.

If you want to leave behind something truly worth being remembered for, make your legacy a child who loves to read.