The only thing different about getting a baby ready for their Blessing a million years ago–or 52 to be exact–and doing the same thing today, was that when you took the picture back then, it was in black and white–like the whole world was back then.
As you can see they still had the hand made shawls and poofy white dresses and the flowery little hats. Then the family comes together at the church and the baby is given a name and a blessing. The name I was given was Meliauna Kirby…and no, I’m not Polynesian. My father loves Hawaii and he was in a mood. So that was that.
Mom had the last word though, and insisted on calling me Launi. I’m thinking it must have suited me better. At any rate, it was easier to pronounce. And so…as you know…
it stuck.































