Sunday Funday Car Wash

It was another busy day at McCully Union Service Station. Our players and parents worked hard all day. The big rushes were early in the day (mid-morning) and lunch hour. When things are humming and everybody's working together, it's like a machine now.

In all, we grossed more than $1,400. Figure in expenses (the $325 fee, food, a few more car wash tools) and we had a net profit of $1,075 $1,125 (preliminary math!). That includes a lot of tips, mango sales (the mangos came from the Murobayashi hale) and two very generous donations from Mrs. Chang and another lady who showed up just to vacuum her car. She wound up not getting her car washed, but decided to donate to us anyway.

It's not easy for young people to grasp how much they inspire grownups just by working hard and having a great spirit of joy, but that's what our Thunder kids do quite often. Usually without even knowing it.

Early in the day, we almost had a shut-down situation because HECO shut off power on the street (and to the gas station) and closed it off because a utility pole and electrical lines were being changed. But we found a way to keep washing cars without interfering with their work on the sidewalk.

Today's work was smooth for the most part. We're chipping away at the expenses — more than $10,000 in uniforms, post-game food, and league and tournament fees for the 18U, 17U, 15U, 13U and 12U, and more than $18,000 for the 13U Road Trip this week. We'll be consistent and keep working.

MAJOR HUGE MAHALOS to all our parents who chipped in once again with their labor of love for their children and all of the kids on our teams. The sweat, the equipment, the long hours in the sun — they all add up to another successful day because of our moms and dads, and even brothers and sisters.

Finally, please keep Sierra's grandpa in your prayers. He had a fall today and had to go to the hospital. Sierra's dad (Eric) went there in the afternoon and stayed. He's 88, works in the yard every day and is pretty strong for a man his age. Hopefully, he heals up well and avoids any more falls.