Post by Brian on Dec 25, 2023 0:00:26 GMT -8
Beyond her role as a longtime Montrose Peace Vigil regular, Justeen Ward has been a raconteur in varied musical acts including Daddio & Angel with Andy Corwin and The Honey-Lulus with Kate Friedricks -- both of whom she's brought to the corner to sing and play at vigils over the years. Kate left the state, and now Justeen partners with James Hendricks as The Tiki Lulus. Justeen also produces videos on her You Tube channel, masterfully depicting all kinds of events while conveying their spirit in less than two minutes. Recently, she posted this video of James and her performing at the Montrose Peace Vigil on October 6, 2023:
This is what I wrote later that night:
Inspired by the heat in the mid-90's, longtime vigil regular Justeen Ward loaded her car in southwestern-most Van Nuys with fellow musician and singer James Hendricks, two ukuleles, a squeezebox and a kazoo, then headed for the intersection of Honolulu and Ocean View to play at this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil. Dressed in Hawaiian costumes and bearing a bag full of leis and faux grass skirts for their audience, they performed "retro-tiki" Hawai'ian songs on the corner to the delight of passersby, frozen yogurt eaters and every kid in sight. (We've long been fans of Justeen and her group The Honey-Lulus on this message board.)
We obviously were in great spirits that evening despite the heat and the usual but seemingly ordinary bad news of that day. We swayed and danced by the sea, or at least a road sign reading Honolulu. Of course, everybody knows what happened the next day, October 7, yet another date that will live in infamy. But thanks to Justeen, we have a loving artifact of a time that doesn't just reside in the past -- it should point to a future of warmth and light in peace and joy.
This is what I wrote later that night:
We obviously were in great spirits that evening despite the heat and the usual but seemingly ordinary bad news of that day. We swayed and danced by the sea, or at least a road sign reading Honolulu. Of course, everybody knows what happened the next day, October 7, yet another date that will live in infamy. But thanks to Justeen, we have a loving artifact of a time that doesn't just reside in the past -- it should point to a future of warmth and light in peace and joy.