Hawaii Update
(photo found here)
Hi Everyone,
It’s Tuesday afternoon now…we had an AWESOME day today. We got up early and went on a kayaking tour, which meant kayaking out about a mile in the ocean to a little bird sanctuary in Kailua Bay, getting a short lecture on the formation of the Hawaiian Islands (interesting!), lunch and a swim, then kayaking down to a wonderful beach, where we did some snorkeling, and saw lots of beautiful fish. I have the say, the area that we were at today was SO MUCH nicer than the super-crowded Waikiki beach, which is closer to where we’re staying in Honolulu. It wasn’t crowded, the sand was soft and white, and the water was really calm and nice. We’re all worn out now, though, and even though I applied sunscreen 3 times, I burned. Dang. I wore a hat and sunscreen and sunglasses and everything. Next time, maybe I’ll wear pants and a shirt. 😉
Tonight is pizza night at the condo, meaning they bring in pizza for everyone who wants it. After today, we’re not too excited about the idea of foraging for food, so pizza at the condo sounds perfect.
For some reason, I was thinking of my mom a lot today. Thinking of how sick she was, thinking of her last few weeks of life. Trying to get my head around the idea that she’s really gone. I guess it’s like my sister told me, that grief goes in spirals. You go through one spiral, and you feel better, and then it kind of starts over again. Today was a start over day, not with the sobbing and crying, but just that feeling of not really understanding how this could happen. Not really believing that it has happened. But the snorkeling and the physical work of kayaking, that was a good balm for what ails me, and the hot tub when I got back didn’t hurt, either.
The wifi in our room is troublesome, and it’s hard to post. Right now I’m in the lobby, using a computer to say hello. After a lovely day like today, I couldn’t not check in with you. Now it’s time to get back to the laundry that I’m doing, and maybe start a new book. I read “Purple Hibiscus” on Sunday and Monday, and really liked it, but you’ll have to wait for a review on that one.
Aloha!
~J
12 Comments
Cherry
Ohhhh! I’ve heard wonderful things about those kayaking tours. I totally want to go on one or five. I’m sorry you still ended up with a burn, like I said in my email… now you must moisturize AND apply sunscreen! I can’t wait to see how dark and lovely all you kids are when you get back… just not red…red isn’t really the goal.
lilalia
The photo, the description of your day was just beautiful. What a marvelous way to travel. About shirt and pants, that really is the only way to go. When we sail in Grenada, where my mother lives, we always buy some cheap cotton pjs and still use the sun screen. That is a lot of sun rays reflecting off the water.
I hope that you manage to travel those spirals of grief alongside your sister and husband and friends. As long as you have someone with you, the journey does get easier, not less, but just easier.
Autumn's Mom
The kayaking trip sounds great 🙂 I’m glad you had a wonderful day. It think this trip is going to be soo good for you, to have down time to just sit and think and work things out in your mind and heart. Let is wash over you…and then away out to sea.
It’s great to hear from you when you are gone..I miss you 🙂
Starshine
Wow…the beach where you were snorkeling sounds fabulous! I’m so sorry that you are going through such a sad loss right now. Hawaii sounds like a good place to be with your family for such a season. Sending love and hugs from the mainland.
Aloha!
lalunas
That Kayaking sounds so much fun. The water there is so beautiful and refreshing. I could stay in it all day. Except you get a whooping burn. So glad you guys have this opportunity to get away and just have a feel good vacation.
Enjoy, enjoy…
Linda Atkins
Thanks for thinking of us while you’re on vacation. It sounds really, really nice. It is bittersweet, so much beauty and your mom not here.
bleeding espresso
Julie, I’ve been away from bloghopping for a while as I was enjoying, ironically, a long visit with my mom, so I just read of your mom’s passing. I’m so very, very sorry for your loss. I hope those gorgeous sun rays and waves are easing the pain for you even a bit.
msammma
the way you reflect about your mom: it’s beautiful and i know after my brother died, it didn’t seem real and it still doesn’t sometimes. there is therapy in things like kayaking etc. my mother became an incredible wheat free baker after he died. angel food cakes as high as the sky. sending you healing thoughts. xo
Chrissy
Hi, J! I wasn’t sure if you’d be posting while you were away. So glad I popped by! Sounds like you guys are having a great time 🙂 Sorry you burned! My husband always burns even if he applies sunscreen and wears a baseball cap.
Hope this time away, relaxing and taking in the sights and stimulating all your sense in such a beautiful place helps you.
One of our friends is in the hospital as I type. She was diagnosed with cancer that had been in her for 3 years undetected. Then she was misdiagnosed (they were giving her chemo for ovarian cancer, when she really had colon cancer). Now no chemo can help her and the doctors are giving her two weeks to live. I was with her in the hospital yesterday, but with my stupid pregnant hormones acting up all the time, I had such a hard time being there for her without breaking down in tears. I know that’s the last thing she needs right now. Gah! Knowing that you are going to lose someone you care about is so hard. She’s been positive and has come to grips with dying. She is such a wonderful woman.
Anyway, sending you lots and lots of warm, healing thoughts. xoxo
J
Oh Chrissy! That’s HORRID. I’m so so sorry for your friend’s illness. I cannot imagine how hard this must be for her, and for you, and for her family. You will be in my thoughts.
Angie
That picture is breath-taking. I just finished reading, A Year of Magical Thinking, thanks for the suggestion, I loved it.
V-Grrrl
I’m glad you’re there. You so needed this.