Aloha! From My Neck of the Woods

I love Fall.  It is, by far, my favorite season.

Roasting hot dogs and marshmallows at night over a fire.

Celebrating Halloween with our neighbors.

Keeping my eyes peeled for 6 foot tall red-headed leprechans.  'Tis the season!

But this Fall has been a little blah so far.  No leprechan sightings.  Kind of rainy.  One week it's hot and then suddenly it changes to cold.  I'm overwhelmed with making sure 3 kids have the right type of clothes to wear.  That means digging through bins and bins of hand-me-downs to decide what fits and what does not.  Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful to "go shopping" for next season's wardrobe in my basement, but it's just a tedious job that creates a week's worth of clutter.  I know....I can hear you feeling sorry for me.  Boo hoo!  We all do it.  Suck it up.

Another reason this Fall is kind of blah is....guess where I was this time LAST Fall?  Now you are really going to feel sorry for me. 

Hawaii. 

Aloha folks!

Yes, folks, that's where I was.  Guess where I am this week?  The Cub Scouts Raingutter Regatta and a PTA meeting.  Now, where would you rather be?  Watching 45 boys propel wooden boats down a rain gutter with their own breath or cruising along Hanalei Bay in a convertible Mustang?  Yeah, that's what I said too.  Although this Scout is awful cute.  Maybe I can buy some popcorn from him. 

Thanks Amy for this awesome shot!

My trip to Hawaii wasn't just a fun-filled sunshiney get-away.  Well, ok, it was.  BUT, it was so much more than that.  I went with my mom.  We are very close.  She lived in Hawaii twice and there is a lot of history there for her.  History that I hear about all the time.  All the time.  History that I had a very hard time understanding until I saw it. 

The place where she first met my Dad.  And I mean, I saw the steps in front of a building where she first laid eyes on him.  The church where they were married.  Her highschool.  My aunt's elementary school.  The street where all of the cross-dressers hung out....um, yes, my mom's stepdad thought this was hilarious so I got to see that too.  Hotel Street in Waikiki, in case you are visiting. 

My mom always, always calls me when there is a show on about Hawaii.  I don't always listen.  She knows that.  But, when I saw Rabbit Island for the first time, in person, I was amazed.  And, I'll never forget, she smiled and said "You'll never think of it the same way again."  She is right.  Now I've seen it--and one day I can call my kids and pester them about Diamond Head and China Man's Hat.  Haha, get ready, because I deserve it after all of the crayon marks I've wiped off walls this week!

SEE!  It really DOES look like a rabbit peeking up out of the water!

What a trip!  What an experience!  How nice to eat a hot meal and not have to cut up someone else's meat!  And, ice cream....all to myself!!

Did I miss my kids?  Absolutely!  Did I enjoy my break from them?  ABSOLUTELY!  As I'm sure they enjoyed their break from me. 

The beauty of the islands astounded me.  I really had no idea how colorful and vibrant the landscape was.  The air even felt cleaner.  Well, since we are one of the smoggiest cities around, I'm sure any air feels cleaner.  Check out this plumeria.  Growing on a volcano.  Surrounded by dead grass and trees.  Sprouting out of lava.  How determined!  It's just amazing!

After 8 days in Hawaii, of course I missed my kids.  And my husband.  Although I think he had a new found appreciation for me when I returned.  It's since worn off, so maybe I should plan another trip?  Yeah, that's just not in the cards any time soon. 

Although it sounds corny, one of the most beautiful sights was when I returned home.  My husband picked us up at the airport and I sat in the front seat.  I turned around and saw my kids.  Baby girl with her hair that had finally started to grow....in a pony tail on top of her head sticking up straight like a candle.  Middle child with donut on his face and dirty jogging pants.  And Second Grader with bushy hair in need of a trim.  Smiling at me with shy but giggly faces. 

So, this Fall, as I feel a little melancholy, I will look through my Hawaii pictures and share them with my kids.  I will tell them stories about our trip....and answer 80 million questions.  I can only imagine what questions this picture will prompt....

It's a guy.  Wearing a suit made entirely of newspaper.  Reading a newspaper.  This may be our new Halloween costume.  At least it will be cheap!

 

Aloha!  And, Happy Fall!