Perfect

Yesterday afternoon I received a text from the people whom are living in my house. "Is everything ok? I had a missed call from the Kona Fire Department"

We are on a hike in Waipio Valley. This message I receive on our way back in. Of course, there is no cell service where we have been. Who knows when the message could have arrived.

I guess that would be a little unnerving - You are living 2,300 miles away and you get a call from the fire dept. Yes, a little unnerving.

Let them know, as far as I knew, everything was fine. "We are on our way back from a hike, will let you know when we get there."

"Hale" safe. (hale word for home) Text saying all is good. And then they replied "Guess it was a "false alarm" I like these people.

Today, I receive a call.

Wait, I can't remember why they called. Oh yeah, a neighbor has too many bananas and avocados, they are about to go bad - will you walk down the street and pick them up? Well, we are a long way from there, but I will call the people staying in my house. Leasa, will you go get the banana's and avocado's??? Are you kidding? Really, I didn't think there was such a thing.

Two doors down - we are not quite country living, but two doors down is well, not next door. :-)

And then I say: "How are you? How is everything?" He says: 'PERFECT'. 'We love it here, everything is PERFECT'. How can than be???? It's PERFECT out here!!!!

He then says "This worked out well". REALLY????? You are kidding me??? You are as in love with Denver as we are with Hawaii??????

No way.

I literally heard, "It's Perfect"

There are times in life when, well, it works out, well, perfect.

Wet Wednesday

Hilo, HI - East side of the island. It RAINS in Hilo. Wet, torrential down-pours - and this is normal. Hilo is very lush and green. We went to Hilo after visiting the volcano - the volcano is another story.

On to Hilo, there are 9 of us and we stay in a Seaside Hotel. Open air, window slats and window ac units. And I have to say, I love my boys. (I've said that before!). We have stayed in some really nice hotels in their life. And this one, well, location, location, location. AND it's the only hotel in Hilo still locally owned. Duncan proclaims, "This hotel is GREAT". A look at him like I was seeing him for the first time. What an incredible thought. You have a charmed little life, and you STILL like a hotel like this. Don't blame him.

Our new friends, have a "Hawaiian Family" - "Ohana" (meaning family in Hawaiian). Every Wednesday this group has a "Wet Wednesday" gathering. Uncle Norman, Aunt Bertie (traveled together singing across the US)

more later

Green Sand Beach

Yes, real sand - real green. And there is NO easy way to get there. The Southern Most Tip in the United States of America. Just to the left of there, you WALK 2.5 miles to make it to Green Sand Beach. WOW!

Still Alive

We went to the other side of the island for a few days. Have great stories to share.

Authentic Hawaiian luau.

Life is good.

Firsts

We all forget the first time we ever see something or do something. It's amazing, we just take it for granted.

Today, while on the way to the Post Office and on to the beach, there was a hitchhiker. I asked the boys if we should "pick him up". They said "no". Then Nolan said 'WOW, I've never seen a hitchhiker." Really? I completely forgot of course he probably hasn't seen one.

Lot's of firsts for this trip: The boys had never been on a plane by themselves for this long of a flight. Seen a see turtle in the ocean, while snorkeling. I asked Duncan if he had ever seen one before. His answer: At the zoo. One of those things I have taken for granted.

We went snorkeling with our new friends in the bay where I rode my first wave and earned my first black eye.

Firsts......

Day 1 - Take Two

Not sure what really happens when I have others "energy" to bounce off of. WHAM! That's what happens.

Boys are due to arrive yesterday at 2:45. I'm picking up my new friend Al - I'm going to wear the hula skirt and he's going to take pictures. In Hawaii, I should really know better than to think something is going to be THAT simple.

Lily, Al's daughter, wants to go with us. We will then meet Barney, his girlfriend, her kids at Kua bay, just North of the airport. Perfect.

Lily is a good sport - and she wears the grass skirt and coconuts. I wear the Hawaiian wrap. I had picked the fresh pineapple from the garden, cored them. They are in the car.

We are in the cell phone parking lot. We see their plane land. Lily and I walk to the pick up area, with fresh lei's, and fresh pineapple drinks. The boys aren't going to know what happened.

Their look was cute. What the heck? Hope the picture really shows it.

From there, we are headed to the beach. But first, let's stop and take a picture of a goat. Then let's stop and climb down a lava tube. Quite amazing....

THEN, we make it to the beach. Ride some waves. The biggest waves ever and play on the beach until sunset.

Can we stop then??? One clan goes home, my car is loaded with Al, Lily, Duncan, Nolan and Katy. Back to our hale.

Spagetthi for all and hot tub for the kids. Then I go drop Al, Lily and Katy at their hale and the boys unpack. WOW!

Can you say one busy day??????

The boys asked already if we have to leave.......

If I were a betting woman.....

I would bet I have met the girl whom one of the boys will share their first kiss. Her name is Lily. She won the 1.2 mile open water swim - her first open water swim. She's beautiful and was very excited to hear I have two boys her age. She's 12, going into seventh grade. She will first be attracted to Duncan, and then she will like Nolan. There is a heartbreak here just waiting to happen.

I met her Uncle Barney. Yes, Barney is his name. Barney's sister lives in Park City and used to be marred to Lily's dad. Lily's dad (Al) lives here. Let's just say, Al's not so bad to look at either.

Barney - his parents founded Motown records. I'm not making this up.  I couldn't make this up.

Uncle Barney introduced me to Al. We are picking the boys up at the airport tomorrow and going to a local beach.

And here tonight, I was just thinking - I really need someone to go with me to the airport tomorrow. After all, I did buy a grass skirt and coconut shells to wear to pick up the boys. Someone needs to get a picture of their face........ :-)