And I cannot even begin to tell you how ready I am for this trip.
This is Oahu's North Shore. And it is not the only place I will be going. My dear sister Cheryl is wrapping up the last year of her naval enlistment and lives on this island. She's been asking me to visit for a few years now. A month or so ago, I found an amazing deal online and bought the ticket.
Surprised me, too! {But, remember ... I have a free place to stay and Cheryl and I are budget eaters.}
I have not taken a vacation quite like this in a long, long time. In fact, my last "away from the mainland trips" have been missions focused. When I told Cheryl that I was coming, she didn't think twice. She said she would put in immediately for leave and we would do anything I wanted.
Anything?
Amongst our list of tentative plans .... a tea ceremony at a monastery, watching the surfers practice on the North Shore, a Mai Tai cruise, kayaking & snorkeling, a trip to the volcanoes, fabulous eating, even more fabulous shopping ... and visiting a coffee shop that Mrs. Ronna PROMISES will be worth our time. ;p
And beach time. So much beach time.
Coincidentally, snorkeling does not excite me. In fact, it scares me. Weird, huh? I wonder if there's a snorkeling specific phobia. I've told Cheryl exactly 54 3/4 times that I do NOT want to see sharks and that if God put it under the sea and we cannot see it with our naked eye, then there is a REASON for that. But I love my sister and she promises, promises, promises that we will be in such shallow water that if I REALLY wanted to, I could probably just sit down and wait for the fish to come. Just when I had come to the conclusion, at her experienced cajoling ~she is the YOUNGER sister ~ that it wouldn't be so bad, she asked if I wanted to see sea turtles. Well, that actually sounded fabulous and I told her as much. Then, in a way only younger sisters can do, she quickly told me that,
"that'sgreattheseaturtlesareindeepwatersowe'llhavetoswimoutalittlewaysand
there'saslightchancewemightseesomesharks. . . . "
Scaaary. I do NOT want to be eaten by one of these things! But I DO want to get out of this little town for a little while, so I guess I'll take the chance.
November 3rd through November 11th. That's when I'm going.
I've already started my packing list ....
Hey! I have a really big suitcase that I could just squeeze into - and I'd swing the extra bag charge, too. I could also act as Shark Bodyguard, as I saw a few in my scuba days, and they are just big fish, especially if you stay about half a mile away, they look tiny! I'm a bit envious. Just know that Portland is a good place to be, and I know of a nice couple that like to have starving grad students over for free meals and such. Who knows? I was looking at the same program...
It was good to see you this Sunday. I am so jealous of your trip. I would love to go somewhere like that. You definitely deserve. So enjoy it for me too :) Oh and you remind me of me. I would so have packing list right now too.
I think you'll be fine just doing a little bit of snorkeling....I had never done it and was a little bit scared on our honeymoon, but it was fun and we saw amazing fish that I had only seen in one of those expensive fish tanks at the doctors office! If you do go, take an underwater camera so we can see what you saw. It will be fun I promise. And if you think of it, send me a postcard!!
Oh I am so perfectly happy for you and glad to hear this...you most certainly are over-do for a vacation such as this...
Have the absolute time of you life, my dear...
The BEST THING about the water in Hawaii? You can be out there where it is 50 feet deep and you can see the bottom. How cool is that? I swear. It's true. That's why I love it so much. Snorkel. You will never forgive yourself if you don't. I never saw a shark, but I saw LOTS AND LOTS of sea turtles and they are AMAZING. Simply amazing.
I am just the teeniest bit jealous. The last of my tan is faded and I am missing the sand badly right now. *sigh* Enjoy your trip my friend! And on your way to the Coffee Gallery on the North Shore, when you pass by Schofield Barracks, wave at my old house for me. It is just inside the gate on the right, 8 houses up.
And YAY for final (almost) payment! How wonderful a feeling. I am so proud of you. You amaze me.
Love you!
Mrs. R