Me

Dear CW/HM,

Mahalo for today!

It was awesome.

Whom ever introduced you to canoe club, well, Mahalo.

The joy of my morning.

Someone had apple bananas there for us from their tree. We paddled out further than any other group. The couple I met at the bar the other night, they showed up to paddle with the other group. They are about your age.

You could see the look in their eyes at the end of paddle. They wanted to do it again.

Thanks for working all afternoon. Thanks for the massage later.

I came to the hale from paddling ready to tell you, I was never going back. We could pretend to talk about this at the end of summer, but I'm staying.

When I was walking back to the condo this morning, one of your old friends wanted to know if we wanted to paddle out one night this weekend and swim with the Manta Ray's. Still unsure of what night, still trying to get it together.

Of course, I said "Absolutely".

Then I remembered you had packed glow necklaces and glow in the dark bracelets in case an opportunity like this presented itself.

Then I knew, you were going on this night paddle/swim too. We were going together.

After the massage, we were walking to town. We ran into friends from canoe club. The local came to meet us too.

Then the best thing ever happened.

We had someone drive us by our old house.

The one we swapped.

The one with the breeze a bit cooler then here in town.

(I know, I know - I wanted to live in town this summer. And it's been great)

There was something magical about being a bit "away" from it all.

A hale and an escape from the real world.

A bit of both worlds.

Not that I would ever tell you this in the real world, but maybe one day, I'll tell you, I loved those summers.

Mahalo for bringing   getting us here.

But, please, let me take it from here.

Love you always,

WWC

PS.  Even if you don't let me take it from here - afterall, I do have a certain life style. We are going to figure this out.

And I'll always remember what you told me

The only regrets in life are the ones you didn't do.

I promise.

I got this.......

More Letters

Dear Wild Child,

At the end of the summer, we can talk about you staying.

We all know how much you love it here. Don't we all. We understand you love it more than all of us put together.

If we are going to talk about you staying, we need to come to another understanding.

You must still go to bed before 9pm during the week.

If you have a Mai Tai during the week - you can only have two. TOTAL PER WEEK (not per sitting!)  Some of us still have to work in the morning.

You can still have every afternoon all to yourself. All to swimming, biking or hell, you can sleep all afternoon if you want. Just be reminded, no matter how much you sleep  - or DRINK for that matter - during the day. You still have to go to bed at 9pm during the week. AND - you still have to get up at 4am with me.

The weekends, they belong to you. Completely.

That's all I ask.

Love,

Career Woman/Hockey Mom

PS. Tame down the flirting - while it's fun, and you should enjoy, don't break any hearts. Heart aches hurt.

PPS Don't ever stop being you. We will get through this.

Staying

Dear Career Woman/Hockey Mom,

Mahalo for making me endure those months of work you did in order to enjoy this freedom.

Again, mahalo for getting up at 3:45 to work every morning during the week while we are out in paradise.

I honestly do appreciate everything you do.

BUT,

I am sorry, I'm not going back with you.

I'm staying here.

I paddle 4 - 6 days per week.

I walk every place I go. Unless I ride my bike or take the trolley. I haven't driven a car in almost two weeks.

And you dear mom, complain in the afternoon when you get on the bike. When I take over, I don't mind at all.

We haven't had red meat since we got here. In fact, I'm not sure we've even had chicken. You set some out to thaw on Friday or wait, was that Thursday? It's still in the fridge. I'm thinking I need throw it away. The only meal I seem to make is well - wait, you make breakfast.....

The neighbor said I could borrow his car if I need it to go to the store.

The property manager's girlfriend brings me lycee's and avocado's from her trees.

I met a local.

He owns a jeep.

Today, he picked me up.

We went to church - the one on the ocean in town, the one we've been talking about going to for years now.

Then we packed food and drinks.

We went to eat at Bite Me at the Marina.

We then spent the day at my favorite beach ever.

I'm exhausted in the best possible way.

When you get up in the morning to work, I will appreciate it.

I will continue to appreciate all you do for us.

HOWEVER, I'm telling you now:

I'm not going back to the mainland with you.

I'm staying here.

Love Always,

Your Wild, Wild Child

Paddle

What started out a couple of years ago as "something new to try", has become a full blown addiction.

The recreational paddle club in Keauhou area of Kona, paddles every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning. There is a group that goes out at 6:30am and another group at 8am.

I go with the 6:30am group. (It's warmer at the 8am group).

There is also a recreational group, really it's the same group of people, whom go out on Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 6:30am. This group goes a little further and a little faster.

Two summers ago, I went every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Bringing along at least one teenager - sometimes up to four teenagers.

Now I go everyday. (except Sunday)

For the upcoming week, I forgot to block out my calendar for Monday and Wednesday - and I was scheduled calls. UGH!

When we went out Wednesday, there were three canoes. 6 people per canoe. I'm the youngest person there in the M,W,F group. It was the hardest work out I've ever done. My lateral muscles tremored all day long.

Everyone was asking the next day if we were exhausted. I was higher than a kite - I haven't had an adrenal rush like that in years. We had paddle for 30 minutes straight (meaning no breaks), stopped and swam for about 10 minutes, the paddle back in for 30 minutes. It was absolutely incredible.

On Thursday, when we went out, this group now seems easy. I'm thinking in a few weeks, I should be really toned. There were dolphins all around us.

I jumped into the water. It was incredible. Then immediately realizing, I'm not at Disneyland - or Sea World - I'm in the freaking ocean. These things are NOT domesticated, I should probably get out the water.

We still watched them play.

On Friday, we paddle to a place called "Parrots Cove" - as we come in, about 50 parrots flew out over us. There was a momma goat and three kids on the side of the cliff. The momma couldn't get them back up. They were crying.

Eventually we left, assuming the momma eventually got her babies up the side of the rocks.

When I paddled in Oahu, it just wasn't the same. It was in the city.

Here, it's a completely different experience. Everyday, I don't want it to end.

Planning

“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!” - Benjamin Franklin

For the majority of my adult life, I would have agreed with the above statement. I would still agree some things need to be planned to a certain degree.

• Planning so some money is in savings for an emergency
• Planning so some money is set aside for something you don't need - just something you want
• A plan to finish college
• Wait, make that a plan to start college.......

Back to the basics - plan the big things, forget about the details.

I only had some basics planned for this trip to the islands. I had a ticket out here. I had a place to stay. 

I found a lady on Craigslist whom would sell me her bike.

I planned on renting a car once Nolan got here.

I knew I wanted to paddle - and planned on doing that three days a week.

The bike I bought - doesn't have a front brake. (didn't plan on that)

I'm paddling 5 days this week, as there is a group also on Monday, Wednesday, Friday at the same time - only no break with this group.

The property manager has a van she is going to "rent me" for $75 when Nolan is here. There is no air-conditioning.

The Denver girl, whom lives very proper a "normal life" is not sure of these different ideas. Unsure of the change and unsure of what life is like not planned.

"It will all work out" - said the Wild Child proudly. "You will be fine." (Besides, look at your thighs - you've been working out).

"Leave the planning to me"

DMV

Within the past 13 months, I've been to the DMV exactly THREE times.

I don't think I've been to the DMV three times previous to this in the entire 23 years I've lived in Colorado - TOTAL.

You can re-new your license online these days. Well, I could this last time it expired. It's now good for another 10 years. I think at that point, they make me come in for a new picture - as at that point my picture will be approximately 18 or so years old... Hopefully, I will still look like that picture! (HA!)

Duncan turned 16, but was just past 16 and a half when he got his license. Nolan was right on time. Which meant last June, Duncan received his license. Nolan got his permit three weeks later and I was back on his birthday with him to renew get his license.

On record, this was the shortest trip ever to the DMV. We were in and out of there in 50 minutes.

Oh wait, maybe I meant this was the fastest 16 years of my entire life.

What? No more carpool?

No more late night hockey pick up?

No more shuttling to practices? Driving to school?

I realize he's the second and some of these "duties" have already fallen by the way.

Although, both last year and this year, the person at the DMV gave the boys a little speech:

(and I'm paraphrasing here)

Driving is a HUGE responsibility. Your parents have signed this form saying they will be held liable for whatever you do when you are driving until you turn 18. Do you understand? And they can also take this away from you at anytime until you turn 18. You need to respect this privilege.

Both boys said yes.

Okay, your time with me is now done." , says the guy behind the counter at the DMV. "You may go get your picture taken."

I don't remember this speech when I got my drivers license. I'm sure they won't either.

I do know, I'll remember it this time.

I think he was still about the license.

I think he was still talking to Nolan.

And just for the record, I made it to the bathroom before I had my meltdown.

Sore

No car? 

Really, can I do this?

So, I didn't end up meeting the bike lady until this morning. Meaning, I've been on the island for over 36 hours without a car. Granted, I took a shuttle from the airport, then a taxi back out of town Friday night. 

A shuttle to the parade and fireworks yesterday, a taxi home. 

This of course, was after I got to paddle yesterday morning.  (Yes, probably still my favorite activity ever with people whom wanted to welcome me back. Whom wondered where were the teenagers).

So, yesterday I paddled. Then I walked to the store and back to the condo. Then over to the trolley stop.

Today, I walked/ran to try and meet the bike lady again. I finally did meet her. I think I had walked/run about 6 miles. Then I rode my bike back to the condo. Walked to lunch to meet friends. Rode in the car to/back Costco.

Rode my bike - that doesn't have good brakes to the beach. Just for a couple hours - then back to the hale (home) again.

My legs are chaffed. I have a bit of color on my skin (or a few more wrinkles. Or both). My arms are sore.

Ah, the feeling I've been waiting for.