Hawai'i: The Arrival

On its surface, the idea of a vacation is delightful. For a week or two weeks you'll be leaving your regular life behind, perhaps even escaping frigid weather to frolic in the tropics. Even the plane flight sounds relaxing. You might finish that book you've been nursing for the past several weeks, or you could watch a movie, or you could even indulge yourself in that darkest of sins, the afternoon nap.

And then you remember that you have three kids, and the dream comes crashing down around you, the shards of your peaceful vacation left to mock you as they lay scattered at your feet.

Our reality, I suppose, is somewhere in the middle. Looking back at the five-hour flight, it was relatively uneventful, even though there were a few stressful fussy moments for Kate and Henry. (In flight video was an unexpexted salvation.) Our fellow passengers were probably the most interesting part. First there was the lady in front of us. When she noticed Kate sleeping with her head on the hard plastic armrest, she folded her own coat into a pillow and gently slid it under Kate's head. Later I noticed an odd woman sitting a row behind us and across the aisle. Even though it was an afternoon flight and the plane was well lit, she was reading with a light strapped to her forehead, as if she had just emerged from a spelunking expedition or open heart surgery.

Thanks to some good luck and the generosity of my parents, we're staying in a little corner of paradise called the Ko Olina Beach Club. (I'll try providing a link later.) Even the check-in desk is like a three-dimensional post card, and our room has a beautiful view of the golf course and surrounding hills.

Yesterday afternoon we visited Leslie's father's grave for the first time since we buried him two summers ago. It was emotional for all of us, even young Kate whose memories of Howard are regrettably few. As we stood by the grave she spoke for all of us when she announced, "I miss Buppa Howard very, very hard."

Comments

[Michele @ The Integrated Mother]

Sounds like a wonderful vacation. My husband and I got married in Maui, and every time I suggest we go back with the kids (all 3 of 'em), he winces. I don't think he wants to mess up the blissful memory of the islands with three chaotic kids in tow.

And LOVE the lady with the headlight strapped to the head...it takes all kinds! :)