Now that I'm just about completely relaxed, I'm two days away from leaving Hale Honu.  Today was cleaning day--scrubbing, sweeping, checking and replacing lightbulbs.  Before you feel too sorry for me, though, I spent a good deal of time on "break," watching the eerie overcast (caused by the "vog") day snail by.

I've done a good bit of reading since I've been here (and a bit of journaling, too).  One of the books I'm reading is called The Shack by William P. Young.  I picked it up on a whim a few months ago and have found it to be a profoundly challenging book...especially for such an easy read.

Young grew up as an MK (missionary kid) in New Guinea.  He attended Bible school, received an undergraduate degree in Religion and then attended (but apparently didn't complete) seminary.  So the book is informed by his Christian world-view...but it's also informed by a deep humanity and a quest for answers to life's toughest questions.

Which leads me to the Sunday question.  In the book, a man meets (literally) with God at the cabin where his young daughter was killed some years prior.  God is presented in three aspects and various conversations ensue.  In one of them, the man says:

"Didn't Missy have a right to be protected?"

The Spirit answers: 

"No, Mack.  A child is protected because she is loved, not because she has a right to be protected...Rights are where survivors go, so that they won't have to work out relationships."

I've had to sit with this quote for a while this trip, mull it over, argue with it.  Which is why I'm putting it to you.  Do you agree with the Spirit (as Young presents it)?

Or do you disagree?

It's been a gorgeous day on the Big Island.  Dan and I actually slept in for a bit.  Then I creaked my way downstairs and started coffee and working on the novel.  I put in the 1128 words referenced above before breakfast.

We had everything we needed from our shopping adventure yesterday except for something to put on our (100% Whole Wheat) Muffins.  So that made as good an excuse as any to go out to breakfast.  We went to the Aloha Angel Cafe and enjoyed an omelette (me) and a breakfast burrito (Dan).  We also enjoyed the antics of two little boys who'd just met in the restaurant and had already become fast friends.  They were about 3 1/2 and 4 years old, I'd say.  Perfect spirit of aloha between the parents (one couple, one dad on his own for the day) who decided to take the boys to a park so they could play. 

After a stroll through town, we headed over to the Farmer's Market in Kona Village.  We browsed for requested coffees without success but I did find a cute necklace (naturally) at the stand I'm known to frequent.  We scored some delicious rambutan and some delicious-smelling pineapple and starfruit before heading off to the local market.  They were out of fresh ahi so we were forced to buy steaks that will go on the bbq in a half hour or so from now.

We moseyed on back to the house and have been sitting on the lanai, or in the hot tub, reading and relaxing ever since.  I'm currently in the courtyard, the fountain is going, awaiting the sunset and blogging with my man in the spa and a nice crisp glass of chardonnay beside each of us.  Thanking God for the many blessings he's sent our way.  Friends.  Family.  Each other.  Cool breezes and enough clouds to make the sunset a preview of heaven's door.

At long last, our patio furniture has arrived.  I wish I could show you a photo of the five counter stools and three loungers in our yard, but it was raining when the furniture was delivered.  (Just two weeks too late for Thanksgiving.)  We didn't even unwrap the cushions yet.  For now, the above stock photo will have to do.

Still, the furniture looks pretty nice sitting out there and I'm eager to inaugurate it with a festive gathering in January (on an unseasonably warm day).  One thing I've noticed about south Orange County is that the winters are warmer than Santa Clarita, but the dampness makes them feel colder outdoors.

As to the widget, cast your eyes to the right of this page and scroll down between archives and categories.  You'll see a new link to the "Ideal Bite," an eco-conscious web space that puts out daily tips on small steps to help the environment (and yourself) by living more thoughtfully on the earth and in our consumer culture.

I'm excited about the widget because I enjoy the Daily Bite (introduced by Cindy--my eco-evolved sister-in-law) and because the previous widgets didn't fit in the sidebar and, after a conversation via email with a lovely "biter" named Hannah, I have a widget that fits.

This one's super cool because it gives you a preview of the day's hint and you can decide whether to click on over or not, based on the tidbit.

Dan and I are off to Hawaii tomorrow for a stolen week at our house there.  My daily posts might be longer or shorter...depends on how much golf we play.  The good news about this trip is it forced me to get the Christmas minutae out of the way.

There is no bad news. 

Aloha!

 

It was a bumpy flight back to the mainland but we arrived safely at 9:58 last night.  Strange little dip of the wing right before landing that put a jolt in most of the passengers, judging by the relief when we coasted to a stop.

I ended up taking the day off of Nanowrimo yesterday as a reward for excellent Island discipline.  Felt good and not too anxiety inducing.

Until this morning when, after having breakfast with Shari, unpacking, and doing various other sorts of procrastination I finally settled down in front of the keyboard.  I felt a bit daunted by resuming a daily goal of 1800 words, so at about 650 I was regretting yesterday's break.

But the next time I looked up I was at 2,046 and calling it quits for the day.  So the grand total now is 21, 368 words, just a few days shy of my half-way there celebration.

It was great fun to spend time in Kona with Shari and Lynne.  They're amazing friends and excellent helpers, cooks, mothers, thinkers, shoppers.  I am truly blessed. 

While I am going through snorkel withdrawals, it's nice to be home.  It was so good to see Dan's smiling face at the airport.  I miss him when we're apart.  That's a good thing after 25 years, yes?

The weather has definitely changed here...the night air is downright cold (especially after the Big Island) so it was good to snuggle into bed last night.  Back where I belong...at least until I persuade Dan to move to Hawaii!

Off to the gym!

I was up WAY early this morning because the clock in the Master Bedroom here at Hale Honu was one hour and 43 minutes fast...so I was convinced dawn was moments away when I awoke around 4 a.m.  I finally got out of bed at around 5:15 having figured out that I wasn't going back to sleep.

It turned out okay though.  I puttered a bit figuring out my to-do list for the girl's work week.  Then I settled into writing and was already 800 words in by the time Lynne made it downstairs.  Shari came down around 7:00 and I continued pecking away at the keyboard until the end of the chapter. 

It was interesting to write about Lenn's experience of the angst, confusion and fear that comes after one's country is attacked.  I filtered in some of what I felt on 9/11 and some of what I've read about the reactions to Pearl Harbor (and in particular to Japanese Americans before the internment order).  I'm not sure I've got it just right yet but Nanowrimo is about getting words on the page now and editing later, so that's my modus operandi.

(And I'm sticking to it!)

After a quick bite, Lynne and I headed down to Kahalu'u and snorkeled for about an hour.  With a 10 minute walk each way and the work that's yet to come, I figure that's my workout for the day.  We saw 15 honu (including an adorable baby honu, tang, tons of parrotfish, a yellow trumpet fish, wrasse of many types, butterfly fish, sea cucumbers, a bunch of surgeonfish and some gorgeous parrotfish.  The bay was calm, tide was relatively low, and there were very few people in the water so we had a great snorkel even though Lynne's mask kept leaking (I fixed that) and fogging up (no help there). 

The water was pretty cold in spots (mid-60's) and then we would swim through some thermals that warmed us back up.  The honu seemed to prefer the warm spots too.  Maybe that's why we saw so many in groups of two or three.  I was laughing at one point because we literally were running into honu every time we turned around.

So now it's lazing for a bit followed by stocking up on cleaning supplies.  That's your report from the Big Island for Tuesday, November 6th.  Aloha!