October 02, 2007
Been a while
It's been too long since I've updated my blog, it's been nagging at me like a spoiled kid. "When ya gonna update me?? Huh?? whine...."
Lots been going on, art classes, vacations, sabatticals, and lots of life.
I'm just getting back from my 8-week sabattical I get every 7 years from work. Pretty nice. A chance to shake off the work routine and catch your breath.
Mom proposed a 10 day cruise to Hawaii, and I was a little unsure at first. I'd never been on a cruise, but thought it might be fun, just us "girls".
Before Dad passed away 4 years ago, he and Mom had gone on quite a few cruises, all over the world. So Mom knew what she was doing and what to expect. She flew down from Spokane, and we flew to San Diego. From there, we took a bus to Ensenada, Mexico. Our ship, "Rhapsody of the Sea" left from there on Sept 18th.
After 5 days at sea, which was very cool... no land to be seen ANYWHERE... we finally came to port at Kailua, Hawaii. Stayed the day, and on to Lahaina, Maui. We stayed in port there 2 days, then back to the big Island, to Hilo.
After doing so much shopping, we decided to take a bus tour up to see the Kilauea Caldera (volcano). We actually hit several stops along the way... Rainbow Falls, the Akatsuka Orchid Gardens, the Thurston Lava Tube and finally to the volcano and the Jaggar Museum. Truly amazing! No lava currently flowing, but vulcanologists predict activity in the next 3-6 months!!! After that, lunch at the Kilauea Visitors Center.
And, finally on to the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory. Actually, it was more like a huge gift store selling all flavors of macadamia nuts. Yum!!
Finally, back to the ship to get ready for our second "Formal night". Funny, I don't typically get dressed up, but it was fun. We even got a formal picture taken!
The ship traveled overnight, and we woke up to Waikiki Beach on Oahu. Mom & Dad took us to Waikiki when we were in High School, but I hadn't been back to Oahu since. Still, there were a lot of memories there. The hotel where we stayed, Park Shore, is still there with a fabulous view of Diamond Head and across from the zoo and the beach. The Moana Surfrider, where the Banyan tree is in the courtyard is there, and all the shops.
After the long day of exploring the entire strip, we headed back to the ship to finish packing. We left the ship around 9:00 to head to the airport... and we flew out at 1:00 to L.A., and from there, home. We got in around 12:30, and crashed at a hotel across the street from the airport. Mike picked me up the next day, and I saw Mom off on her flight home.
I made blank journals for both Mom and me, and we had a lot of fun recording our journey. Sure helps to remember the little experiences you would typically forget after time, but those experiences add so much color and texture to memories. At the end of my writing, I had purchased a tropical sticker that said "Paradise Found". But I realized that for me, paradise is being here at home, with Mike. And Sean, Peach, Tahoe, Sierra, and the 2 rats. "There's no place like home".... right on, Dorothy!
Posted by Sherri at 10:36 AM | Comments (0) | General
