Mahalo Ke Akua

Two years ago we marked a passage. Gathered with the ones closest to us, and celebrated Love.

I rarely share photos of myself or my family on the Archives. But today, I want to express my gratitude with the world.

I am so thankful for the Bohemian. A rare, gem-of-a-man. A true treasure. Such a gift to Jeb and I…

photo courtesy of Amy Vanderhoop
photo courtesy of Amy Vanderhoop

 

 

photo courtesy of Sara Wall Photography
photo courtesy of Sara Wall Photography
photo courtesy of Amy Vanderhoop
photo courtesy of Amy Vanderhoop
photo courtesy of Sara Wall Photography
photo courtesy of Sara Wall Photography
photo courtesy of Amy Vanderhoop
photo courtesy of Amy Vanderhoop
photo courtesy of Sara Wall Photography
photo courtesy of Sara Wall Photography
photo courtesy of Sara Wall Photography
photo courtesy of Sara Wall Photography

Making Dreams Come True

My unconscious self must be trying to elevate me from the ground-down stasis of my current physical challenge. The challenge being this humbling pinched nerve in my hip (detailed in yesterday’s post).

Last night in my dreams, I was ready for lift-off. The fire was lit, and I was in the basket of a hot air balloon, on the verge of launching billowing, striped colors to the sky.

courtesy of Beverly and Pack
courtesy of Beverly and Pack

It’s always good to get fresh perspectives.

Like Jeb’s, who was the one to point out my dreams. Not last night’s, but the one I had 34 years ago, back in second grade.

He and I were looking through my little “School Days” scrapbook. The one made for holding keepsakes from kindergarten through graduation. Throughout my time in school, I faithfully completed every year, inserting report cards and special awards. I filled out each year’s form, writing in the spaces about friends, favorite sports, and hobbies.

In second grade, “Additional Information” contained a wish.

2014-11-19_balloon wish

Jeb turned the page to third grade.

“Hey, the next year you wrote: ‘I love…Gerardo?…I want to ride in a hot air balloon with him.’ Who’s Gerardo?”

“Ah,right. He was a boy in my class from Mexico, who didn’t speak much English. He was really quiet, but I liked him.”

“You wanted to ride in a hot air balloon for two years in a row, Mom.”

“And I haven’t yet.”

So to wake this morning with dreamtime memories of lift off, makes me think it’s time this little fantasy comes true.

No hot air balloons in Hawaii. But how about the Czech Republic?

Our family is slowly planning a summer trip back to the Bohemian’s homeland. A quick online search this morning reveals a company in Prague that offers hot air balloon rides, year-round. You can float above ancient castles, and see a bird’s eye view of the countryside and forests.

Maybe no Gerardo (though I hope he is well, wherever he may be). But a hot air balloon with my two other dreams-come-true: my son and my husband? Airborne in Europe? Well, that’s more than I could have imagined when I was seven.

2014-11-19_second grade

Sounds like a Must to me.

Tea Bag Wisdom

It was three years ago that I took a walk down the beach and met the man who is now my husband.

To honor the occasion it seemed a thank you was in order. So I wandered down to that same sandy place to offer up my gratitude for unexpected gifts. What I found the moment I got to the tide line was a classic specimen of the rare and beautiful Sunrise Shell.

A few earl-rising shell hounds were already there in the distance, combing the beach in search of their own Sunrise treasure. This one was right at my toes.

Sometimes when you’re not looking, the most beautiful things can just come right up upon you. Like precious sea gems in sunrise hues. Or the love of your life, bare-chested and smiling.

And sometimes sage reminders can be delivered a’la tea bags. Like the pith directive that steeped and steamed when I got back home, basking in my morning’s beach discovery and reflecting on the love that had come my way.

I’m so prone to ‘do.’ But life’s bestowed some of its most precious riches when I simply ‘let.’

 

2014-09-18_sunrise_tea bag