I just got back from the most amazing vacation ever. My mom, the wonderful woman that she is decided to take us to Hawaii to reward all the hard work that Charlene, Ross, Derek and Scott had done for me while I went through everything. It was a treat for herself too. I really didn't want to go to Hawaii, because at the time I was afraid of the sun. I don't want to get another cancer. I learned that it wasn't good to live in fear and wait for the next cancer to get to me. So we planned and planned our trip to Hawaii. I didn't have high expectation because I didn't know what it was going to be like. I had never been to a place like Hawaii. It took my breath away. It was Ross' home. He was so happy the entire time that we were there. We were all happy. The first day that we were there Ross proposed to me. I knew that he was going to since we were already planning the wedding. I didn't know what day or where. That was the surprise. It was very special and private and will only share a few details in person. That same morning Derek recieved a call that he had got a job at Amazon in Seattle. All this on our first day. This is the way to start a vacation. We saw several sites, we all went our own way because we are all interested in different things. We shared many meals together and talked about what we had done for the day. On Monday, we had planned to go to a temple and not really do too much but we ended up on our way to Honolulu and we were going there the next day to see Pearl Harbor but since we got lost, (apple maps suck) we decided to go visit Pearl Harbor. It really put things into view for me again. It made me very sad to know how many men, women and children had died that day. It was so peaceful to be out on the memorial and reflect on the terrible things that people had to go through. I have been through a lot but it doesn't compare to others went through in just a couple of hours. I wish that everyone would take interest in history, wars and the bigger issues in life. It would make all of our small things that happen everyday, just that, small things.
We ended up being able to find the temple on our way back. It was just as somber as the memorial. It was very fitting to put it all into one day. We were happy that we didn't do these two things on our last day but give us another day to reflect and enjoy our time in Hawaii. The temple was built without any nails. The temple is called Byodo-In Temple and that translated "temple of equality - not to discriminate". So fitting since the next day was going to be election day. I promise, no politics in this blog today. The Byodo-In was built to respresent the mythical phoenix, it's wings upheld by pillars of stone. Folklore tells of the phoenix arising from the ashes to reflect the promises of hope and renewal. This is what the trip was for me. Just less then a month ago my doctor told me to go and live. That is way the song feeling again touches me so much because the first time in almost 2 years I feel like I can live again. I have hope again for a brigh future. I look out and only see sunshine. Do you know what it feels like to have the new energy? It feels amazing and that is a small word to really put feeling into it.
As you can see my vacation was so far the best that I have ever been on. I hope that my mom reads this and sees how much she has improved my life. Without my support of my family, and that includes my dad who wasn't there I wouldn't be the person that I am. I could ask for better parents, sister, brother-in-law and step dad. Also to my wonderful man, Ross who has seen the worst side of me and the best side of and continues to stand by me.
With finishing this post, I know that I only gave a small glimpse of what my trip was like. As most of you know, my memory isn't what it once was. Ross and I have decided to create a scrap book of our vacation to Hawaii. I think that we will continue on taking pictures and making notes along the way.
It has almost been a full year since I have been doing this blog. I hope that one day to go through and rewrite it and make a book of it. Maybe? I am sure that my next post will be soon. I have a lot on my mind and am ready to share.
Love you all!
