Paradise

Paradise is a very long way away. I stayed up late waiting for Eric to arrive home from his twelve hour drive from Mont St Hilaire, where he had spent the week with his electric fish colleagues at a conference. He left the area around midday, and drove all the way home, through Quebec and New York and New Jersey and Delaware to Maryland. He originally planned to arrive by 10, then called to amend his ETA to midnight. That was still a reasonable bedtime for me, so I waited to welcome him home with food and good wishes. I finally gave up at about 1:30 AM. He came home shortly after that, and slept on the floor in the dining room so as not to wake me. My phone rang at 3:30 to tell me my plane was on time, and I did not sleep after that. So with two hours of sleep, I woke up and got ready and hauled Eric out of a deep sleep. We made a bed for Maya in the backseat of the car and drove to the airport in the dark.

I left Eric and Maya with a three page list of instructions for the week that I am away, and I felt sad and lonely to leave the two for so long, especially with Maya's very intense schedule of ballet and violin performances. I do not want to miss her recitals, and would rather she was with me on vacation anyway. I will have to figure out how to simply enjoy my time alone.

I did not have coffee, and threw away most of the smoothie I had ordered, which was a horrible mistake, since I soon developed a coffee headache and United did not provide us with any food.. I was hoping for pretzels at least. The flight to San Francisco was long and painful and I tried to sleep and rest, but was not successful in my efforts. I felt better after an espresso and a muffin, but should have stocked up on more food. Several people pulled out wonderful meals they had brought onto the airplane, and I envied them their full stomachs and their foresight.

Thirteen hours later we landed in paradise. It was hot and humid and the clouds were low and the mountains covered in mist. I found a shuttle bus and joined the tourists on their way to the city. The traffic was intense. My hotel is a lovely old pink stucco anomaly amongst the high-rises abutting the ocean. My room is simple but comfortable and shockingly expensive. I was exhausted, but after unpacking and showering, I pushed myself to take a walk along the beach. I realized that I had no sunscreen, so I tried not to sit in the sand too long. I watched the surfers and the sailboats and appreciated the warmth. I hardly recognize Waikiki after 40 years, it is so built up. I walked through the endless shops and kiosks nearby. Tourists from all over the world were shopping shopping shopping. Groups of musicians were playing Hawaiian music at every corner. I found myself back on the beach to watch the sunset while I picnicked for dinner. The surfers were still out on the water, and it was warm enough to play in the water.

I am back in my hotel room ready for bed after almost 24 hours awake. I am so very far away from home.