HI-50 Fill-in

August 17-25, 2015

First, I have to confess that I put a lot of pressure on myself in regards to my timeline once I landed in Hawaii. My flight was due to land at 1:30pm. For work, I had to get a drug test 2 hours later at a location that wasn’t too far from the airport. Naturally, I thought two hours would be more than enough – if everything ran smoothly, as in flights were on time. In the end, all did run smoothly as far as flights. I had no trouble getting on, and I even got to check my carry-on bag for free due to an overbooked flight. Little did I know that that decision was the best one I could have made. As I already had one bag already checked, what was the harm of adding a second?

When I arrived at baggage claim at the tiny Hilo airport. I stood and wait for the belt to start moving. And it did, just like clockwork. Bags started flowing out. After about 10 bags, everything stopped. We waited. Nothing. An employee made an announcement behind me that the rest of the bags were still in Maui and to come and fill out a claim.

I could not have been happier! All of the vacationers were a bit disgruntled, but I, the first one in line to file my claim, was 75 pounds lighter. My biggest worry about this whole move was the transport of all of my bags. And they were heavy. With only my small backpack, I could easily walk to my appointment. The airline would deliver my bags to the hostel I was staying at once the next flight from Maui arrived.

So my first day in Hilo included a hike to my appointment and then a hike to the hostel on the other side of town – baggage free! In totally I did about 4 miles, but it was well worth it.

Two days later, training started. Five of us from the training were staying at the hostel. After day one of a pretty intense training, we were no longer strangers. Everyone was pretty much in the same boat. All of us were trying to figure out how all of the pieces need to be arranged, and how the busy training schedule was going to give us anytime to try and find a place to live.

This is the part of the story that still amazes me. The journey to this point, the people met along the way played a very significant role. A visit with Laura led to a trip on a boat that led to a conversation with another women named Laura that had a sister-in-law that lived in Hilo. Emails where exchanged which led to a correspondence with a women named Elizabeth. After explaining my situation, Elizabeth hooked connect me with a women from her church named Dixie who just so happened to have a bike in storage that she wasn’t using. Elizabeth too is a teacher and happened to remember that one of the substitutes has rooms that she rents out. This led to another email with Lyn who had a room opening up in early September but also had a room that was available on a week-to-week basis.

Yesterday, I moved in. One might call this chain of events luck or coincidence. This girl, however, will claim it as purely providential.

CA stands for Crazy Adventures

August 7-17, 2015

Funny how the last time I went to visit Laura at Mount Hermon near Santa Cruz, I ended up working for a day. And here I was again, finding myself in the same position, although this time it was a slightly different setting. Instead of helping people off a zip line, I got to chat with guests while aboard a catamaran cruising around the bay.


A great way to start my visit to California, but not with out a strange occurrence.  The conversation topic of my future plans founds its way into many a conversation while at sea. I have yet to figure out why I am surprised that this keeps happening but low and behold, I soon found out that one of the guests has a sister-in-law that lives in Hilo, HI. The shock shows up all over my face yet again. This time, however, contact information is passed. Hope springs inside me that this connection might lead to some housing in a place that I am moving to and know not yet where I am living. The realistic side of me though weighs the probability. Not very likely, but I still cherish yet another encounter where someone knows someone living in Hilo. Deep down I can admit that I have little understanding of what is going to unfold in the next month, but I think I can rest in the knowledge that I am heading in the right direction.

In the mean time I got to help decorate for the end of the summer party, try surfing, and continue on the Be Messy Journal project.

I too managed to pull Laura away from her work. I amazing it felt to go camping!! Pinnacles National Park is one of the younger National Parks and completely off my radar. I was reminded once again why I love the National Parks: diversity. All across the country the unique gems of the United State’s landscape are showcased and preserved. 

Big Sur was too a great drive that I had yet to experience; a superb road trip to add to the many miles that Laura and I have spent in a car together. Witnessing a sunset at a purple sand beach was just the cherry on top.

The Colorado Connection

August 4-7, 2015

As I was looking out the window next to me, with the landscape far below I couldn’t help contemplating two things: Where has time gone? For the past month and a half I have been seeing so many wonderful people that I haven’t seen in years – some even beyond a decade. How is that possible? In my memory palace, I can recall the last place and year that I saw each person, like a great wall of framed moments of my experiences that all seem like they happened yesterday. Yet when I take the picture off the wall and flip it over, the date on the back sets me back. How can it be that the last time I saw this wonderful friend was in Florida in 2010?

Yet that is the case from my friend and former roommate Lauren. The days of Grad-school craziness are so clear; I can easily recall the first day we met. Now, she is living in Colorado on her way to being a paramedic.

My visit to Colorado was jam packed as I wove in time with cousins I hadn’t seen is years and my old Duke boss, Levi. My visit with Levi included a tour of UC Boulder and a small paragraph in our conversations that led to me second item of contemplation: Can the world really be that small?

When in Western North Carolina a matter of weeks ago, I met someone during my cousins Bible study that has a grandmother that lives in Hilo. As I was filling Levi in on my next adventure, he proceeds to tell me that his sister lives in Hilo, HI. Naturally, my internal reaction was WHHAAATTT!!?!?! I shared a cubical with this guy for months and never recalled him mentioning this. True I might not have remembered the town but having a sister that lives in the state of Hawaii is a pretty fun fact to throw out there.

Fortunately, my last stop before Hawaii includes a dear friend that I have seen within the last 365 days. Time to touchdown in California.

The Final Countdown

July 20 - August 3, 2015

The Final Countdown

My arrival in Michigan triggered action. I had a long laundry list of things to accomplish while at my dad’s house:

·  Unpack the car

·  Go through all boxes in old room and consolidate

·  Find places to store all of my stuff

·  Get physical and TB test

·  Transfer car title to dad

·  Slim down the Hawaii packing list one more time

·  Fill out all paperwork for the new job

And the most important – see as many wonderful friends and relatives as I can. This translated into a surprise (belated) birthday party at my Aunt’s house, horseback riding at my Uncle’s, talk music with another Uncle, and lent a helping hand with my Aunt in flipping a house.  

Cardboard Boat Race on the Black River

Naturally my list of things to do also had items that engaged in the delights of the summer season in a small town. My timing couldn’t have been better as Music in the Park was in full swing, the annul Swinging Bridge Festival was just a block away, the every poplar Arts and Crafts Fair was happening in Lexington. Times like these make me so glad I grew up in a small town.

TV News Anchor/Musician Devin Scillian

Now, it was time for this small-town girl to transfer to another slightly bigger small town in the middle of the Pacific. As is per usual, I have to make a few stops on the journey there.