A few months ago, Robin asked me where I would like to go for my 60th birthday, which is at the end of this month. She thought I would choose to go back to Wales. I was sorely tempted. My sense of Hiraeth is very strong. But…no.
A couple of years ago, Robin traveled with her mother and two sisters to Hawai’i to visit their family there. While she was gone, she sent back pictures of the beauty there, with numerous “wish you were here” comments. So, I decided rather than the moderate, enchanting land of sheep, poetry, pubs, mountains and faeries, I would travel with her to the land of Aloha.
As of the date of this posting, we are nine days and a wake up from our flight to Honolulu. We have a short flight to Detroit, then the long leg to Hawai’i will be in First Class. It’s the first time for either of us to enjoy a first class flight. We’ll do first class on the way back to Minneapolis, then be in coach for the final leg.
Robin found us a condo in Waikiki, just a block from the famous beach. We’re also about a block from a Catholic Church, so we can remain in a state of grace during the trip. Robin seems to think I’ll be sinning during our vacation. I’ll go with my gut and trust her instincts on this.
Our plans are to make a short flight to the Big Island to visit Volcano National Park. We’ll take a day to visit Pearl Harbor, then we’ll travel to the North Shore to spend a day at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Other than that, we’ll be visiting her family when possible, go the beach, do some shopping, get some authentic Hawaiian shaved ice. We’ll drive around and visit other beaches and beautiful places. A good time will be had by all.
Robin will be 60 in a couple of years. I think she has her sights set on a visit to Germany. Her maiden name is Reuter. She studied the German language in high school, and has started refreshing her skills via Duolingo. I just passed the 2-year milestone in Welsh.
Until then, Waikiki Beach, here we come!
Meditations of a Bald, Fat Guy 