Oh vacations... They have always been a complete necessity in order to keep my head in a good place. A break from the day-to-day monotony is usually just what I need to jump back in to the routine of life renewed and inspired, but Hawaii has always been different than other vacations.
I was 19 the first time I went to Hawaii to see the place my Mom now called home. The first impression I had when I stepped off the plane was how different the air felt and this is still something I notice today. The air is warm, clean, and playful and smells like honeysuckle. You breathe it in and immediately slow down.
I have been going to Hawaii for many years now and I am still overwhelmed by the beauty of the island. Mother Nature rules with a mostly gentle but firm hand, and no matter how many times I visit I know I will never see everything.
The difference with Hawaii versus other vacations? Towards the end of most trips I am looking forward to being back home. I miss sleeping in our bed, petting the kitties, and the overall rhythm of our house. But no matter how long I stay in Hawaii the time always seems to go by too quickly. I start to feel anxious days before we have to leave, like I hadn't taken the time to fully absorb it all and I try my best to take in every detail. A large part of this feeling is a visit to Hawaii is more importantly time with my Mom and because this is few and far between I hold on tight.
Lying back in our bed tonight I feel out of sorts. While at Mom's I had gotten used to hearing the ferns blowing in the breeze and unknown night sounds. I know in the morning when I wake up, I won't feel the cool air and burrow down in the covers closer to J. I won't see the dancing shadows the lace curtains make on the bedspread. I won't look out the window and see the green of the jungle pressing in.
While I am in Hawaii I start to miss the things that are right in front of me. Each trip I leave a little piece of myself behind. If you held me up to the sun you would be able to see a stream of light shining through. This reminds me of something I read. In the past Native Americans would bury the umbilical cord when a child was born. This was done to ensure that the child would always be connected to its' birthplace. There are many ways to attach ourselves to a place, by leaving a bit of ourselves behind we can always feel it pulling us back.
*Stories and pictures from our trip to come.
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