This is NOT what I signed up for!
The road is narrowing as we drive along.
We can’t turn around even if we tried.
The mud from the morning rain is making the car slip and slide and the sugar cane fields on either side are so overgrown I feel like we are in a remake of Children of the Corn!
I've watched reruns of Hawaii Five-0...Danno and McGarrett aren't gonna solve this is in 43 minutes plus commercials!
No one knows where we are.
Why did I agree to this?
The man I love and trust with my life is driving the car -- shouldn't I just trust him?
Did I mention this is a rental car?
They make you sign an agreement ya know.
Why did it not strike us as odd that people had to sign a paper promising not to go "off road" with the rental car. Off road?
Why did it not strike us as odd that people had to sign a paper promising not to go "off road" with the rental car. Off road?
This is a road. Or at least when we started driving it was!
•Did the man who gave us directions hate us because we were 'Haoles' ?
•Why did we trust him? We’d never met.
•Was he sending us into a trap? I'd told him we were broke...right?
•Was he really disturbed by the stupid questions from this tourist couple from Oklahoma?
What if we get stranded thousands of miles from home?
We have a 32 ounce quick stop iced tea and a can of Pringles.
We aren’t armed. We have no money. No cell phone.
No resources to get out of here except this rental car -- clearly violating the rental agreement and about to be sunk in the mud.
What if we get stranded thousands of miles from home?
We have a 32 ounce quick stop iced tea and a can of Pringles.
We aren’t armed. We have no money. No cell phone.
No resources to get out of here except this rental car -- clearly violating the rental agreement and about to be sunk in the mud.
God, do you know I feel fear? I don't want to go any further!
Nearly in tears now, heart racing, I want to scream at this man behind the wheel, “Take me back…I don’t want to go any further….I’m afraid!” Someone please call Chin Ho Kelly or Kono! Tell 'em I'm thinkin' we need their Op Gear!
Umm...Had he recently taken out an insurance policy I was clearly unaware of?
He took my hand and helped me climb over the first of two fairly steep sand dunes. I could hear loud roaring then crashing that sounded familiar but unclear. I was looking down at my feet to secure my footing… when I heard Richard gasp. “Babe….You gotta see this!”
I looked up to see the end of the terrain jetting out into a sea. The landscape was spectacular. I was staring at the same type of view which left one Captain asking 'Why is all the Rum Gone?" in a recent box office hit pirate movie.
The sun beams reflected off of the white sand of a secluded beach which stretched further in both directions than my eyes could see.
Just as our reliable local described…we were alone -- in paradise -- well sort of.
There were two surfers on the waves riding in with style. One in his 60’s and possibly his grandson about 20 years old.
I looked up to see the end of the terrain jetting out into a sea. The landscape was spectacular. I was staring at the same type of view which left one Captain asking 'Why is all the Rum Gone?" in a recent box office hit pirate movie.
The sun beams reflected off of the white sand of a secluded beach which stretched further in both directions than my eyes could see.
Just as our reliable local described…we were alone -- in paradise -- well sort of.
There were two surfers on the waves riding in with style. One in his 60’s and possibly his grandson about 20 years old.
We flew to Hawaii.
Yep! It was a trip that Richard secretly planned for me as a Christmas/Anniversary surprise. Well, SURPRISE...we have no money!
The trip had been planned and paid for before he lost his job as an aerospace engineer. After 9/11 no one wanted to fly and many workers were laid off including my husband!
My parent's (who helped Richard plan the surprise) Christmas gift was a week of helping with our kids so we could go on this trip.
The trip had been planned and paid for before he lost his job as an aerospace engineer. After 9/11 no one wanted to fly and many workers were laid off including my husband!
My parent's (who helped Richard plan the surprise) Christmas gift was a week of helping with our kids so we could go on this trip.
We spent our first night on Oahu then on to the beautiful Island of Kauai. When we arrived at the fantastic hotel, I made a b-line to the concierge. I looked him right in the eye and said, “We are broke, we have no idea why we are here, but we are here for 7 days with barely enough money to eat at McDonald's! Our anniversary is New Year's Eve...
Please...tell me where you would go if you where in our situation…and please…forgive me that I probably can’t even tip you fairly for the information.”
The young man’s shoulders dropped and he was silent. I thought to myself, “Boy did I just mess up! I warned him that I probably couldn't tip much before I ever got the info!”
He smiled and asked, “Do you mind a little adventure?”
He smiled and asked, “Do you mind a little adventure?”
He began to describe the things he and his friends would do to avoid the tourists when they were hanging out.
Our list of instructions included some very cool local eating places-which mostly consisted of little houses with a grandmother cooking for a few people sitting around her table as she worked -- how to get in to the cool part of where Jurassic Park was filmed, and directions to "the real paradise" for our Anniversary!
Our list of instructions included some very cool local eating places-which mostly consisted of little houses with a grandmother cooking for a few people sitting around her table as she worked -- how to get in to the cool part of where Jurassic Park was filmed, and directions to "the real paradise" for our Anniversary!
We ate our first meal of Somen noodles and chicken cooked over a flame and then served on a stick....grand total... 5 bucks -for both of us- While 9 very tanned locals with sun kissed hair watched us curiously. They ate Somen with chop sticks...me...not so much! Spoon for this Haole girl! Face Palm!
We had a great week! We spent time alone and made memories that a tour bus and shopping outlets would never have given us!
Our anniversary day came and we followed the detailed directions to "the real paradise"…and by detailed I mean:
Our anniversary day came and we followed the detailed directions to "the real paradise"…and by detailed I mean:
“Okay, Auntie, Find the sugar cane field just south of town and drive into the middle of it... turn left when you see Toothless Old Pete. He usually sits next to the road and laughs at tour buses dat get stuck. His dog has teeth, but he won't bite you - Pete Might try to bite you...so don't get out of the car. Just follow the potholes to the dead end and you walk right to a 'choke' of white sand!" (Choke?...now -- there's choking involved? I pondered...) "You won't need much of anything, but wear a swimsuit and take towels or sand mats and something to snack on...oh and...water and dat’s all you need, well except maybe a spare tire and a hatchet or machete! Bodda you?” I figured out that meant 'does that bother you?" My need for a machete...should "dat" bother me...RIGHT? This girl has fought in martial arts competitions back in "the day"...so...you know...I can (in theory) fend off unarmed woman from ages 17 to 35 and maybe still give toothless Ol' Pete a roundhouse kick to the neck if needed...but...a hatchet? Seriously!
Well okay then...'Lesgo'!
Well okay then...'Lesgo'!
And...well... it was exciting...until...It wasn't!
After quite a drive through a nice part of the island, we stumbled on to the abandoned sugar cane factory. We turned left where the guy told us to turn. Red mud! lots of wet pot holes and red mud!
I began to focus on the potholes, the mud, the overgrown sugar cane, the lack of money, the evidence of possible isolation and danger because of the fact that we were now near an abandoned missile base and still contemplating all the possible reasons we may need a hatchet…and don't forget toothless Old Pete and his dog.
I lost sight of the destination at the end of the journey!
I was having what our Hawaiian friend might say was a 'Haad Rub'!
NOTE: HAAD RUB (HAHD ruhb) - slang for: hard time, bad time, uncomfortable circumstances. HAD-IT (HAHD iht) - slang for: to be wasted, destroyed, wrecked. hairy - dangerous, rough, out of control, huge, bad, ugly, intense. -- Thank you Mr. Webster
After quite a drive through a nice part of the island, we stumbled on to the abandoned sugar cane factory. We turned left where the guy told us to turn. Red mud! lots of wet pot holes and red mud!
I began to focus on the potholes, the mud, the overgrown sugar cane, the lack of money, the evidence of possible isolation and danger because of the fact that we were now near an abandoned missile base and still contemplating all the possible reasons we may need a hatchet…and don't forget toothless Old Pete and his dog.
I lost sight of the destination at the end of the journey!
I was having what our Hawaiian friend might say was a 'Haad Rub'!
NOTE: HAAD RUB (HAHD ruhb) - slang for: hard time, bad time, uncomfortable circumstances. HAD-IT (HAHD iht) - slang for: to be wasted, destroyed, wrecked. hairy - dangerous, rough, out of control, huge, bad, ugly, intense. -- Thank you Mr. Webster
He had given clear directions. It was described so perfectly. We knew -- he told us it would be difficult but that the end result would be amazing! So why was I afraid?
*Do I do that in my journey with GOD?
*Do I lose sight of the end game? Do I forget He said it would be difficult but worth the journey?
*Do I fail to believe that His promises are true?
*Do I fail to believe that His promises are true?
*Do I focus on spiritual potholes?
*Do I focus on the mud slung at me because of my faith, my race, my differences, my past, my present?
*Do I assume the worst by doubting and mistrusting others?
*Do I forget to love and be kind and forgiving?
*Do I worry over bills that crowd in like overgrown sugar cane fields?
*Do I allow isolation -- fear -- uncertainty -- new situations to paralyze me instead of challenge me on life's adventures?
*Do I focus on the mud slung at me because of my faith, my race, my differences, my past, my present?
*Do I assume the worst by doubting and mistrusting others?
*Do I forget to love and be kind and forgiving?
*Do I worry over bills that crowd in like overgrown sugar cane fields?
*Do I allow isolation -- fear -- uncertainty -- new situations to paralyze me instead of challenge me on life's adventures?
*Do you?
What is happening in your life...right now...that is keeping your focus off of the exciting adventure?
-Money?
-Relationships?
-Health?
-A Job?
-No Job?
Are you letting uncertainty paralyze you?
Just like Ol' Pete...Those fears are toothless in the presence of Our Mighty God!
What is happening in your life...right now...that is keeping your focus off of the exciting adventure?
-Money?
-Relationships?
-Health?
-A Job?
-No Job?
Are you letting uncertainty paralyze you?
Just like Ol' Pete...Those fears are toothless in the presence of Our Mighty God!
I trust Richard. I know him and love him and he has proven to be a good leader and protector.Why did I begin to fear on our journey down that road?
I trust God. I know Him and love Him and HE has proven to be a faithful leader and protector.Why do I begin to fear on this journey when things seem difficult, unfamiliar or uncertain?
It is during these times, God reaches over to me...puts his hand on my knee and says, "Kathy...Trust ME!"
When my focus is on Him, my journey will truly be a wonderful adventure!
Richard and I celebrated our 20th anniversary that day with the white sand, the majesty of the ocean, the beauty of the Island, two surfers to entertain us, ice tea and Pringles. What more could a girl ask?
It was one of the most precious days we’d ever spent together...and I almost called it off... out of fear...because of a few potholes... on the way to paradise.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Creator GOD, help me to rely on your direction and your promise to love and care for me. You have promised that you will finish the work you have begun in our lives. You've promised an amazing adventure at the end of this journey. May I focus on the promise of one day seeing you face to face? Until then, let me enjoy this adventure. There were those who "fell away" and "walked with you no more" even after watching you perform miracles. Please give me strength to continue to trust you and walk with you...even when the journey is difficult.
I Thank You.
Deuteronomy 5:32-33
So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. 33 Walk in obedience to all that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.
Barking Sands Beach
Kauai, Hawaii
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
