The Big Gotta-Cover-Way-Too-Much-In-One-Entry Entry

Well, in approximately 4.5 hours I'll be on an American Airlines flight to Chicago O' Hare. This time, when a big trip is near at hand, is really my favorite time. It's unbearably exciting, because you just want to hurry up and find yourself past the checkout desk, and the checkpoints, and safe and unfettered in your seat. You want to be flying already!

Although no one believes me, there IS indeed a large swelll on the ocean today. I know there's supposed to be; I watched the news! I went out to take some last photos around the lab, and it's just the most perfect day to do it: the sun is shining bright, and so the water has turned all the fantastic shades I mentioned in my first hawaiian entry. And with the 3-5 foot swells going on, the surfers are out in full force--photo op's galore!

I should go corner Ned to talk to him, but he's extremely busy and I'm not sure what I would say to him. Maybe "hey, I'm leaving! Say something!" Oh well.

Last night Cheryl and I went to Waikiki! We went to Keo's for delicious delicious delicious Thai food. I've decided that Thai food is my supremely favorite food. We had tiger prawn wrapped up like spring rolls with a tangerine chile sauce---oh baby. And then I had a fantastic green curry with shrimp, scallops, mahi mahi, and calamari. I got carded for my drink--a "Keoni's Koolaid" which was midori and malibu (my favorite rum in all the world) mixed with pineapple juice and 7UP--but I'm legal, so no worries :) Everyone admires my shiny new West Virginia Driver's License. It all put a smile on my face. Good food has a way of doing that.

We then walked over to the Sheraton Moana Surfrider--the place with the beautiful lanai--and sat in the courtyard underneath a gigantic banyan tree, listening to hawaiian guitar music and watching a single hula dancer float, dip, and smile about the crowd. I got carded for my mai tai too. . . I guess I gotta get used to this! Two cute little old Japanese men asked for a picture with the dancer, and so she put her arm around one of them, and he promptly patted her bottom. We were shocked, and that beautiful smile froze hard on her face, but I'm guessing this happens all the time. But it's still sad that it does! Oh well, the music and the dancing continued, and the surf rumbled in the background. I was trying hard not to tear up, because man I get weepy all the time now. I can't explain the anxiety I have for leaving Hawaii. I know it's time to go. I want to go. But I want to stay too. I don't know just how the place got into my heart, but it did. It's the first place I've ever travelled to where it feels ok to smile. Ok to take it easy, and be happy--because everyone's happy too. It's a gentle, warm, wonderful place. And I'm going to miss it. That's just the only way to put it.

I stayed up late last night packing. And now I'm here, trying to decide if I should relax or do more last-minute things. There's also the traditional wondering if my plane will crash--please don't be disturbed. This happens to me EVERY time I fly, and it's not a fear thing. I'm not afraid of such things. But I always wonder. And I always try to have some message set aside in case that did happen. But nobody ever sees them. But I feel that while I am not afraid of a plane crashing, I am afraid of leaving the people I love sad, and not knowing how I feel. So I'll keep it simple. Even the people I hate, there is something I love about them. The people I know are wonderful people, whether they are just friends, or true loves, or family. I'm lucky to know any of you, and I'm superhumanly lucky to be close to some of you. I love you all soo much! And I can't wait to see you all again. Seriously. Ok, lovefest ended.

Wish me luck and good travels!