Gecko on the Face

Aloha!

Just woke up from my usual mid-afternoon snooze...I'm officially an oldie...to a gecko leaping onto my face. 

I think he may have clumsily fallen off of my ceiling, but I like to think I am surrounded by skilled geckos and therefore he was a leaping gecko, not falling.  Needless to say my nap was cut short.

An amazing meal last night has left me in a semi-comatose state today.  The great conversation, however, has kept my mind moving all day today while working on the boats.  Discussions of love, love lost and love found.  I have discovered that most people are not telepathic, meaning they cannot read your mind (personally I like to use "telepathetic" after one of my favorite movies).  Remember to speak your mind and tell those around you how you feel.  The world could be so much more full of love if everyone spoke their mind a little more often...unless you have some negative shhhtuff to get off your chest in which case, choose wisely...

There have been some interesting hurtles to get over here on the big island.  There can be a lot of tension working with some of the people I work with on a regular basis, which leads to interesting interactions and damaged friendships.  Everyone is fighting their own battles outside of the work place, the world is a difficult place sometimes.  Practice patience and remember to try to give people the benefit of the doubt whenever possible.  And when all else fails, kill them with kindness, it will never fail you. ;)

It's been another beautiful day in paradise, however I am thirsting for my next adventure.  I am anxious to get back to the mountains to sort through all of my belongings and then am planning my next steps for the upcoming year of my life.  My plan is to stay on the Big Island for a while longer.  I have just gotten my Hawaii license...foolish in comparison to California's serious ID and am going to see if the owner of my company will let me "greenify."  The more I tell people what I majored in at UCSC (environmental studies and earth sciences for those who are wondering), the more I realize I am not putting my degree to much use out here. I have decided to try to become the environmental liaison for my company and help to reach out to local NGOs to gain their input and support in greenifying our company.  Ocean Sports is responsible for taking thousands of people a year out on our vessels for adventures among some of the ocean's most sacred creatures.  I believe that this in itself is enough of a reason to make an even greener impact on our guests than we already do (OS is already an incredibly green company, woo!).  There is so much to do and I am excited at the possibility of taking on this task.  Any input from any of my fellow envs slugs would be greatly appreciated, please email me: megwenbourne@gmail.com

For now, the sun is setting and tonight may prove to be a perfect night for glow poi on the beach. 

The UCSC kayak club is currently on the American River taking their annual Spring trip.  I wish I was with them so badly, it's actually ridiculous.  I hope (if any of you are reading this)  that you all had an amazing and safe journey down the river this weekend.  I am sending my love to you across the ocean.

The weekend has started with an owl, yummy food, rainstorms, eucalyptus groves and more sharks... oh nelly....

Aloha nui loa,

M. 

A wise old owl sat on an oak,

The more he saw the less he spoke,

The less he spoke the more he heard,

Why aren't we like that wise old bird?

-anonymous

Gaining the World

                                                                     hearts of white.

oceanic white tip- 250 lbs, 7 ft long. let him go. :)

Well Alohaaaa.
These past few weeks have been a collection of all kinds of adventures.
Everything from sharks to Brazilian crowds, dinner parties in macadamia nut orchards and dancing on hardwood floors.  There was boat hull scrubbing and playing with new puppies, coffee dates and home cooked meals.  My first spam breakfast and sailing to the southern-most point of the island.  Friends leaving on sailing trips to Fanning Island and others leaving for school or work on the mainland.  Old friends getting married and others newly engaged.
Impermanence.  Everything is constantly changing here.  And everywhere.
I'm currently pursuing new accommodations and wondering what is in store for the next year of my life. 
The only thing I am sure of is my uncertainty about everything...still.


I met an amazing woman a few days ago out on a charter.  She sat inside the cabin on my favorite boat for the majority of the cruise.  Her gray hair flowing softly in the light breeze as we sailed north along the coast.  She was the matriarch of her family, you could tell.  Well dressed, elegantly poised and smelling of musky perfume.  Although I speak zero Portuguese, I understood every word she said to me.  Her advice on finding love, her compliments of my blue eyes and her well wishes that I may someday find a worthy man made me laugh.  Before departing from the boat, she kissed both of my cheeks and wished me every happiness in my life.  I learned that day how closely you can still communicate with someone without speaking their language.  It was a very special ending to a very long day.


Ted Danson, from Cheers, boarded the boat yesterday, uninvited.  I was a little shocked when I walked out and found this incredibly tall, graying man on the stern resting from his swim from shore.  Ha.  The people you meet out here.  Everyone seems to be looking to escape to Hawaii.  


I had a woman ask me the other day where I would vacation to since I already lived in Hawaii.  Without hesitation I said the Sierra.  She had never heard of them.  Wow.  She's missing out I immediately think.  I can't wait to go back.  


A long discussion with a close friend has led me to start planning an adventure to the Rockies and then to the Sierra to go climbing.  It has left me questioning my abilities, seeing as the only thing I have climbed recently are the stairs onto the boat.  Speaking of, ZAP arrived in the mail a couple weeks ago.  He's orange and ready for adventures with me.  First adventure, climbing the mast of our largest catamaran. 


I am so sorry to say I will not be coming back to the mainland for a while.  Originally I had planned on a June visit, however ticket prices and lack of a good chunk of time in my work schedule are keeping me from traveling right now.  I am so sorry to the Banana Slugs whose graduation I will be missing.  I will be there in spirit.  My babies are leaving the nest, my Laguners are heading out into the world.  I am so proud of you all.  The time has flown by so fast.  My gosh.  I cannot believe how the time has flown.


Another beautiful day out here on the Big Island.  Planning a trip to the opposite side in the next couple days.   Decompression and relaxed time with close friends in the rainforest.  My body aches from the hull scrubbing and my hands are cut up from barnacles.  A nap in the near future and a bottle of Pellegrino to end this sunny Sunday afternoon.


SPAM count: 1  (ha!)


Aloha nui loa,
M.


"Don't gain the world and lose your soul, wisdom is better than silver and gold."
 -Bob Marley 
(31 years have passed since you left- 5/11/81)