2. January 2009 by janet.
Happy New year. This took me so much longer to write compared to the beautiful things about Maui. Winter does give me an opportunity to stay in and write more, go to church (God likes the beach too), movies, cross country skiing at the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont. Heated seats in my car. Hearing from friends through Christmas Cards, seeing some beautiful white lights on brick homes and downtown Marblehead, Yoga by my small electric fireplace and not having to shave my legs everyday. But dreaming about the beach and wishing I was there is the hardest part of the winter, besides the wind chill factor.
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31. December 2008 by janet.
No real schedule, away from the world at the beach, all day at the beach, eating the freshest fish that Chris made for me, beach yoga, swimming with my 87 year-old friend, Beth, and her portable changing room. No answering machine, best boogie boarding ever, the beauty of Maui every day, even in the rain. Boogie boarding with the Wilsons and laughing so hard we couldn’t stand up. Not having to pay attention to Christmas ads, shopping etc. Being able to go shopping at 9 p.m. comfortable bed with the best view of the beach, blue toenail pedicture with Candice, Melona bars for breakfast, reading and shopping with Monica, dogs wearing leis at the beach, paddle boarding with Diane and Paul. Being so relaxed and forgetting to push the button while inside of the elevator, forgetting to wear shoes or throwing trash into the dishwasher instead of the trash barrel. Finding a church where they don’t wear shoes and hearing 50 voices sing You Raise Me Up. Eleanor giving me her lei. My book signing at the Grand Wailea and Barnes and Noble. The staff at both places and the staff at the Mana Kai. Fresh fruit, the wind, clouds up by the mountains, the colors after sunset, the colors at sunrise. No bitching or moaning to do. Feeling totally free when swimming the breast stroke, back stroke and running into the water for 27 days. No makeup. Boogie Boarding in the rain at 74 degrees. Snorkling with Jeff. Drinking champagne at sunset.
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21. December 2008 by janet.
I came home to have a snowstorm hit the next day. My good friends tried to help me to presend that is was sand blowing up from the beach, but I know when that happens, I’m not wearing boots, tights, a scarf, hat, gloves and coat. I miss being able to not wear shoes everyday. I miss the waves. I miss Maui. I think about everyone hanging outside to watch the sunset into the Pacific. I am looking forward to getting back to work and starting the next chapter of my life.
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14. December 2008 by janet.
On Thursday during a raining evening, I did my booksigning at Barnes and Noble in Maui. The staff there is so wonderful. It was a pure delight to meet people and have them excited about my book or their passion. I love Barnes and Noble, thank you for the great opportunity.
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8. December 2008 by janet.
Yesterday, I went snorkling off of Lava rocks in search of dolphins and/or turtles. It didn’t matter not finding any larger creatives, it was beautiful, not a building in sight. Most of the time, I don’t have to wear shoes and my towel gets so warm in the sun, that when I come out of the ocean, I feel like I have heated towels. I did a private yoga lesson today in the Valley of Iao, which has 7,000 foot mountains. My yoga teacher and I hiked into the woods, across streams and by Kona trees. I learn a new adventure each day. Each evening the sunset is more beautiful. My group of friends show me the Aloha Spirit each day. I am truly blessed, but am turning into a whimp. This morning it was 68 degrees and I was cold. I had my book signing on Friday at the Grand Wailea Resort, they gave me a beautiful lei. I sold 14 books and met some wonderful people.
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2. December 2008 by janet.
My friends who live up in Kula gave me a true Hawaiian Thanksgiving, with the tradition of cooking the turkey under Lava rocks, along with ham and Pork Rinds. I commented that it was the best turkey that I’ve ever had. When I went to get seconds, my friends let me know that I was in fact eating the Pork Rinds. Still with all the love and Aloha Spirit, it was a beautiful day. Then on Sunday, I went back to the Hawaiian church in McKenna to listen to 50 people from three churches sing advent songs and other songs which brought me to tears. And when one of the women gave me her lei and told me to call her Auntie, I again cried in true happiness and again, in barefeet too.
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26. November 2008 by janet.
Start with a beach run, beach yoga for 90, coffee, power walk down the beach, body surfing, reading a great book, writing and ending the day with champagne and sushi on the balcony with my yoga teacher. Tuesday evening did some excellent retail therapy and am trully blessed by the wonders of Maui. Thank you God.
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25. November 2008 by janet.
My swimming buddy, Beth, invited me to her church, which is 175 years old. Beth is very cool and only 87 years old. I noticed that people were in the church barefoot, which is a Hawaiian tradition, not to wear shoes indoors. Before the service someone decided to donate many beautiful leis. So here I am barefoot, in church, praying and singing hymns in Hawaiian, that are the Lord’s prayer and familiar hymns, looking out to the Pacific, with flowers. So many times while in Maui, I feel like I’m in Heaven. In one of my favorite movies, Field of Dreams, Kevin Costner’s father asks, “Is this Heaven?” Kevin Costner answers, “No, it’s Iowa.” Well, Maui isn’t Iowa, it’s Heaven.
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24. November 2008 by janet.
Saturday, I sat on my balcony, while starting Beach Chair Diaries 2. As I was working on a piece about Boogie Boarding, I saw three people body surfing in the rain. So I grabbed my boogie board. The air temperature was 74 and the water was 75 degrees. It was GREAT. Sunday started cloudy and I joined my friend Beth to attend her Hawaiian church that is right on the ocean and 175 years old. Most people go barefoot. The hymns and prayers were done in both Hawaiian and English. Then the sun came out and I spent the day on a new blue beach chair, just like the one of the cover of my book. Later, I continued to work on my book, while sitting on the balcony and watching the sunset. It was a perfect Sunday.
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22. November 2008 by janet.
My favorite beach is Elua Bay in Maui, about a ten minute walk from where I stay in Kihei and one of the best walks in the world. After I arrived on Wednesday, early Thursday morning I walked up to the chapel at the Grand Wailea to say thank you God. Then at Elua Bay ran into my good friend Monika, who is a fit, white haired swedish woman, more tanned than anyone. After seeing her walk the path for my first three visits, I told her, that I wanted to be her. And she loves to read too. She told me about Vog, how the Big Island’s volcano produces this cloud cover, like fog, which starting happening yesterday. Today, it’s raining and I have so much writing to do, I don’t mind. On my last trip, I met another wonderful 87 woman who swims each day. Today, she convinced me to swim in the rain. Another adventure with another Maui friend.
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