Time to GO HOME!

Today is our last full day in Hawaii before heading home tomorrow. The last of our company left on Monday, which is good. Even though they were all staying at the hotel next door, and not technically "with" us, it has been nice to not worry about what anyone else wants to do, or eat, etc. Hub and I have just been hanging out, being lazy, watching TV, reading.

Earlier this week, we went to the Punchbowl Cemetery (also known as National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific). It is a very spiritual place, and it is wonderful to see the care and respect that is given to the graves of those who have served our country. Over 34,000 veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean, and Vietnam wars have been interred there.

Just one of the many plaques and memorials at the Cemetery
Inscription under this statue of Lady Liberty:
The solemn pride that must be yours
to have laid so costly a sacrifice
upon the altar of freedom.

View of Diamond Head and Waikiki from the Punchbowl

On Wednesday evening, I also went to the Pearl Harbor Remembrance Parade which started only about one block from our condo. Several Pearl Harbor survivors were grand marshals for the parade. It was quite a moving experience, as they were cheered wholeheartedly and everyone stood when their cars went by. Here are just a few of them, the whole procession of their cars lasted about 2 minutes.



I just finished reading "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein. Of course, I was a weepy basket case when I was done and now I'm extremely anxious to get home to see my dog. We'll get in late Saturday, so I won't get to see him until Sunday morning. From what Auntie Pam has been telling me, he is doing just fine, competing for lap time with Olive and Kermit. I can't wait to pick him up and give him a big hug.

On the work front, I got a 3 word text message from my (fairly new) assistant last night..."PLEASE COME BACK." This made me smile but also feel a bit anxious at the same time. It's nice to feel needed, but what the heck must be going on for him to express that at 11:30 at night Seattle time? He's probably just a bit out of his depth because he hasn't worked in our division long enough to really know the answers to many of the questions I'm sure came up while I was away. After all, he's only been there about 9 months, and I've been there almost 25 years. As for the anxiety I'm feeling, I just need to remember that all the work piling up on my desk does not need to be done my first day back. I can triage it all first, and then deal with it one project at a time.

I hope everyone is having a nice start to their weekend. Do you have all your Christmas shopping done? It's hard to believe it is only a little over two weeks until Christmas.


I hope you like this short video of a beautifully decorated fire truck...Mele Kalikimaka!