Paradise out our backyard. The lanai was our best friend every day.
After losing my husband this spring and trying to write the next chapter in my life, I decided to travel more. For my first Christmas without him in 53 years, I planned a trip to Kauai in Hawaii after discussing it through several texts with my three adult kids. The preface to my story wrote itself slowly, but the story got off the ground eventually and we were on our way.
Everyone at Li’hue Airport as well as on the plane said Aloha and Mahalo over and over til I internalized the meanings of those two words: Hello and thank you.
Jeep rental – alias magic carpet – with Matt driving and Morgan navigating.
Matt and Morgan here in the front seat of our rented jeep with me and Matt’s girlfriend in the back seat. We were driving away from the airport ready to take on 10 days of island life, sunshine, beaches, flip flops, shorts and swimsuits. Our story was just beginning.
We drove an hour on a narrow road with a rainstorm following us to the end of the highway. Morgan saw the address and gate to our destination.
We awoke to paradise the next morning on Kauai.
Our first day at our house. My oldest son checking out the waterfall up on the mountain. He said he had looked forward to this trip for months. I can see why.
The yard at our Airbnb had lush plants, trees, mountains and chickens. Even a stray donkey came by.
Wild donkeys come and go. Even a cow and calf visited.
We were here first. Mooove on out!
Back in the planning stages months ago, I had told my three kids that I’d pay for the Airbnb rental and they would have to pay for their flights. We would share food expenses. My daughter and her young family couldn’t come. My two sons came with one girlfriend and we amazingly met on December 17 at Lih’ue Airport in Kauai. That in itself was a major accomplishment because everyone lives in different cities in CA plus everyone is busy at this time of year.
You can maybe guess what the first place was where we stopped. Costco? No first we rented a Jeep Wrangler. So cute and shiny new. Then we went to scenic Costco.
We stopped to shop after our long flights to Hawaii and bought something to eat and drink at Costco, not really into the island vibe yet. We bought a lot since four adults buy what they want and what they’re used to eating in the States.
One son flew from San Francisco, one son and his girlfriend flew from Los Angeles and I flew in from San Jose. Then we were off down the highway which traces the North shire of the Pacific Ocean and followed GPS all the way. The clouds opened up to greet us with a downpour and my oldest son did a great job driving with his brother navigating on a narrow highway where we searched for our Airbnb house amongst the jungle like growth and gorgeous trees. Now this was a true adventure.
Those 70ish Girls 