Family Visit
Let’s backtrack a little bit to this summer. I had just finished my first year of college and had moved back home under the dreaded "parental supervision". I was working nearly 40 hours a week at a job I despised. I had already finalized my plans for moving out here to Hawaii. So – needless to say, I was READY to go when August 12th came around.
But after being away from family and friends for two and a half months, I got the ‘I gotta get away’ bug outta my system! I was so excited when I found out my mom and granddad would be coming to visit me the last week in October. With a month to go before they arrived, I started a countdown in my agenda, anxiously awaiting the hour their flight got in.
Finally…October 25th arrived! Their ETA was around 5:00. I got out of class at 2:00. I went home and would’ve gone crazy counting down the 180 minutes, so I decided to walk the 3 miles to the airport…in the rain, I might add. (I was smilin’ the whole time though!) I can’t describe the feeling I felt when I first made eye contact with my mom in the Hilo Airport! We ran and hugged each other. It was SO good to see family again.
My mom and Pa-Pa (as I call him) stayed in a Hotel close to downtown and just so I could spend every second of their visit with them…I pushed my way in too! (It was nice to get away from the apartment for a few days.) We did the normal touristy things: went to the mountain, volcano, Kona side, Coconut Island, etc. They enjoyed it all, I think. But aside from that, I also got to show them a closer glimpse of my life in Hawaii. One day, while I was in class, they explored the UHH campus. They went to church with me, and I took them to the market to see where I get all my fresh fruits and veggies.
Mom and Pops, as expected, never quite got used to the time change, so we woke up before the sun rose every day. I didn’t mind a bit. Some of the best times we shared during their time here were in the early morning hours sitting on the porch, chatting and catching up, or playing cards and laughing together.
Now I am refreshed for the last month and a half of the semester. I can't believe how fast it's flying by. I am so thankful for my mom and grandad's visit (even though I will admit it has made me a bit homesick). No worries, though! Only 40 more days until I'm reunited with family and friends for Christmas Break!
Me with My Momma and Pa-Pa at Waipio Valley