Another Day in Paradise

                                          A Chinese Happy Birthday song

The expression “another day in paradise” sure takes on a new meaning as we are becoming more and more immersed into the Hawaiian lifestyle.   Dylan keeps saying, “I’m so adjusted, dude.”  I think he is referring to the time zone change, but it fits for the lifestyle thing as well.  I am not so adjusted to the time change as Dylan, and it has made for some pretty deep naps, and some family irritability at bed time. 

As always, our days begin early, especially with the strong, dry trade winds which have been blowing constantly.  This morning our friends, Jed and the boys, took us to one of their local water fun spots.  Down around the corner, at the ocean side of Jim Nabors house, ( Yes, that one, “surprise, surprise, surprise”  aka Gomer Pyle) is a spot called the Wall.  As Dylan and I hummed the Pink Floyd version, we swam around a large rock sea wall, and on the other side was a protected cove with an 8 foot wall.  It was perfect for the kids to jump off of, and climb back up the escarpment for another go.  It seems like everywhere in Hawaii, the locals have turned the surroundings into some form of water fun play ground. 

After the wall jumping, the kids searched the wonders of the tidal pools lining the flat water inside the breakers.

Despite the Oceanside fun we were having, we realized the time, and had to run.  The Comerfords had another soccer game for Hayden, and we had an 1145 mass to attend.  Rebecca had found the local
Catholic Church, and shuffled us off to worship.

It was less than a mile from the Comerfords house, and we walked in to the Star of the Sea chapel, greeted by the open air breezes.

Although a largely Asian congregation, we were quite surprised when the Priest busted into Chinese to greet his flock.  The mass was partly in Chinese, and partly in English.  Each reading was alternated between the two languages.  Quite a cool experience to recite the Lord’s Prayer in English, with Chinese subtitles.  In the midst of mass, one of the parishioners recognized us as out o towners, and asked if we would take the gifts to the altar.  Rachel, Ryan and Rebecca were happy to lend a hand.

I’m sure that is an experience that will be told over and over again for decades to come.

Arriving back home, I dropped off the fam, and snuck over to the local market for Rebecca’s birthday cake, birthday cards, and balloon.  She hardly knew of my absence,  as I used the cover of going to buy sunscreen.  It waited patiently in the fridge for a later surprise and dessert.

Mason had stayed home from the soccer game, and took our family down to Waikiki beach for some fun surf for the boys.  They hit those tourist rollers for hours on longboards, paddling in tired and smiling.  Rachel had a few wave opportunities, and is working on her paddling strength.  Beautiful waters, breezes, and beaches were ours for the afternoon.

We stopped by the Outrigger Club again to check the lost and found for Rachel’s rash guard, and were rewarded for our persistence.  Not so for my debit card, which may have been left in the ATM machine yesterday.  Yikes.  Put a hold on that one!!

Returning home hungry and tired, Tracy had an awesome meal made for us.  That was followed by some fun stories of old from adults and kids alike, followed by the surprise Red Velvet birthday cake.  A true surprise!!

So wonderful to hang with our dear friends, and watch our kids hang out surfing and playing.  A dual generation camaraderie experience.   Almost as our day had started in Chinese, after the English version of “Happy Birthday”, we continued the family tradition by singing the Panamanian version, and Mason finalized our day with the Chinese version of “Happy Birthday to You”  A multi cultural experience at hand. 

Chinese mass