Into thin air-ish

11/29/11 

Honolulu, Hawaii.

So I was on IPM today....and it was really hard to find the time to get off the boat, since we just had 5 straight (and incredibly rocky) sea days...and after honolulu, 5 more sea days to go. As you can see, getting off the ship was very important to many. Even though I could not get off the ship during the day, I was productive, I made some phone calls (yay USA), I did some internetting, and I ran on sky deck. So, I felt like I did something. Although, I have to admit, even though I have been to hawaii before, I really wanted to go sky-diving like many of the crew members did. What a way to end the contract. I know I will sky-dive one day :) In fact, a few of the guests on board are from Portland, and when Jess and I visit soon, we will meet up with them, and maybe go skydiving there! Wouldn’t that be a thrill? (sorry mom, don’t freak out!!) 

Well, after some people released me to get off the boat for a while, Sam and I went to get some Mexican food close the the port. It was great, and the sunset was to die for. Then, I met up with Jess and the other Sam and decided to go to waikiki beach. It was very crowded when we got there, and reminded me alot of Newport Beach. Very swanky and tons of shopping opportunities. There was a group of street entertainers who gathered up a large crowd, only to refuse to perform since the energy wasn’t strong enough.....we told them, “hey, we were cheering” and they said “not loud enough!”. So we walked away disappointed we didn’t get a show, AND they were rude. We then got a flyer to get a massage, but when we got there, they were also unclear about the price, and we apparently disappointed them too. Then, we were pretty annoyed at how people were acting towards us, and we decided in order to blow off some steam, we would shoot some guns.....no really. I am an official SWAT club member ( I have a card and all)! But here’s the real deal, I don’t like guns, and I sure as heck don’t like shooting them. I thought perhaps I may feel empowered after shooting a rifle and a small hand gun, but instead I was indifferent. Plus, the guide teaching us was very rude as well, making it seem like I was the worst student he ever had. I didn’t hit the target, but I continually hit the same wrong spot 3 times! Off the target, but impressive? I guess it was an experience, and since we didn’t sky dive, we got another dangerous thrill. (Don’t  worry, not a scratch on me!)

Well everyone, with one day left of my life at sea, I thought I would wrap things up a bit. I am not sure what is going to happen with me after this contract ends. It all seems so abrupt. The ship literally drops me off near my home in LA, and I get to see my lovely family. I have no weight limit on my luggage since I am not flying, so I have packed these suckers so ridiculously tight, they may pop open!  Like I said, I don’t know where I’m going exactly or what my life holds for me next. Of course I have tentative plans (some that I have been dreaming of for years now) and I hope to move somewhere that nurtures creativity (portland). But really, I only have myself and this moment to live. I am not planning too much because if there is one major lesson I have learned on this journey, it’s “live in the moment”. Every day I was in a new place, there were tons of new experiences to be had, and the only thing I could do was seize each day. When I get home, I will take all this personal growth I have had, and start a life on land. Sounds strange to say, but it’s something I am so longing for. I would love to smell the freshly brewed coffee in the morning. To hear the sound of birds chirping in the sunlight early in the morning. Just to have some familiarity, simple things, but all the glory of being on land. I have treasured the time spent on this trip, and I sure will miss some of my ship folk, but I know this journey has been important to me, and I will never forget a moment of it.