And It Just Feels Right

Aloha and Happy Cyber Monday from my office desk in Kaneohe, Hawaii.  Look closely at the picture and you may wonder where I am.  Eggs, rice, two slices spam, three slices Portuguese sausage, soy sauce, and coffee.  It is the Local Deluxe Platter with senior coffee (I didn't ask for the senior break, it was just given...hmmmm, I'll take it!) at McDonald's, and being senior, needing to watch my girlish figure (and my blood sugar), I'll only eat half the rice...or maybe one third.

Starting day three of my trip, my order time stamped at 5:51 am  local time, slack key guitar picking away "The Christmas Song", elderly locals (men this morning) talking stories over their senior coffee and lighter breakfast, while my brother and landlord sleep, this heart continues rising in thanksgiving.  While I have journeyed to the islands many times, this is the first during the Christmas season, and it just feels right.  My brother and mother here, we ave talked stories with her sister, husband, daughters, grand daughter, her boyfriend and his son, yes, it just feels right, minus the laughter and carrying ons of dad.

Dad instilled his love for trying new things in me, and just like a good son, I took it to another level, venturing and doing, with passion, exploring new things.  It seems fitting that this first Christmastime excursion to the islands fall on the heels of his absence.  This too feels right.  But it also has the feel of something old, as mom, Rick and I have been here before without dad, he remaining home to work (and pay for) our time here in our younger days.

With a week and two days ahead of us, and few 'plans' this feels right too.  I have shared in past blogs the working of God in my life centered around disappointments, majority of them rising out of my expectations God had not intended for me to experience, having differing plans.  As I change my process of planning my days, sweeter unfoldings have become more the norm, with far less influx of disappointment.

While I sit here for the past hour various forms of "I'll be Home for Christmas" have played, Island style.  This too feels right.  I will return to my earthly home for Christmas, but for now, I venture into the experience of my parents as they grew up here, steeped in island tradition, my dad eternally home for Christmas, we someday joining him.  I can say pops, that you have taught me to drink deeply of this journey called life.  You forged in your son opportunity, fostering creativity and desire for excellence, everything done worth being done well.  And I sit here, this spot on the island as I have so many times before, only this time with tears welling up in my eyes as I think and remember you.  And it just feels right.