Life Updates & The Road To Hana

Happy Halloween, everyone!

Sorry, I've been MIA.  But yes, Ben, I got a job!!!  I'm the new General Manager of a popular, growing tea shop company in Chicago.  Though I've been in management for years now, I've only ever been an Assistant Manager.  I'm fully confident in my abilities and truly believe I'm going to do a dynamite job for them.  At the same time, it's slightly terrifying; I'm going to be running my own store downtown!!!  All I've ever wanted was an opportunity and now I'm being given one by people that believe in me. It's time to walk the walk.  Pressure's on!  It's a huge challenge, a ton of hours... but I'm VERY excited.  :)

In other news, my beautiful BF gave me a free ticket to go see 'Red' at the Goodman Theater.  It was AMAZING.  It was definitely a 'life moment,' a moment where you know you're exactly where you're supposed to be, fully present.  I knew that the show was about an artist but didn't expect to walk away feeling speechless, moved, needing to process... I'm not art aficionado but I know the creation of art is supposed to be thought provoking, a dialogue starter... it's supposed to make you feel something.  This play is definitely a work of art and I was incredibly moved.  Not to mention, my favorite color is red- fiercely so.  As the last line of the show was spoken, I broke into tears. If you get a chance to go see it, you really should. 

So that's been me!  And now on a completely different note...   :)

I'd love to show you more Hawaii?!!  How 'bout it, folks!!???  :)  :)  :)

Joan and I did 'The Road to Hana Tour' with Polynesian Adventures.  I would HIGHLY recommend it.  It's an eight hour tour around the island of Maui.  You can drive yourself, and a lot of people do, but it's definitely not for the faint of heart!  Much of this insanely curvy winding road is one lane and while part of me would have loved to lolly-gag this adventure, stopping wherever I chose for however long I wanted to be there, it's pretty dangerous.  I can imagine it would be incredibly stressful to drive and the person driving would miss out! 

Anyway, it was the highlight of my entire trip... completely gorgeous.  Our first stop was Ke'anee Peninsula.  These pictures, OF COURSE, do it no justice.  (Toootally reminded me of the Dharma Initiative houses from Lost- ha!)

Another 'life moment' happened prior to this trip to Hawaii due to my friend Stacy.  We used to work together at a cafe in L.A. but over the past couple of years have bonded over Facebook, and even more so, over similar break-up experiences.  She, too, moved from L.A. in pursuit of a loving relationship that ultimately failed.  

The awesome news is that Stacer later found the love of her life in a handsome and tall UPS man.  He delivered a package!!!  Yeah, he did.  :)  :)  :)  :)  :)  They are now married & have traveled all over together.  Her story has been an encouragement to me. On my worst days, she'll remind me to believe that real love is possible and that there are still good guys out there.   

All this to say, that while Stace & 'The Tall One' were vacationing in Hawaii, they climbed a volcano.  While on the top, she made a wish for me to Pele, the goddess of volcanoes, fire, wind and lightening.  I'm not sure what the wish was... But I'm 8,000,000% sure Pele played a part in me coming to Hawaii!  Again, this trip was deeply spiritual to me.

In fact, I talked to Pele the entire trip like Mikey talked to One-Eyed Willie in The Goonies!

I love, love, LOVE this black rock.  It was wet & shiny & smooth.  Having no money, I put a bunch in my backpack for friends in L.A.  I was going to send them out as a way of having them believe in their own adventures, that anything is possible.  I suddenly felt weird about it.  So I said, "Pele, I hope it's okay I take these stones.  I'd like to send these to my friends as a way of having their own adventure.  I don't mean you any disrespect."  It seemed okay.

Of course when I got home, my Noica flipped out.  "You don't take rocks off the island!!! That's the one thing you don't do!!!"  Apparently it's all curses, death & destruction.  I told her I talked to Pele and I thought she was cool with it, so Noics calmed down and said, "Okay, as long as you guys talked." 

But knowing that I got a weird feeling when I took them to begin with, I didn't feel right about it.  I did some research and decided to send those mothers back!!!  I really think Pele was cool with ME having them but I figured better safe than sorry.  So they're back in Hawaii now and Pele and I are still cool.  :)

So don't take rocks off the island!!!!

I still couldn't believe I was in Hawaii... I had to take this picture to believe I was really there.  I love the idea that I was touching fresh igneous rock (in the grand scheme of things) created by a volcano!!!! (I guess igneous rock from a volcano is kind of redundant).  :)

I really wish that these pictures did Ke'anee justice.  Everything just sparkles and shines. 

I love these twisted tree roots, too!!!

A Japanese man was perched up on one of these crazy trees.  His daughter was below him... I thought it was really cute. 

If you were to turn around, you'd see this church built in 1856. (This, too, TOTALLY reminded me of Lost-- what!??? I can't help it!!!) 

Our tour guide, Lehua, took pictures for everyone.  She asked if I wanted to do the hang loose symbol in my picture because that's what Hawaiians do and I'm sure she was trying to be a fun tourguide, which she totally was. But it's so funny--- it hurt my soul!  While I understand it's a part of the Hawaiian culture, it's also what tourists do that are on vacation.  She didn't know my story.  She didn't know the miracles that allowed me to get there, that Pele and I were on a first name basis.  She thought I was another silly tourist that wanted a picture for their Christmas newsletter. 

Now don't get me wrong-- I'm not knocking anyone having fun on their vacation.  In another circumstance, I'm sure I would have!  But for whatever reason, it made me sad that she didn't know the deep respect I had for her home, for this magical place. The way the stars aligned, this trip was a spiritual journey not a vacation.  I politely declined and the look on her face told me she thought I must be the most boring person alive.  I can't believe she couldn't read my soul.  ;)

But that was just the start of my day... These feet traveled all over Maui and there's much more to come!!!

Happy Halloween, everyone!!!

MandiCrocker

Introducing Maui!!!

You guys!!!!  *sigh* 

I have Oahu luau pictures to post but I just can't do it.  Maui is just too breathtakingly beautiful, I can't wait any longer.  I HAVE to take you on vacation!!!  By far my most favorite island of the trip-- it's like a dream!

Are you ready?!!!!  Put on your sunscreen & sunglasses!!!  Grab your bathing suit & beach towel, folks-- you're going to need it!!!  MAUI HERE WE COME!!!!  :)  :)  :)

This was our balcony terrace from our room.  Can you imagine having breakfast in front of this view every morning???  It was HEAVEN. 

 Beautiful fresh air, no humidity... That's Molokai in the background, another island of Hawaii.

I mean... COME ON!!!!

I WAS HERE!!!!

:)  :)  :)  :)  :)  :)  :)  :)  :)

This was the view from the outside hallway.  Doesn't it just look picturesque!?  See the rainbow on the left hand side!!??  Hawaii is full of rainbows!!!

Maui is soooo much different than Oahu.  It's a slower pace, it's less touristy... it's soooo chill.  You can breathe here... the world stops.  :)

While Joan was doing laundry one morning, I explored down by the beach.  One of my favorite moments from this trip.  I had begun to feel better and got some quiet 'me time' to just sit & reflect.  All I did was breathe... deep breath after deep breath.  For the love of monkeys in Uganda, look at this water!!!!

Hawaii has always been on my list of places to go but due to where I was at a few years back financially-- not to mention in life-- a trip like this seemed like an impossibility.  I dug my feet in the sand & just stared at this view in utter gratitude.  I couldn't believe my eyes.

It was sooo quiet, soooo serene, soooo peaceful.  I'm a person that needs alone time in order to function and this was just perfect, perfect, perfect.

It's like the cover of a magazine!  Can you imagine sailing every day like this!!!???

The sand was even fascinating to me!!  Pebble-y and grainy!  :)

There was hardly anyone around.  It was... I mean, JUST LOOK AT IT!!!!

 What a gift.  Anytime I feel stressed, all I have to do is look at these pictures & remind myself of the exact feeling I had sitting in such stillness.  This place healed me in so many ways....  

I came back from Hawaii feeling like a different person.  A person with strength that was finally ready to move forward.  A gal excited about how far she's come based on where she was a year ago.... Someone excited about the changes that she'd been making that would make this kind of magical manifestation possible. And even more so... an adventurous gal who is super psyched about what's next.  :)

I feel the need to reiterate the absolute stillness here.  It's just soul-filling. 

I dug my hand deep into the sand and took this picture as a way of acknowledging that I was here.  I wanted to experience, touch, taste & feel everything I could in Hawaii.

And wanted her to remember me...

And as soon as I was here, I was also gone.  Maybe it's just me but I can't help but feel that Hawaii is a deeply spiritual place. I felt the breeze go through me like a wall of healing.  The waves lapped up on shore and in my heart with the playfulness of a child.  That inner, whole, complete voice inside me was so quiet yet so powerful & strong.  God was everywhere here and I just took it in.

In a moment's time, Hawaii had her imprint of me. She knew my entire history, my past and future.  And I knew, sitting in the ocean letting the waves wash over me, that everything was going to be okay. 

So I took a seat in some shade and said some prayers of thankfulness. 

I laid back in the sand & looked up at the lush green & blue sky above me...

And that is when a speck of sand by my head moved at a furiously fast pace.  I nearly lost my sh*t!!!

I thought it was a spider but it wasn't.  It was this little guy-- a Speedy Gonzalez sand crab!!!

And that is when I was done with the beach.  ;)

I never know who actually reads my blog... But it is my sincerest wish that anyone reading it today gets to experience a place like this at least once in their life. I hope you can live vicariously a bit through these pictures and use them in some way to manifest your own journey here.  It really is healing.  It really is heaven on earth!  I am so lucky & blessed to have gotten to visit someplace so magical.  :)

Have a terrific day, everybody.  Big hugs to you all,

Oahu: Pearl Harbor

My dad has always been fascinated with WWII ships and aircraft.  When I was little he would take my brother & I to go see various submarines or ships like the USS Intrepid.  So of course when Joan & I took a quick tour through Pearl Harbor he was very much on my mind.  It's added to my mental bucket list-- Return to Pearl Harbor with my Pops.

This was the first time that Oahu felt like Hawaii to me.  Everything was very lush & green.  In Waikiki it's hard to imagine a Hawaii without a ton of hotels & tourists but at Pearl Harbor I could picture what the lush landscape would have been like years ago and could imagine the men working on the base.

It's really beautiful at Pearl Harbor and I'm having difficulty describing how it feels.  It's somber but the beauty embraces you.  These islands are so luscious & alive, they want you to move past sadness.  You can feel the sad history here but Hawaii kisses it away in the most loving way.  That's how magical these islands are... 

Seven US ships were lined up in the harbors when the Japanese attacked.  Although the incoming planes were seen on radar, the attendant on duty called off a warning because they were expecting US planes with a shipment.  Soon thereafter, "Air Raid Pearl Harbor. This is not a drill."

One of these ships was the USS West Virginia.

This is the anchor from the USS Arizona. 

I really wish I had more time here.  All I remember being taught about the attack on Pearl Harbor is that there was one and that it was the breaking point of what got us into WWII.  When you can see history in front of you, it makes an impact.  You learn so much.

Our flag standing over various plaques with names of lives lost that day.

The USS Bowfin submarine is in the background.

A seven sided memorial dedicated in 2005 to the Marines who lost their lives. 

This is a Regulus missile (like the one at the USS Intrepid, Pops!) and were used on various submarines.  On June 8th, 1959 a Regulus I missile like this one was loaded with 3,000 letters and launched a hundred miles away from The USS Barbero (a submarine), traveled over 100 miles & 22 minutes through the Atlantic Ocean. It 'landed' at Mayport Naval Air Station in Mayport, Florida to deliver mail that the U.S. Postmaster General Arthur E. Summerfield had written to key political figures such as President Eisenhower. Each envelope had a picture of the Regulus I and said "First Official Missile Mail." 

And now we have e-mail, folks...

The USS Bowfin.   Unless we're talking sandwiches, I am just not submarine material.  The thought of being submerged miles below an ocean gives me the heebie jeebies.   So much respect for the guys that do this. 

A very, very big torpedo.

There was a circular area where people could sit & pray.  For the life of me I can't remember what it was called.  I want to say it was 'The Reflection Circle.' 

I found these quotes haunting.

The trees in Hawaii are so fascinating & beautiful...

It was incredibly peaceful here.

The USS Arizona Bell when she was inducted...

The little bell is one that was salvaged as well...

This was a Japanese Torpedo that was found by divers.

The ONLY thing I can remember from movie 'Pearl Harbor' (because it was a terrible movie) were the guys stuck inside of the Arizona that were tapping.  I had completely forgotten about it until I read this plaque...

We always remember the attack on Pearl Harbor which was followed by our retaliation on Hiroshima (*shudders*).  But what most people don't think about-- I never thought about, anyway-- the aftermath of what happened & what that meant for Hawaii.  Something else most people don't know is that, today & especially back in the 40's, Oahu had a strong Japanese population.  The social climate became ice cold after the attack, with curfews instated, etc... I can't even imagine what that must have felt like for Japanese American born citizens.

In case you get lost...  :)

After walking around Pearl Harbor, we had the opportunity to go see the Arizona Memorial.

I hear that unless you arrive very early in the morning there's a great chance you won't make it.  There are ferries that bring you to the Memorial and only a certain amount of tickets.  I'm glad we didn't miss it.  These big white markers resemble where the ships were docked the day of the attack.

The Arizona Memorial actually rests above the ship. 

.

Protruding barbette...

2-9 quarts of oil leak from the vessel a day called the 'black tears' of the Arizona. Divers go in regularly to maintain the ship's stability as there is still half a million gallons of oil. 

The plaque inside.

The flag looking up out of the Memorial.

The shrine.

So many names here, so many lives lost.  "These men are still right under my feet," is all I could think.

The USS Vestal, a repair ship, was damaged in the attack but fixed & continue to serve our country until she was finally stripped down & her parts sold off from '49-50.

USS Missouri was also repaired & has had quite a life fighting for our country in WWII, Korea and even the Gulf War.  After being a valiant force to be reckoned with for so many years, earning many awards, she rests now back home in Pearl Harbor.

If you get a chance, you should go...  Again, this entire trip was such a gift and I couldn't be more thankful to Joan for taking me.  More of Hawaii to come... wait til you see Maui!!!

Much love,

MandiC.