"You've Been...Island Struck"

"You've been Thunderstruuuckk" "THUNDERSTRUUCK!"

During mid run, mid breathe, mid warming up my tone deaf vocals, I found myself once again lost in the moment.  "Thunderstruck!!....." Yep, I guess I really did belt that out louder than anticipated as I noticed a few people giving me the stink eye. Embarrassed? Maybe a little. But, I instantly found myself smiling so big I couldn't help but chuckle out loud. "THUNDERSTRUCK!!...THUNDERSTRUUCKK" soon the stink eye was replaced with a smile of their own.

A song that will forever remind me of home, having bonfires out in the country, and headbanging in the basement of 901 College St in Fargo. Memories I won't soon forget. Funny how a song can instantly spark a memory. Bring a twinkle to an eye. A devilish grin to the most innocent face.

With the sun beating down on my black tank top, my lips tasting of bath and body works minty lip gloss, and my skin feeling like I rolled around in a salt tank after freshly stepping out of the the shower (I swear my sweat here is 99% salt with a hint of mist) I found myself caught in a trance of admiring the kayak team's morning practice and me pondering my future. " You've been.....ISLANDSTRUCK.....ISLAND STRUUCK!" And with that, the locals laughed with me.

And with that, I found myself pondering about the last four and a half months. The longer I thought, the more "Island Struck" I became. I still have moments where I think I am dreaming. It seriously is that beautiful here. I have gazed at some of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen, frolicked in some of the bluest water I have ever stepped foot in, appreciated some of the most stunning waterfalls I have ever admired, stood atop one of the highest mountains in the world (and coldest!!), listened to some of the most angelic love songs I have ever been mesmermized by, picked some of the most delicate flowers I have ever touched, cherished some of the most graceful hula dancing I have ever seen,  drank some of the best coffee my lips have ever tasted, ate some of the sweetest pineapple my tongue has ever watered for, and best of all--embraced the simplicity of life here. Family trumps all, followed closely by the pride of Mother Nature and the beauty she possesses.

Mauna Kea: 14,000 feet, the highest mountain in the world. And yes, that is snow.

More from Mauna Kea: it was so cold my hands went numb!! Car said 25. With a 40 mph...felt right at home.

I have experienced the sun. The wind. The rain. The SNOW. Earthquakes. Lava. Black sand. White sand. Gold sand. Green sand.

Green Sands

Whales. Dolphins. Turtles.

Camping. Rodeos. Hikes.

Love hikes like this. Beauty. Meaning. Serenity.

I have lived in a 20x20 kennel (yes you can measure this by laying down and estimating.) My friend Carrie and I lined up head to toe-head to toe (x4.5 times) and used our 5'3 statures to estimate just how big my 20x20 would be. To my surprise, it's quite a reliable method of measurement; much how men seem to know the exact length from their pinky finger to their thumb with hand extended. Driven and and now OWN the most cheap, unreliable car I have ever laid eyes on. Not a single gauge works: no gas gauge, speedometer, or odometer. Heck, it didn't even come equipped with a radio. Proud? Absolutely! 1994 Nissan Sentra Baby!!!

"BLUE": All for the same price as a pair of True Religions

Ah, Hawaii. Although, I must admit, after the initial "Island Bliss", I did go through a period where I was looking forward to going home. As with all this beauty does come a few drawbacks. Shopping, restaurants, reliable cars, and isolation immediately come to mind. No Bath and Body Works, no Pizza Corner (this is seriously the longest I have ever gone without one), restaurants, even pizza delivery closes at 8 pm, bars really don't exist, and when Walmart runs out of candles, batteries, Diet Coke....they are just out. End of story. Wait until the next shipment comes in Sista. Temper tantrums need not apply.

My pizza addiction has temporarily been replaced with a burrito fix, my cheese cravings have been replaced with a homemade salsa obsession, my Carribou buzz with a Kona coffee high, and my butterfinger blizzard craze with flavor burst ice cream. Still have the Dove chocolate problem. And a new one: flowers! They are everywhere and i LOVE them. The orchids and plumerias I can't help stare at. Thank God my Middle Sister Red Wine is always in full stock on the shelves. Guess the locals aren't much for red wine. Oh well, more for me!!

Island Struck.

Life as I know it has been simplified. I have only been to the shopping center twice since arriving, once to go Christmas shopping and once to replace my slippers (formerly known as flip-flops in my vocab). I have not seen an entire episode of any TV show: the Bachelor, American Idol, Greys...the News. I have NO idea what's going on in the world and I am actually quite ok with it as I am sure it will still exist upon my return. Automatic what? Automatic nothing. I have transitioned to someone who has to climb in the passenger door, avoid being strangled by the motorized seat belts, just to get in the driver's seat and pray that my car STARTs. I do have a nice padded steering wheel though. The thrill of seeing if my car is going to make it another mile has replaced my American Idol addiction.

Mind you, I have been living out of a suitcase and a half for the last 4 and some odd months (ok, maybe 2.  1 big suitcase and 1 carry-on) I have officially worn every article of clothing I brought 10 times over. Back home, I have been known to change my jeans twice in one day. Pathetic? Maybe. But honest. Funny how I only brought 3 pairs of jeans to Hawaii and have managed just fine. Heck, I could have maybe even gotten by with just 2 pair. 95% of my wardrobe is sitting at home in my closet along with the other 20 pairs of shoes I own. I am sure it would begin to drive me a bit crazy if I let it and really thought about WHERE all my stuff is...but you know what? I can honestly say, I do not miss any of it. A lesson in simplicity I think we should all take note of.

Island Struck. It seems as though I have become quite accustomed to it. I like it. I crave it. I need it. Funny how we all have the opportunity to live like this; yet we choose not to. As the Islands are no different from the mainland. The stress of life still exists. Work, bills, and deadlines coupled with an unreliable car, expensive gas, and no cell reception. One could easily turn into an uptight tourist screaming at the tour guide (witnessed this the other day) yet I feel more at peace than I ever have. Coincidence? I think not. A lesson in perspective I think we could all learn from. Kind of like "Stripped." As I take pride in my car that costs the same as a pair of True Religions, I find myself feeling guilty about my exploding closet at home. Catch me driving my boy "Blue" on the Mainland 6 months ago? Maybe. Today? Without a doubt.

It seems as though my fascination with learning the Spanish language has interfered with my ability to learn some of the Hawaiian language. The main grammar rule is to pronounce all the vowels in the words. Doesn't sound too difficult. Here, you give it a try: we will start simple.

Kinoole (remember, EVERY vowel has a sound)
Kilaueau
Malaaka (Mal-a-auka)
Waianuenue (Why-a-newy-newy)
Kamhameha (Ka-may-a-may-a)
Kalanianaole (still can't say this one right, and I LIVE on this street)

Yep, I still try to use Spanish vowel sounds, roll my tongue, and butcher most words.
Turns out I make it much more difficult than what it needs to be. Kinda like life sometimes.

Another list of words that have come part of my daily lingo:

Auntie/Uncle: This applies to anyone and everyone who appears to be older than you. In the hospital its, "Good morning Uncle. How are you feeling today?" "Hey Auntie, you need anything?"

Papa/Grandma/Tutu: anyone that appears to be elderly. "Papa! Are you soa?"

Soa: Pain

Pau: done. finished. "Grandma. You all pau with breakfast?" "It's 7:15, I'm all pau for the day." (My favorite)

Pupus: free local appetizers at the bar.

Slippers: flip flops. Any form of sandal.

Shi shi: urine.

Dodo: poop.

Piko: means hole. Bellybutton, rectum. I still can't remember which is which, just a piko is a hole in the body and I always hope I am going after the right one!

And of course, Aloha and Mahalo.

Here is a sample list of what I was given in hospital orientation for cultural preparation:

"IslandStruck"  "ISLANDSTRUUUCK!"

Ink. Tattoos. Macademia nuts. Pineapples. Coconuts. Malasadas. Rice. Sausage. Mongooses. Fishing. Surfing. Paddle boards. Slippers. Steinlager. Beach mats. Flowers. Leis. Coffee. Waterfalls. Sand. Sacredness... the faster my mind raced, the faster my asics hit the pavement.

It's all become a huge part of my life. But so is ND. Should I stay? Should I go? While my Asics took a beating from the pavement, my mind continued to race.

What about all my stuff at home?

Sweat dripping in my eyes. Burning. Tears. Tears of happiness. Tears of sadness. Tears of joy. Tears of pain.

As I continued on my run, with the ocean to my right, and a beautiful Japanese garden to my left, I found myself unable to shut off my mind. The further I ran, the more the wheels turned. So much that my mind was and still is a jumbled mess. After all the 'ups' and 'downs' of living in Hawaii, I am beginning to feel like I am at 'home' here. I have finally started to earn some respect at work, developed friendships, and am slowly figuring my way around the Island loop. Absolutely loving the scenery, settling in to the lifestyle, and adapting the cultural differences. Yet, I have days where I miss home more than anything and long for familiarity. I feel a bit bi-polar to say the least.

As my run came to an end, my racing mind was interrupted by a familiar beep. One of a new email with subject line: Fargo, ND. With sweat dripping down my face, my black tank top now being used as a hand towel on my sandpaper complexion I continued to read... "RN travel job opportunity in Fargo, ND." I felt my heart skip-a-beat. A beat so strong I am quite certain I did a double fist pump and donkey kick. Tears of sweat. Tears of joy. Tears of sadness. I reread it to be certain of what I was reading was real. "RN travel opportunity in Fargo, ND...start date around the end of April."

Coincidence??? I think not...but how's a girl to say "Aloha" when she's not ready go?

Caught somewhere between Hawaii and the Mainland, Island Struck and Thunder Struck, my heart is having a Tropical Storm of it's own...

Simplicity combined with perspective. I think this is the way to living a full, complete life. Yet I am confronted with a decision that is far from simple. Looks as though my Asics are going to be put into overdrive for the next few days. Stay tuned...as I have some big decisions to make.

"Uh huh uh, uh uh uh, uh uh uh uuuhh. Thunder! Uh uh uh uh uh uh, uh uh uuuuhhh. Thunder!!.... You've been thunderstuck!!"

Tonight: Ponder your happiness. Put it in perspective. As I bet it involves the simple things in life: family, friends, road trips, camp fires, afternoon naps.