That's How I Roll

After a week in Hawaii my knee is stronger, my weight has decreased, and my skin is browner. Did I say my knee is stronger? Yeah, that's a biggie.

I go longer and faster on the treadmill. Swimming is easier. (The knee still hurts quite a bit, but it's getting better.) This trip - walking and swimming and relaxing with no where in particular to go and nothing in particular to do (except my single knee focus) - has been the best thing for me and my knee recovery.

Who could have guessed that this trip, a spur of the moment trip, would have turned out so well? Talked about it on a Sunday and we were on a flight to Kona on Wednesday. How do I know this has been a great trip? We just did something spur of the moment, just 5 short hours before our flight home.

We extended our stay.

That's how those who suck the marrow roll!

I'm Retiring

Wouldn't it be great to say, "I'm retiring and moving to Hawaii?"

But that's not what I'm doing. Actually, I'm more like trying to retire. Not me myself, but my scooter and cane.

Scooter has been with me over a year now making sure I get where I need to go without running out of air or falling because of a busted up knee. She's taken me on trains and planes and ships. She's been my trusty companion and she's been rewarded with a generous helping of stickers, both travel related and inspirational. She even got herself some new stickers here in Hawaii. But on this trip, other than the airports, I only hung out with her on the rides down to the grocery store. Otherwise she's been parked in the room.

And then there's the cane. It tagged along through my knee replacement a few years back and then started up with me again before this knee replacement. I used the cane the first couple days here but she's also been spending most of her time in the room. (Keeping Scooter company I guess.)

They are both on the edge of retirement.

I came cross a quote yesterday that read:
Deal with each challenge and become stronger. Work through every challenge and feel the confidence that comes from knowing you can do it.

While I'm not yet strong enough to do those things on this trip I wanted to do - no snorkeling, no swimming with dolphins, no stand-up paddle boarding - I am ever-so-grateful for both the mental and physical strength that builds every day. For someone like me - rheumatoid arthritis, limited mobility, paralyzed diaphragm, two knee replacements, two shoulders repaired, gastric sleeve - to get a second chance?

Life changing.

Nowhere Else

Cats and birds. Beaches and sunsets. Flowers and fruit and luaus. Our 30 year wedding anniversary. Nowhere else but Hawaii.

Glaciers and Sunsets

I'm starting to consider myself somewhat experienced when it comes to traveling North America. I've been to all fifty states, Canada, and Mexico. There are places that are exciting, relaxing, challenging, easy. I've been to many destinations I wouldn't ever want to visit again and many I can never get enough of. While my familiarity varies depending on the town, city, island, or country there are two things at the top of my list, two things that are must-sees, add-to-your-bucket-list kinds of things. Things you simply cannot pass up.

Glacier Bay National Park. Watching - and listening to - glaciers calving is an experience that cannot be duplicated.

Sunsets in Hawaii. Walking on a beach like this in the morning may not seem too much of a must-see.

But when the sun drops below the horizon across the ocean waters it's a spectacular sight. I've never seen such beauty. Yes, sunsets in Hawaii ARE all they're cracked up to be.

Flora, Fauna, and Food

Hibiscus 

Flowers they use to make leis. 

Lily pad flower unopened and opened. 

Eel. Ick. 

Some orange-beaked bird. And another bird and another. 

Huge koi and a monster koi. 

Coffee plant with a close up picture, too. 

The flakiest, tenderest, tastiest fish and chips I've ever had. (We've had a lot so we should know.)

Rib eye, hamakua mushrooms, mahimahi, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, baby chard. A huge portion - this is only half the order. Hubby had the other half. And I didn't finish mine.

Ice team with lemon? Nope, they served it with pineapple.

Pupu platter. Kilauea BBQ wings, kalua pork quesadilla, Maui wowie onon rings.