Celebrate!

Good Morning O'hana!

It's certainly been a while! I got up this morning and it felt right to blog again.

Let's start with Halloweeeen! Halloween was truly a ton of fun. I had a PM shift (1:30-8ish) which we banged out so everyone could get out, get dressed, and celebrate Halloween Hawaiian-style. I was wary and a bit tired but decided to jump at the opportunity anyway. Two friends and I had managed to arrange a ride with a woman from Kalani's guest services so a mermaid, butterfly, ballerina, and Pocahontas headed off to the big Halloween party down the road. It felt so strange but wonderful to be getting out of Kalani, riding down the rolling red road underneath the velvety star speckled sky. Not sure if I've mentioned it before but Puna (and some would say Hawaii as a whole) has a large gay community, so of course the entry fee to the party was going to the Puna Men's Choir. The 'gay factor' was also in some way comforting, creating a less predatory environment for a single woman.

There were day of the dead trannies, draculas, greek gods and goddesses, a lady out to the spa, a storm trooper, sparkles and plenty of hairy thighs. It was so much fun to let go and dancing my heart out with my friends, feeling free and accepted at this strange little gathering.

The latest celebration was last night, a housekeeping/warming/going away party! The housekeeping managers Joe and Annalisa hosted a housewarming party for the housekeeping department which was opened up to everyone as the night went on. The beautiful little house was simple but had one room with three gigantic screen walls looking out into the jungle. We sung karaoke till Puna midnight (10:00PM.. haha) laughing at ourselves and enjoying the peacefully festive night.

I'm past the halfway point here at Kalani. My arrival seems eons away and the end seems so close. The days have begun to go by faster. Yoga classes, meals, pool time, laughing in the art shed, trotting down to EMAX and back up, cycle through; each time different, each time more precious. I shift between excitement to go home, share all I've learned and see my friends and family, to fearing that I'll lose what I've gained without the beautifully woven support system of Kalani. So for now I'm setting the intention to focus on being in the moment, being in my body, and to continue exuding gratefulness for all the light in my life and for the expanse ahead of me.

The breakfast conch has called so off I go! There's much more to say and update you all on so look forward to a new post soon (...hopefully :) )

Aloha