Cordova All Stars...

A few years back Jamie and I joined a bowling league with some family members (3 other couples).  from August to April, every week we met on Sundays to compete against others.  The point of us joining was to do something and have fun.  When we started, the majority of us sucked but every week, we were there... and most weeks, we had a great time.  We formed bonds and relationships that are still going strong today.  

After a short while, we all began to focus on supporting each other and getting better.  Let me say that again... our focus (as a group) supporting each other and getting better.  We met at least one other time throughout the week to just hang out and bowl; we even got others to join in on the non-league bowling (now, how cool is that?).  The employees knew us and typically tried to make sure that we had what needed while we were there.  We became pretty consistent and close.  Bowling was were everyone got to be themselves and have a good time (strong bowler or not).  

Why talk about it today?  Well, for one, Jamie and I went bowling on Friday.  While we had a good time, we both agreed that it isn't the same without the 'crew'.  We often miss the Wednesday night bowling over beer after a crazy day at work.  Regardless of what some people think, bowling is exercise.  Healthy competition is a great thing; everyone's averages increased and you could never be sure of who the winner would be.  The support and desire to become better was evident every time we bowled... so very many (yes 'very many') high fives.  It even got me and Jamie going out more (and not just to leave the city!).

While I am not sure that I would bowl in another league that long, I did like the activity, relationship, and fun times that bowling instigated.  Don't get me wrong, there are other activities that could drive similar results, which we would enjoy.  The point is, for us, we don't get to enjoy that type of comradery anymore and we miss it often. 

Celebrating 40 and 20

I met my best friend 20 years ago at a grocery store.  I had no idea on that day that she would be my closest friend for life.  Funny how you don't really no what you need until it is placed in front of you.  She was a crazy grandma and I was a silly nerd (or at least that is what everyone thought).  We saw each other through some pretty interesting times...her first car and job; the ride to Memphis to get my car; her "asthma"; my experiments; my "apartment fiasco: countless birthday celebrations (all I can say is we both ENJOYED ourselves immensely); her and her basketball player; me and my long-distance-but-only-when-are -in-the-same-town beau; graduations; our first houses.  All of this to say, we grew up together.  To me, the college years are when you really start to know yourself and what you want (or at least to start focusing on those things).  She and I did that "finding out" stage together.  Now, that we are "grown-ups" and live in different cities, we don't get to hang out as much.

Last weekend, we got a chance to spend her 40th birthday together.  We drove up to Hot Springs, AR had some scrubs, wraps, massages, and exfoliation; took a duck tour; visited a Wax museum; and hung out at a bar.  While we didn't do much, we had (I had - don't want to put words in her mouth) a really great time.  Times like ours last weekend make me realize how much I do miss my friend.  She is a woman with a great spirit and an awesome heart.  She spends a great deal of her life taking care of other.  That weekend though, she had a chance to not worry about anything and that made me happy.  I truly cherish all the time that I get with my friend and am honored that I get to call her my Bestest.  Love you Kenya Latrice!

P.S.  This is the best picture describing us.  Ha!!!

Confessions of a Mainlander

For those that know me, you know that I truly love travelling…ANYWHERE.  Jamie and I have travelled to some pretty awesome places; even places that others don’t see as awesome.  This year took us to another island in Hawai’i and I need to confess a few things from a mainlander’s perspective.

Getting to Hawai’i can be a bear.  Think about it Hawai’i is a pretty isolated group of islands.  And oh yeah, they are islands.  If you live anywhere (except along the west coast), travelling to Hawai’i can become cumbersome.

My suggestion… If you want to go to Hawai’i, just be prepared.  If you like to read, take a book (one that will keep your interest).  Music your thing, make sure you have at least 6 hours of it.  Do you color?  It may help.  Benadryl put you to sleep, have at it.  Just think through your flight(s).  While we had everything that could keep us amused in our possession, there was no denying that eight hours on a plane, in the main cabin, is a very long time.

Hawai’i is truly beautiful.  The islands that we have visited boast lush greeneries, beautiful flowers, and the bluest waters.  To me, it’s one of those places that I wish everyone could experience.  Natural beauty at its finest.

Laidback is the way to go.  I had dreams of travelling the road to Hana, taking a sunset cruise, seeing the sunrise at Haleakala, and spending some time reading on the beach.  In the end, we spent most of the time sitting on the patios (sorry Jamie, lanais) reading, talking, lounging… Relaxing as we looked out over the island.  I didn’t feel any knots in my shoulders or back all week. 

I feel like the locals may be a little resistant to so much tourism in their town. Hawai’i is a huge tourist sanctuary, meaning its existence hinges vitally on tourism.  People come from all over the world to visit and experience its beauty.  Yet, one of the common themes this time was … the people didn’t want tourist coming through their town or changing the culture.  With a culture that so greatly depends on tourism, it just seems like on a whole people would be more accepting by now.  But hey, that’s just me.  People might say that I am too nice to the source of my funding.

I really don’t believe that non-human creatures and I can coexist in one place.  I have been to a few places now where other creatures frequent inside dwelling spots.  While I don’t consider myself prissy, girlie, or well-to-do, I can assure you that I am not the type of person that can live comfortably with creatures like funny –looking centipede-type bugs, lizards, spiders, ants, monkeys, etc.  I just can’t.  Stop telling me that this how people live in the country or you have to get used to it or they won’t bother you if you don’t bother them. Please just remove them from anywhere that I have to stay.  Please and thank you!

Hawai’i is a group of islands.  As people asked where I was going for vacation, I found myself saying Maui and some people would say, ‘Oh Hawai’i’ as if my statement was incorrect.  So note, Hawai’i consists of eight main islands (I believe).  I am typically hesitant to say Hawai’i because I don’t feel like I am going to or have visited all of Hawai’i.  I guess it is similar to when I talk about visiting California; I typically talk about the cities that I have visited not the state as a whole (because I haven’t visited the entire state).  It’s a funny thing really because Hawai’i isn’t a normal state; it doesn’t fall within the Americas and as mentioned is simply a group of islands.  It is literally easier (and cheaper) for me to get to Mexico or the Caribbean islands than the Hawaiian Islands.

Anyway, these confessions are wholly my own and do not reflect the opinions of the Morris family or the many Hawai’i visitors.