Maui Maui

It seems a long time ago that I last blogged...so much has happened and it's already almost the end of the first month of 2009!

Christmas was fabulous with Colleen, Allan, Grady and Joelle sharing the holidays with us.

We had lots of fun eating, playing Wii and dominoes, and doing puzzles. Boxing Day we drove to Ft. MacLeod and spent the afternoon with Bob and his family, so there was lots of action. It really was wonderful to have them to celebrate with.

New Year's Eve we set out for Maui...on our Aeroplan Miles tickets, we got first class seats and the plane from Vancouver to Maui was a brand new one, with "pods" as seats that were basically like small spaceships of our own! With massaging adjustable seats that turned into beds, and all kinds of gadgets and treats, it reminded me of when my cousin Holly and I used to play "imaginary house" when we were kids at the playground. (The bed would fold into the wall and then you'd press this button for it to rotate into the wall, with the kitchen coming out from the other side, etc.) It was a rather heavenly way to start the trip! And for Air Canada, the pod upgrade almost makes up for them leaving me in a hurricane in 2007...

The next few weeks were a relaxing cycle of low-key activity: coffee on the lanai, packing the cooler for the beach/pool, sitting on the beach reading a book, watching whales and people and having snacks and drinks. Boogeyboarding and snorkeling in between sitting kept us moving and made a few muscles and bones a little sore. We ate well at dinner most of the time, or had happy hour appetizers at the Grand Wailea, and saw an incredible live show by Willy K, by far the best guitarist I've ever heard, and one of the most interesting entertainers I've seen (he also featured mom and dad dancing for the anniversary and made dad sing to her!). Dad and I played 18 holes of golf at the Wailea Emerald course, a beautiful setting for my debut golf game since 2007! Of course, we also saw a lot of incredible golf at the Mercedes PGA event at Kapalua - its always a treat to see these guys play because they are THAT good. We spent time with some wonderful people in Maui - some we already knew and some we met on the beach and by the pool. Watching golf with the Hamiltons from Airdrie, eating dinner with grandma Gunn's prior neighbours the Hipwells, coffee with Leanne and Harvey, playing golf with Blake and Ross, hanging out poolside and beachside with Natalie and her family, chatting with Debbie Jo, and sitting next to Owen Wilson (yep that one) at the bar...people always make it more interesting!

We did manage to fit in a few stressful hours during our trip. Since I had burned the top of my feet (one spot I missed the sunscreen on) the day before and literally could not wear shoes because of that, we went on a "road trip"around the north part of Maui. It is a part of the island not travelled that much, and we found out why. The road is actually a path, and for several several miles, the path is one lane carved out of the cliff with another cliff dropping off the other side. This would not be such an issue if there weren't cars driving both directions. The book we had said in the areas where the road "narrowed" the car going uphill should back up to an area where they could get over far enough to let the downhill car by. Hah. That would assume everyone read the book, as well as assume that there were "areas" to get over far enough! When twenty cars are behind you, it also assumes a synchronized reversing of the twenty different drivers! It's insane! And yes, the road is supposed to border some of the most amazing ocean cliff views on the island, but when you are gripping the steering wheel and peering around tight corners hoping there is not a car coming toward you, you sort of miss those! It was an experience, and now we can warn others - don't do it! It makes the road to Hana look like a three-lane freeway!

While it was very hard to leave, our overnight flight through LA made us happy to arrive back in Calgary last Tuesday afternoon! Daisy's response when we picked her up at Pet Planet made us feel missed. I was happy to see Tasha at the airport and later to see my brother and his family.

The next day I drove up to Edmonton to see Dr. Aung for a "boost". Dr. Aung's visits are always positive, and the bonus is I see my "little sister" Amy and her husband Ryland, as I stay at their house after one boost, and then in the morning before heading back to Calgary. Other than a snowstorm as I returned to Calgary, the quick trip did provide a boost.

Since then I've had supper with my brother, Dana and the boys, who are now impressive "hi-ya" kung-fu fighters when watching "the Panda"! I also have been able to hang out with Tasha, Ryan and Talyn a bit as Ryan continues his fight against brain cancer. Ryan finished his radiotherapy over a week ago, and will have a scan tomorrow and see the doctors next Tuesday to discuss the next stage of treatment. He continues to do quite well given the treatment, anti-seizure medications and steroids he takes, but has been hit by some significant fatigue to say the least, and the entire family is certainly running a little low on energy these days. I am happy I am back in the same country to do whatever I can for them as they press on with such incredible determination.

I had bloodwork at a lab in Kihei while in Maui, and things continue to look good. My anti-rejection drugs have been gradually reducing and are almost at half the level I was on in early December. The Maui energy and Dr. Aung boost has definitely translated into improved strength and I physically feel as good as I have for at least 3 years. Yesterday I was in the office at PwC to get a few things arranged for my planned return to work March 2nd, and I feel confident I'll be able to move back into that world pretty easily.

So far for me 2009 has started off well. Maui always gives me unique energy and I know it was the perfect start to the year for my parents as well. If I could only figure out how to spend 6 months of the year there. Hmmm. Six months in New York, six months in Maui. Gotta dream, right? Happy New Year!