Our lives have not changed much since I wrote in July. We enjoy a wonderful balance of work and play living on Maui right across the street from the beach. Diving is still a passion and I had a treat on my birthday to have my picture on the front page of the Honolulu Advertiser. The picture was taken on Neil's Reef by Neil (who didn't get photo credit by error); and yes, the Reef is named for Neil! It was definitely not diving weather yesterday on Maui's north shore. We had very high surf at the area known as "Jaws" and we drove over with Jean and Morley early in the morning to watch the tow-in surfers. It is incredible to see the surfers looking so tiny on 40 - 50 foot waves (see picture in the Maui News.) Neil also took some great photos with our digital camera.
For our fifth anniversary this year, we spent a few nights over on the west side for a mini getaway. We had a lovely relaxing time in an oceanfront condo. We also enjoyed going to Lahaina town for Halloween when all kinds of characters in costume come out to parade and check out everyone else. They call it the Mardi Gras of the Pacific.
And speaking of birthdays, next month Neil's present from his daughter is a new son-in-law. Neil and I will be traveling to the central coast of California for Neil's oldest daughter Mailea's wedding on January 15. Mailea and Greg Pierce have known each other since grade school and met again in their junior year of high School a couple of years after Mailea had moved to Nipomo. They are now both juniors at Sonoma State University. Ari, Neil's youngest daughter, just finished her first quarter at University of California, Santa Cruz .
I want to say again how much we enjoyed visits from our family and friends this year. And it is wonderful to have Neil's mom Jean and her husband Morley as neighbors.
We wish everyone a joyous New Year. Please come visit us.