So last message, I just started talking about Neil and I know I didn’t give any history. Well it was all so “new” a relationship at the time that I wasn’t sure what to say. But several friends didn’t let me get away with that and wrote, “Who’s Neil?” Since we have been seeing each other 5 months now, I guess I can say I have a “boyfriend.” (Still have a hard time with that word but best word to describe it.) Neil is really wonderful and I am quite lucky to have met him and have him as part of my life.

We were introduced 2 years ago by friends. He was teaching computer science at Maui Community College and a few months later got me the job at the college by remembering it was mentioned I had been in computers when we met. The next semester he left teaching to work for the Pacific Disaster Center (a government-funded program to support the Pacific region in cases of natural and other disaster) as an analyst in the Geographic Information Systems group. We just remained acquaintances and would enjoy talking at friends’ gatherings. We reconnected in September because he was going to Palau in November, and my email mentioned I was thinking about it. I didn’t end up going to Palau with him, but we did start dating in October. We seem to have a lot in common, like similar outdoor activities including diving and hiking, and I just really enjoy being with him. Hard to describe more but just to say I am really happy!

Neil’s mom, Jean, arrived to stay with him in December right after my mom left after Thanksgiving. We all had a weekend trip to Oahu including a visit with his cousin and aunt. The Christmas decorations were up all over Honolulu including a Santa in shorts where Jean had to sit on his lap to tell her Christmas list. I also visited the Arizona Memorial for the first time. It is impressive and sad. War is such a fruitless waste of life. Why do we sacrifice our young? (end of commentary) It was a fun weekend away. 

The following week was Winter Solstice. Neil and I drove up to Haleakala (10,000-foot volcano) to watch the sunset and full moon rise at the same time. What a magical night. It was more like the beginning of the millennium for me than New Years.

I spent Christmas with Neil and Jean. We had nights of huge meals together and with friends! Christmas morning we sat around opening lots of Christmas gifts. On New Years Eve, Neil was on call (for Y2K problems) along with all the personnel at the Pacific Disaster Center. Fortunately, no problems. Still instead of going to a big party, we sat on the hill and watched the fireworks over the resorts. Earlier in the day, my neighbor Peggy pointed me to the PBS stations coverage the celebrations around the world. I watched it throughout of the rest of the day. I was extremely impressed with the sunrise on the new millennium performances in China.

The next week brought the usual phone call five days before classes started, "could I teach a college course again? (please, please, pretty please)" Only this time it was a different course than the one I had been teach the last 3 semesters. This is Introduction to Computer Science, which includes programming. Not a problem, but the course is now taught in Java, a new language I had not yet used. So as usually, I am staying a week or two ahead of the students. Spring break is coming up, so I plan to use part of it to get their assignments for the rest of the semester planned. Fun to be doing some programming again, but not enticing me to go back fulltime!

I have a wonderful friend in my neighbor Peggy. She likes to do things so we go to lunches or dinners or just have afternoon tea. We go on shopping expeditions (this is a big deal for me because most of you know how I hate to shop) and have started playing cards with another friend of hers, Pualani, a few afternoons when we can all get together. Pualani is from an old Hawaiian family and tells wonderful stories about the past of Lahaina and Hawaii. Her home is filled with wonderful treasures of Hawaii and the world.

In February, friends of mine from Seattle, Barbara Parker and William Nichols, were on Kauai to visit Barbara’s sister. I flew over for the weekend to visit with them. We were quite busy with activities as we visited. We walked in Waimea Canyon, went on a sunset whale watch captained by Barbara’s sister Sarah’s boyfriend, and kayaked on the Hanalei River. We were out of the kayaks and all dried off before realizing we hadn’t taken a picture, so just posed in front of the standing kayaks, but we really did it!

Dad and Jane came to visit in February and into March. Dad had broken his leg 4 weeks before. First bone he has ever broken. He wouldn’t come to Hawaii on crutches; he was able to get the cast off two days before the flight. Had a walking brace. Of course refused assistance between airport gates, walking the whole way (with his cane packed away in the suitcase). His leg got better each day, although he did over-do a few times and had to ice it at night. His foot was still a little swollen on the last day here when we went snorkeling; I had to get him two different size fins!

One night while I was teaching, they went on the Maui Princess sunset dinner cruise (the largest ship on Maui). They said it was a wonderful dinner and sunset. We managed to do a few things together: Drive up Haleakala, a whale watch cruise, drive through Kihei looking for a WWII monument, attended the show Ulalena (mentioned previous web page) and a BBQ with neighbors.

From Maui, they flew to the Big Island for 6 days. They had enjoyed it so much last year and managed to arrange to stay the same places they did before. They flew back through Maui for just a few hours before connecting to their mainland red-eye flight. Neil and I were able to meet them and visit for a while before they were gone for another year.

Friends from Alaska, John and Dawn Conn, arrived with daughter Jessica and Dawn’s parents, along with friends and their two children. (I stayed with John and Dawn in Anchorage 2 years ago, and with her parents in their old bear camp cabin). Maui has so many activities, we were able to dive only one morning and have dinner one night during their 10-day stay. Sounds like they all had a great time though.

Ending with news about the family. I am going to be a great-auntie. Jason and Vajra are 4 months pregnant. They plan to return to Maui for the summer when Vajra completes this college year in May (she is maintaining an A average) and stay through the birth of the baby at the end of September. I don’t think they plan to return to the Oklahoma college. Vajra is looking at other colleges. I don’t know of their plans after the first few months with a new little one on Maui.

 written March, 2000