Happy Holidays to you!
That song was going through my head as I walked the beach this morning. It felt wonderful to have my feet in the sand and the waves lapping around them. Neil and I are grateful to still live in our little Maui cottage on the ocean. We are also grateful to have family nearby and to have visited our family farther away this year.
We were able to spend the month of August and September visiting on the mainland. I started my trip in Ohio visiting with Dad and Jane and getting to see all my Kreischer uncles, aunts, and cousins. I flew to Montana to join Neil visiting with Ariann, Eric, and our grandson Patrick. Patrick was 19 months in August and it was a precious time to spend with him. Ariann is fantastic about video calling on Duo weekly so we continue the connection with Patrick watching him grow into a little man. Hard to believe he will be 2 years old in January! We worked on several house projects as well as having adventures with Patrick. 
A highlight of the trip, beyond the family time, was experiencing the Solar Eclipse in totality at a State Park near Challis, Idaho. I stopped in Los Angeles over Labor Day spending time with my sister Pamela and husband Chris. My brother Warren, Mom and Bill came down for the weekend to save me driving to Ridgecrest. Mom and Bill decided to come to Maui for two weeks since they were already in Los Angeles. I like their kind of thinking!
Back on the home front, we continue to live next door to Neil’s mom Jean and Morley. They have the usual aches and pains of aging but are doing very well overall. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving together and we look forward to tree trimming and Christmas together.
Quentin is 17, has his driver’s license, and is applying to colleges. He is a senior in high school and it has really hit me that he will be leaving Maui within the year! He is doing very well academically, involved in several clubs and community service activities, plus works a part time job. He is applying to colleges in California, Oregon, and a few other states. Financial aid is going to play a major factor in his decision once he has his acceptances. I am very proud of the young man he has become.
We have a new car! The last new car I had was my Fiero when I was 24. We had been talking about an electric car but didn’t feel the need for a new car when we had 2 working (older) cars. Our 2000 convertible VW started having problems in October and we determined it was the transmission—not worth the repair on a car that was rusting and starting to leak. On my birthday, we spent the afternoon car shopping. That night, after some research, we had a possible list of plugin hybrids as well as electric cars. By the next afternoon, we decided on a Kia Optima Plugin Hybrid and signed the papers to lease it on Saturday morning! A three year lease is a great deal right now because of all the incentives for electric plugin cars. We can choose to buy it in 3 years or look for an alternate car at the time.
Speaking of birthdays, I had wanted to experience ziplining last year for my big 6-oh birthday, however, Neil was on the couch at that time with bad road burns. We made up for it this year and went on three different zipline courses in October—two while I was still 60 and one on my birthday itself! And it was so fun, I took Quentin and his girlfriend another day for them to experience it.
We started Neil’s January birthday celebration early this year by parasailing near Lahaina (parasailing is closed from Dec 15 to May 14 during whale season.) They have a zodiac that picked us up right on the beach and took us out to the larger boat that hoisted us up side by side on 1200 feed of line. We will horseback ride in a week when Mailea is visiting Maui and we plan an ATV adventure in January.
We have joined the ranks of Mauians who work multiple jobs. Neil started working full time at Hilo Hattie’s in the shipping and receiving department. He especially enjoys the couple of days a month when he drives the shuttle on Lahaina cruise ship days. He also got a call from a company to do event setup and strike which he brought me in on. 
It was hard work, often in the sun, setting tables and chairs, spreading linens, building temporary structures, and then breaking it all down (strike) late when the event is over. We noted that most the people our age were either the coordinators or banquet staff. Neil began working on the banquet staff at Maui Ocean Center’s occasional evening events while I worked them as a marine naturalist. I continued day shifts at the aquarium as a naturalist until this November when I switched to working only the evening events.
My new job is working for Destination Management Companies (DMC) as a freelance Travel Director (TD). The DMCs are the organizations that coordinate the large company groups which visit the islands (usually the top performers.) The Travel Directors are the staff onsite for activities, airport, and hospitality desk. High season for the DMCs is January to May when TDs could work almost every day if they want. I have worked four events since September (two on the Big Island) and am loving it. I am also working in the office a few days a week for one company learning more about the Program Manger role. I am scheduled for six 7 to 10 day events through May so far. And I pulled Neil in to be an occasional TD. He will be coming to Kauai a few days in January while I am there 10 days.
A great big congratulations to Dr. Mailea Miller-Pierce who completed her PhD in Biology at Washington State University this summer. And a big congratulations to Dr. Miller-Pierce and Neil Rhoads for submitting their second scientific paper on Maui water quality for publication. It was over a year for the research, data analysis, and writing. There was a break in there while Mailea was completing her dissertation! 
Mailea is currently traveling. She visited Maui for a month and she is now in Australia. She will come to Maui for two days on her way back to have Christmas in Washington. I hear she is planning to go to Ireland for the New Year. Ariann continues as a Labor and Delivery Nurse and Eric is doing postdoctoral research at University of Montana (Missoula). Patrick is taking swimming lessons with mommy, likes his friends at daycare, and loves his doggy Lyra.
On a sad note, my nephew Jason, 37, passed away of a heart attack at the end of July. It was a shock to all of us. His parents, Pamela and Chris, are accepting but one can never fully comprehend losing a child. It was also difficult for Quentin and his sisters in Kansas, to experience losing a father. I know it is still hard for Neil losing his brother and Jean her eldest son a few years ago.
I am grateful that both my parents are in very good health. Pamela and Chris continue to live in Lawndale, California, and run the family LAX airport shuttle service (ha). (Thank you! Both of you!) Melanie and Will are still in Maryland near their daughter and son’s families enjoying their two grandsons. I hear they are looking to move from the area as Will explores his retirement options. Warren moved from California to Ohio and I hear Ohio is getting its first snow of the season. It will be an adjustment for him! He is very happy being near Dad and all the cousins.
The sun is sparkling on the ocean as the warm breeze blows in the front door. Sending you all blessings and love and some of the sunshine and prayers for true peace on this earth.
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