California, Hawaii, and Back to NZ

My long awaited trip back home to California came and went just like a whirlwind weather pattern. There was so much to do to prepare for being gone for a month...like move everything back into our apartment after having the carpet replaced. Throw into the mix a huge rotten hole in the floor that had spread to the wall and the joists...just a little bit of drama on this end to get to the point of packing for my month long journey. Amazing miracles happened, and the tradesmen that were scheduled to complete the job, showed up, and I was able to move our possesions back into our little nest above the Auckland Harbour. Then I had to quickly pack before Rob dropped me off at the ferry building. I had no idea what to pack...but I managed to pack an empty duffel bag into my suitcase so I could bring back all sorts of treasures from the USA. One thing I do know...it is very expensive to shop in NZ...they do not have discount stores here, or if they do, I have not found them.

Rob came home early to take me to the ferry building, as it was raining sideways, and a usual 5 minute walk to the ferry would have seen me drenched like a wet rat. I convinced him that the smartest way to get to the airport would be for me to take the Airbus, as they can utilize the bus lane during the commute hours. Rob would have been in the car for hours if he would have driven me...literally. We have had the experience of trying to get to the airport at that time before, and with heavy rain, it could have been a complete nightmare. So off on the ferry, and then right outside the ferry building, the bus. I arrived at AKL with plenty of time to check in and get sorted through two very high security check points. Not fun going to the USA anymore...they really doublecheck everything, and I must fit some profile that needs to be scrutinized. You really want to say "are you kidding me?'...but that is not what you do...you do what they ask...empty your carry on, empty your purse, let them check you for explosives...ugh...it gets really tedious. Finally, I was through, and all of a sudden it was time to board. On to the plane to be like a sardine for the next 13-14 hours...oh joy! NZ is too far away for me to get excited about flying...a 3 hour flight is lovely...but that doesn't get you anywhere but above the ocean.

Surprisingly, we landed earlier that the scheduled time. My sister, Anne was due to collect me & then we were to meet up with Ross at his cottage in Alameda. I finally got through customs, and scanned the crowd over and over again, to see if I could find Anne. Just like looking for Waldo...Hmmmn...no sighting of Anne, and I had no cell phone. Have you recently needed to use a pay phone in this modern age? Well...good luck...it is close to impossible to find a working pay phone. And, once you do, get ready to be robbed of all your coins...cha ching! Thank you, Ma Bell! Through a number of calls on said phone, I finally contacted Anne, and changed our meeting place to the outside arrival area. What entertainment! I have never witnessed such a stressed out traffic officer in all my life. His face was purple-red as he shouted in his bull horn to innocent drivers who were picking up their loved ones. At one point I thought the little hair he had on his head might blow off...eek! I could not imagine having him come home to me everynight. He wrote 6 tickets in the space of 20 minutes. Talk about a heart attack waiting to happen! Coming from slow, mellow, little NZ this experience was like being put in a stress pot! Man was I ever glad to get out of there!

Anne picked me up, and I jumped quickly into her car to escape that madness. We had a nice visit as we drove toward Ross' place across the Bay Bridge. More stress when some very rageful driver decided that Anne had cut him off when she changed lanes. It got a little hairy there for a while, and thankfully that carload of raging men turned off on another street. I was actually thinking horrible things could have happened to us...and I am so grateful that their car went another route.

Finally, we were at Ross' cottage. What a darling little cottage it was...and what a great big hug I got from my son! I knew that I needed to stay awake, so I could get on the CA time zone, but I wanted to lay down and crash into dreamland so badly. Anne decided to get out of the East Bay before the traffic got worse, so off she went. Ross & I had a lovely walk around the Marina near his place, and then he took me to his office to show me his workplace. Later on, we met up with Kev, Roz, Amber & Pete and I got my wish for Mexican Food!! What a great visit we all had! Thanks to Kev, Roz, Amber & Pete for coming out to Alameda.

I think I slept like a brick that night...I was so exhausted! Leaving on a Friday evening from Auckland, and arriving in SF earlier than you left on the same day...and then staying up until 11:30 with the youngsters...enough said. 7 am Saturday morning, and I was as good as new! Off to Sacramento with Ross to meet up with Christopher & Emily. We had a lot on our adgenda for the weekend. Lots of good stuff! It was so great to be back with our kids! It might sounds so great to you all that we are way far away here in NZ...sounds like we are on holiday or something...but what you might not realize is...we miss our kids heaps. So...to have time with them is truly a gift. There is this very special electricity in the air when we are all together.

Saturday, the four of us did some bargain shopping, as I had packed my empty duffel bag in my luggage to be filled to take back to AKL. I had also done some catalog shopping, and had it delivered to Emmy & Chris'. We did some more shopping, and then it was...more mexican food for lunch. :) We really do not have mexican food in Auckland, so I was in heaven. I think I could eat mexican food every day...fish tacos...chile rellanos...YUM!! The boys were not interested in looking for mother of the bride dresses, so Emmy & I dropped them off back at the house. We only got to Macy's to try on possible dresses...what fun we had!! We were hysterical in that dressing room! We laughed ourselves to tears. Obviously...we did not find anything suitable...however, we did narrow the field of what did not work for me. Hmmmmmnnn. There were heaps on that list.

That night, we had a great BBQ at Chris & Emmy's. Got to meet some of the bride's maids, and the kids cooked a great dinner. Had fun getting to know Tracy & Leanna, and then drove to the Sac Airport with Emmy to pick up her friend Megan at 11 pm. It felt like I was back in time driving the girls to soccer games...except that I was not driving...I was in the backseat listening to them. Two beautiful young women...friends from childhood...bubbling on about life. That was precious! Another late night, and I felt one with the futon that I had to sleep on.

Sunday...what a special day for sure! Chris' parents came up to Sacramento with his sister, Sharna, and her adorable son, Jackson. Chris' friend Josh also came along to help with the truck. The boys were going to work on Chris' truck, and the girls were going to see some dresses Emily had selected. We had an appointment at the wedding dress shop, and Emmy had the most amazing lady assisting her. Emily had been out with some of her bridesmaids & Denise, Christopher's mother, to try on dresses rior to my arrival in California. I had seen many photos of Emmy in all sorts of dresses. We were really looking to see if the 'one' was really the 'one'. It certainly was!! It was one of those moments that you get when goosebumps and tears (happy) rifle through your entire being. Both Denise & I were awestruck...this dress fit Emmy like it was meant to be! Jackson, who will be the ring bearer whispered to Emmy that she was beautiful, and she looked like a princess. When Emmy changed out of the dress and back into her clothes, he exclaimed, " Auntie Em, you're not a princess anymore!" It was pretty precious to hear that...but what was more amazing was to share that moment with Emmy. Got to check that off the list of to do's for the wedding. It was truly a special time!

Both Denise & I had a poke around the wedding shop for dresses...but we both decided to wait to purchase until closer to the date. And....wedding shop + mother of the bride/groom dresses = expensive. Better to go to a nice department store and find something you might get to wear again. I have never seen so many beaded, sequined dresses in my life. Somehow that style does not appeal to my body type. So the hunt goes on.

Sunday afternoon, Ross, Megan & I left Sacramento for Sonoma...well, actually Cordelia Junction. My friend, Anne drove to Cordelia and met us...Ross carried on to Alameda, and Megan & I went on to Sonoma with Anne. We dropped Meg off at her parent's house, and Anne & I went on to her little place. Anne & I gabbed on and on until the wee hours, before we both just had to get some sleep. Anne left for work on Monday, and I set off to do as much business as I could get done with just a short amount of time in Sonoma. All sorts of things from meeting with banker's to insurance people, to partners in investments...and try to meet up with as many family and friends as possible before Friday when more wedding planning appointments were set. What a week it was! Obviously not enough time to see everyone...but for those of you who I did get to see, it was great fun!

I had a special time in SF with my mum and all of my sisters...again at a mexican restaurant in the Embarcadero. Wow, Alicia, that was an awesome place for our get together! And, I was fortunate to have arranged a reunion among some childhood girlfriends in Sausalito. It was like we were back in Inverness running around the town, building cool forts, and telling each other our deepest secrets. It was such a heartwarming time, and I am ever so grateful to Brahna, Nichola, Lisa, Kelly, Cece & little Beau. What a great time to keep in my memory bank! I also had a great time at the Sonoma Farmer's Market...but yeeesh! It could have been a little cooler! All too soon, that week was over, and I was at SFO picking up Rob and our NZ mates, Chris & Janine. The next day, Rob & I had more meetings and signings and stuff to deal with in person. We had an amazing dinner at Mary & Greg's with Mickey,Gemma & Siena and the next morning we were on a plane headed for Kauai.

Vacation at last! We had organized with our dear friends, Jerry & Paula that we would stay with them at their timeshare for a few days, and then they would stay at our timeshare for the end of their stay after our kids went back to the mainland. So...at 6 am we left Glen Ellen and started our vacation journey. We had a big surprise at SFO when Robs sister, Amy showed up on the same flight. So...now there were 5 of us starting off...and 3 days later Ross, Emmy & Chris flew over. We had some magical times together! We had some amazing hikes, snorkeling, swimming with sea turtles, relaxing on the beach, walking, exploring new areas,cooking, bbqing, playing dice, and mai tais at sunset. Actually...Mai tais are only good in Hawaii...they just don't taste right anywhere else I have ever been. The day the kids left I tried so hard to be stoic...but as Ross put it..."Here come the tear bombs"...it was a very painful time. I really do not like goodbyes. Just reflecting on our time in Hawaii makes me wish more of life was slow and sweet like Hawaii.

On the 20th of September we landed in Auckland at 5 am. The weather was anything but balmy and tropical! Winds were gailing, and rain was lashing down, and it was cold! I had to put clothes on for the first time in weeks! In Hawaii, I only wore a swimsuit & shorts for most of the time. All the holiday clothes went back to the closet. Rob had a short nap, and off he went to work. He had a busy week back, and then back to the USA for him on Sunday, as he is currently attending an electrical segment leadership meeting in Wisconsin. I left on Saturday morning for a program on Tiritiri Matangi for the weekend, and stayed on at the Island volunteering as a guide. It was thankfully a good weather weekend. And...I saw a little, brown spotted Kiwi for the first time ever!! This week has been a continuation of catch up with business/investment affairs, and I am looking forward to Sunday once again, when I can get back to the Island for more incredible bird sightings and peaceful hiking. Tiritiri is a place like I imagine heaven to be. Robbie will be back in NZ on Tuesday morning at o'dark hundred, and I plan to pick him up at AKL. Hopefully, the roads won't be closed for road works this time...detours at 4:30 in the morning are a bit of a pain!

Weather tomorrow is meant to be gorgeous! We are in the middle of spring, and hopefully the wet, grey, windy weather will blow off! Missing those Sonoma Fall days!
thanks again to everyone who I was able to see when I was home! Cheers!

PS...It was also soooo great to meet our great neice, Jasmine! What a dolly! :)