Thanksgiving, Homesickness, and Cartwheels

It is a rainy day here on Maui, and I have a cold. There are two (possibly inebriated) older women in the grassy common area of the condo. One is doing cartwheels and handstands across the grass while the other one rates the performance Olympic style.

That was a 3.0!!! Claps hands. Laughs.

(I thought about taking a picture, but I fully respect their cartwheel activities and decided against it. Besides, the scene probably wouldn't translate well....visually).

I hope to turn cartwheels with my friends someday.

Thanksgiving was nice. It was our first big holiday away from family and we survived! I was bummed I hadn't signed up for a Turkey Trot, so I ran my own Thanksgiving morning. Then we made pie, potatoes, and salad and took it to a friends house for Thanksgiving dinner. It was a sunny, beautiful day.

See? Sunny.

Brant got Thursday and Friday off, so with our 4 day weekend we took off to the condo. I love coming to the condo on weekends - it feels like we are on vacation.

Oh, the vanity.

This holiday week started out kind of melancholy, but has officially turned into a lovely, relaxing time. It was melancholy because I am officially homesick. I don't miss Boise, but I miss my family and friends.

I miss Black Friday shopping with my mother in law.
I miss walks and talks with my girlfriends.
I miss stuffing the turkey with my mama and eating all of her holiday baking.
I miss my niece and nephews.
I just miss being around everyone for the holidays.

Earlier this week it just felt hard to be a festive, one-woman show 2500 miles away from family.

Boo hoo for me.

All perfectly normal, I know.

I am thankful that I have people to miss.

And I'm thankful for our new friends here who checked in on us and made sure we had people to spend Thanksgiving with.

I'm thankful for family calling. For funny voice-mail messages.

I'm thankful to still be on this new adventure.

And I'm thankful for papayas.

The end.