Tuesday September 6, 2011

Aloha Everyone! How are you today? It's a beautiful sunny morning in paradise. The kamalii and I are sitting under the kapuna mango trees having some school time. Well actually the kids have submitted some of their lessons and are having snack recess. The weekend was uneventful but hectic. We toy with the idea of moving back to the mainland. This always gives me anxiety. It would be nice to have ohana close by, and some modern conveniences that one doesnot readily appretiate 'till they are gone. Such as grid power. We live totaly off grid. Power can be pulled in, but it is expensive. So, we have three solar panels and a generator for back up and laundry days. When we are able to we'll add more panels. As nice as it would be to be close to family, I love my home here. Litteraly everything we need is provided. We have fruit falling from the sky. I can weave my frond baskets and dream catchers and Andy can make his surfboards, walking sticks, drums, etc. We don't have the bills most people have such as power, water, sewer or trash pick up. Those can be major stress factors. Life is not always easy though. There are still bills to pay, the misquitos will drain you of blood if you do not keep yourself sprayed, and the coqui frogs will drown the night with their mate chirpping song. I swear I will begin to drift to sleep and pull the deafening chirp into my dream and it begins to sound like someone murmering something. That makes me pop awake. Still I think of leaving and I start to cry. Life here has changed me, challenged me, accepted me. I can not go back.

And the Rain Doth Pour

Watching the rain soak the world as a million thoughts drift through my mind. The kamalii are bouncing off the walls. Mental note: Do not give Oreo Cookies to four kids cooped up on a rainy day. My Sweety is out helping his brother. I am wondering if the kids will be able to do any school work on their computers today. We can only do that outside it's the ibly place we get a siginal. I have to admit that I am impressed with virtual school. It's a nice change of pace after homeschooling for the past 11 years. It's also a nice stepping stone to intergrating the children into mainstream school.
Well, there goes my son, running through the mud and rain. I love Paradise even when things are tough. Abd I have to plug in, so that's all for now folks.
M. Swan