Play!

So, for my second week in Hawaii, I have been hanging out with the Acker family on their amazing vacation on the beach. Susan and Pete Acker are celebrating their 49th anniversary, and they decided on a Hawaiian vacation with their family to celebrate - a pretty good choice. They have three kids, and each of them has three kids. So all week I've been hanging out with 9 little kiddos - swimming in the pool, playing go-fish, sharing Roald Dahl books, and chasing them with my luchador mask. The grown ups keep asking me 'why do you keep hanging out with them? Relax! Come hang out with us!' But. . . I love hanging out with kids! And this bunch of kids is pretty awesome. Hanging out with these kids keeps me smiling, and keeps my curiosity about life churning. Today I met a centipede, tried to catch tadpoles, played animal tag, tried to crack a coconut, and made up fantastical stories about adventures with sea creatures. We also made Lei's and had a hula dancing lesson. Playing all day . . . and I'm in this absolutely gorgeous home, with sunshine and water everywhere. Right now I'm laying in bed, listening to the ocean. I could get used to this.

Saturn Return

A few months ago, I was sitting with one of my very favorite people - Kristen French - talking philosophy and life.  As per usual life conversations, I was fretting over my wander lust vs. the need to be a "grown up" and do the things I'm supposed to - have a job, build a life, be stable, etc.  Kristen is always very good for my soul, and she told me exactly what I needed to hear.  She told me about my 'Saturn Return.'  A Saturn planet is on a 29 year cycle of orbit.  When a person is born, Saturn is in a specific place and position, and will return to that exact same position every 29 years.  It is philosiphized that when Saturn returns to the exact position of your birth, you are crossing a major threshold in your life.  Every Saturn Return is the opportunity for 'rebirth.'  Kristen told me "If you have spent  your first 28 years learning about yourself and the world, doing what you love, and growing, you'll be ready when you turn 29."  Kristen told me that instead of 29 being a scary omen and reminder of me not settled, it is the opportunity of a new beginning.  If I have spent my first 28 years learning about myself and the things that matter to me, 29 is a beautiful beginning that I will be ready for. 

This conversation gave me instant peace about my need to explore myself and the world.  On my birthday 2 days ago, I thought about this, and became excited about 28.  I know this year will be full to the brim of me learning about myself and my place in the world, and I know when I turn 29, I'll be crossing that threshold ready for the year to come.  

Birthday Videos

Here are the videos that I meant to post with my birthday blog!!

When I woke up on my birthday, this is the song Hudson had prepared for me.  Love it!


The beautiful video my parents made for me.  Such a wonderful birthday present!!!

28!!

Well - it's my birthday! And I feel pretty darn lucky to be spending it in Hawaii. My adorable little friends woke me up with a Beattle's song and dance, and I had birthday pie for breakfast. Christine and Steve (the parents I'm nannying for) have definitely spoiled me, and I had a great day with them.

At lunch, I got such a special present from my parents. They made me a video montage of my life, and I loved it! It's so fun to look back through the years and remember things like "Benjamin was such a cute baby!" And "Oh yeah, after I shaved my head I looked like a chia pet." Thanks mom and dad for that super thoughtful present. It was perfect!

After anther birthday song and huge cake at a restaurant, I came to drop the family off at their new place - an enormous paradise that Obama apparently stays at when he comes here. I don't doubt it! It's gorgeous! And when I was about to leave, off to camp in a grass hut, they broke the rules - shhh! - by letting me stay ( the max people allowed here is 17, and I make 18). We are right on the ocean we have a big swimming pool, and once again - I am taken care of by the goodness of people. It's been a super-cala-fragalistic-expialadocious birthday.

World of Paradise

There's so much! How about just some pictures to sum it up? Well, and a quick blurb. . . Yesterday we hiked through a beautiful botanical garden - with plant species from around the world - and we ended at this beautiful waterfall we could swim underneath. The boys I'm with on this trip. - Hudson (6) and Heath (5) - are perfect for adventures like this because everything they see is beautiful and sacred, and it has made my experience and energy on par with their wonder and fascination.

Today we went to the Polynesian Cultural Center - which was a fascinating place, exposing us to experiences from different Polynesian islands. We learned the ukulele in Hawaii, spear threw in Tahiti, got Fijian tattoos and played a rope-ball game in New Zealand. The day was full of beautiful music, cool history and engaging traditions. The most interesting thing about this fabulously entertaining place, is that it is run by Mormon missionaries. BYU Hawaii's campus is right by the cultural center, and 80% of the people running the events are students, and the Center at large is run by missionaries. The thing I had a hard time reconciling was - how is this tourist Mecca mission work? This place was so expensive, and the church must be making so much from this, and I just wonder how this is missionary work? I absolutely loved the place and my experience, I'm just still wrestling with how and why missionaries are here, doing this fire-breathing, hula-dancing work.

So much for just pictures to sum it up. There's just so much to share! This trip has provided some much needed Vitamin D, and replenished my childish, curious spirit. Yesterday Hudson said "This is a world of paradise!"

Life is good

Today was so fun! We started off the day hunting in tide pools for cool creatures. Then we went on a kayak adventure, where we found giant sea turtles. And as we all sat around eating giant shaved ice - I thought, "This life is pretty good." And then of course 2 seconds later Elise and Heath were hitting each other and fighting over the last bite of snow cone.

We swam in the pool, played games, harvested a coconut, and had a very relaxing day. Heath, who is 4, has decided to move here. And there is something so captivating about being here. I was already on vacation, but this is a vacation from my vacation. The energy is so different. The vibe is so friendly and chill, we come home every night contentedly tired from all the swimming . . . And being here with kid opens your eyes to how much there is to see and explore in (what I might have always thought of as boring) grass. I'm about to fall asleep, to the lullaby of a gecko. . .

Aloha

I am in Hawaii today! It was a beautiful way to wake up and celebrate solstice - with chirping birds (at 4am!) and palm trees. Today has been a lovely day with the family I am working for. We swam at the beach, went for a walk, ate delicious burgers and played outside.

These fearless kiddos love bugs ad creatures, and our day was full if them. Elise bumped into an ant hill and was covered in ants, and bug lover Heath captured dozens of baby cockroaches and had them crawling all over him. While I tried to brush the cockroaches off Heath he said ,"No! I love them!"

Our day also included 2 geckos - one that got released in my rental car - and 2 detached gecko tails, slugs, snails, and a few other un-identifiable bugs. I'm glad my bout with the cicadas had my happily holding bugs for the first time, because I'm not phased by all the bugs my days ahead are bound to encounter. At least, not yet . . .

One of my favorite moments from today was when I gave Elise my Luchador mask to wear, and a few minutes later I found her tackling her mom. She intuitively knew what to do when the mask was on! It's been good to hang out with kids. Their curious, playful energy is so much fun.

Eureka!

Yesterday, as I was on the plane ride home, I was finishing a book that Christine - a woman I worked for - gave me for my trip.  When she gave me "Walk Across America," she said "This is to inspire you, and connect with the places you will be." The story is about a man, Peter Jenkins, who didn't know what to do with his life.  In 1973, at age 22, this man had some preconceptions about America and judgments about people he never met - black people, uneducated southerners, etc.  He decided to walk across the country to see if he could fall in love with the country and its people, and see if he could find his purpose and direction in life on the way.

This book was so powerful and touching for me - and when I finished this book thousands of miles up in the air, I began to cry.  Peter Jenkins spent 4 years walking across the whole country, and the stories about the people he met were incredibly moving - and those stories hit home with me.  He spoke about how amazing people are, how they took care of him, how they shared their passions and stories with him.  And I became overwhelmed thinking about all the amazing people I have spent time with on my journeys.  People are the reason I love to travel.  I love the different stories, different paces of life, different loves and sorrows and joys that each person I meet has.  And I realized as I was crying these strange happy tears that just exploded out of me. . ..that those tears were the moment and reason I had come on this journey for.

When I set out 2 months ago, I was feeling overwhelmed by all the pain and sorrow I so easily feel buried beneath.  There was too much pain in the news, too many people I wanted to help and fix - in my family, my friends and in the world at large.  I remember sitting at a mass right before I left with my grandparents.  It was a mass to bless the sick, and I cried at that mass, feeling so sad by all the sickness around me.  I felt so sad seeing everyone's pain.  The night before I left, my sister Elizabeth told me, "They might be sick now, but think about all the joy they've had in their life."  I set out 2 months ago to find the joy that can get buried for me under whatever pain people are going through.

For the first time, I was crying tears over how beautiful and full of joy people are.  I realized that every single family or person I have stayed with on my trip has been going through something.  Some transition, a painful time, a hurting family member, feeling unable to reach a person they love. . . .but even though everyone had something that was hard, there was so much love and much to celebrate.  I'm sure that Ted, the guy next to me on the plane, was wondering if I was OK.  But I let the tears keep falling as I remembered each person and family, and the beautiful things I saw in them and the special things they each taught and shared with me. I

I still have another month and a half to go.  But that book helped me realize that I am doing exactly what I came on this journey to do - see more love!

Here is Peter Jenkins and his dog Cooper on their walk across America 40 years ago.  I also felt connected to his story, because I also feel like I am going across the country to discover myself. 

My beautiful view during my Eureka moment.  That's the moon up to the left!

I loved the clouds

John and Jenny

As I took the train away from New Jersey to my flight in DC, I couldn't stop smiling.  While in New Jersey, Devin's girlfriend Sphokazi asked me "How can you manage doing all this travel you do?"  I told her that I responsibly save enough for me to do my entire trip.  But I also know that people take care of each other, and I go into my trips knowing that people will be good to me.

John and Jenny were so good to me, it blew me away!  I absolutely loved being in their home and spending time with them.  With Jenny, I loved sitting and talking, and learning about cicadas.  She shared music and inspiring videos with me.  She brought me into her flute world and shared her passion with me, and we were able to talk about some of the girly stuff that she doesn't get doses of with her house full of men!

With John, I loved his teasing sense of humor.  Sitting with John felt like I was sitting with my Dad, and since I couldn't be with my Dad on Father's Day - it felt right to be with his oldest brother.  I smiled to see so many similarities between them.  I sat with John and listened to stories from their growing up, I tried to solve his tricky mind puzzles (and failed!), and I learned some of his secret recipes for hamburgers and root beer floats.  Yum!!

John and Jenny surprised me with an early birthday cake - decorated to honor my travels.  It was such a special surprise!  So thoughtful, and very delicious.  Another little thing that made me feel right at home - my dad always gets creative with our birthday cakes too!  As a birthday gift, John and Jenny bought my train ticket to Washington, DC.

Thank you both so much for taking care of me, for sharing with me, for making me feel so at home, and for such a wonderful birthday present.  I love you both so much!!!  I feel lucky that we get to see each other again so soon.  Say good-bye to the cicadas for me!

Here is a snippet of Jenny playing piano during a flute lesson.  She had many flute students, and it was fun to hear all the different levels.  Jenny is such a talented musician!


My birthday treat!  It was such a beautiful rendition of Happy Birthday from this musical family


Learning John's secret hamburger recipe.  Shh!  Don't tell him I'm sharing a peak of it.

Looking at 17 years worth of Derby cars from John and his boys.  John's are in the front - and so cool!

Cousins!

It has been so great being able to spend time with the family I don't get to see very often. But the wonderful thing is - even if we don't see each other for 2 years, it feels like we've seen each other every day. Some people are so amazed that I actually love spending time with my family, but its part of my genes. We Cline's love hanging out with each other!

My time in New Jersey was so fun. My family made me feel right at home - I goofed off with my Uncle John like I do my Dad, I talked with my Aunt Jenny like I do my mom, and hanging out with my cousins felt just like time with my siblings.

Devin and Kieran showed me a great time - we went swimming, bug hunting, I learned how to long board, we played the Sitar, had a campfire, and went to a super fun science center. And we just caught up on life.

It was great to talk with Devin about world travels, and spend time with his super nice, beautiful girlfriend Sphokazi. I had a blast playing around with Kieran, and he was always so nice and he really looked out for me. I love these guys, and feel pretty lucky to have them in my family.

In 1994, Devin painted this plate, saying it was a picture of his "Favorite cousin Courtney with the Shiny Teeth."  I had braces back then. . . .spitting image!

Smores!

The New York Sky Line behind us

A game of giant operation!

Here's my attempt at the Sitar. . . .I kept trying to play it like an electric guitar

Devin playing the Sitar. .. .he actually knows what he's doing!

Cicada Country

It has been so nice to spend the last 5 days with my family in New Jersey. My favorite spot has been their backyard on the swing - where I spent a lovely afternoon with Jenny, I read my book, watched bunnies hopping across the yard, and watched the crazy world of Cicadas!

Normally, I am my a bug fan. I usually cringe and back away. But Jenny showed me a very cool video about these bugs, and their amazing life cycle fascinated me.
This breed - Brood 2 - lay their eggs in branches. The young larva hatch and fall to the ground, burrowing 8 inches into the ground, where they stay for 17 years until the come out en mass - just for an 8 week period.

I arrived near the end of their time above land, and I was obsessed with searching for them! I've hunted through all the trees, played with the bugs with Kieran, and watched numerous things about them. One of the most interesting facts to me, is that these bugs are harmless. They have no defense, they survive by predatory fatigue. This means they come out in the billions, and all the predators can't possibly eat them all - so they survive!

In 17 years, I want to come back when they start their journey out of the ground!

This is the really cool video Jenny shared with me.
 



Here are the bug skins they shed.  They are attached to everything - and look just like live bugs!

Up Close. . . .

Kieran and I were eating the bugs.  They are a delicacy that only come once every 17 years. . . .

Kieran is showing off the talents of Cicada's to stay alive after being half eaten.  Crazy!

Happy Father's Day!

I have always looked up to my dad. I have always loved his mischievous sense of humor, his love for his job, and his dedication and hard work to provide for us all. Whenever we are curious about something, my dad disappears to research an answer. He passed on to me his love of games, and I am in awe of his game-master, mathematical mind.

His patience is amazing, his love for Christmas music contagious, and his work with people with disabilities inspires me to be a better teacher - and person!

And since my Dad is always working so hard without much time for vacation . . . for Father's Day, I decided to bring him along with me! For the last month, my Dad and I have been through Texas, Tennessee, Kentucky and New Jersey together. Thanks for the great times Dad! Love you lots. Happy Father's Day!

At Lala's Christmas Bar, where it's Christmas year round!  Can you find him?

At the Cathedral of Junk in Austin!  We found lots of junk we grew up with.

My Dad always wanted to be an Astronaut.  Here's our close approximation. . . .

Getting Root Beer Floats at an old fasioned candy store.  Yum!

I love you so much dad!

Our dose of politics at Texas' capitol

Yee Haw!  I thought he needed to fit in a little better with Texas.

A the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Texas

At the CMT music awards in Nashville, TN.  My Dad getting a picture with the only country star he recognized in the whole show.  Taylor Swift!

Elvis was on every street corner.  My Dad got this picture for my Mom.

We found our street in Tennessee!

Here we are, hanging out with his awesome cousins and Aunt Margaret in Owensboro, KY.

Watching Super Man in 3D with my Dad's brother and his family.