Tuesday, March 6, 2012

"I'd Rather Be Snorkeling"

My daughter was 16 when we moved to Maui.  She had quit school that year, due to the never ending bullying, God I hate bullying!  The following year, she took the entrance exam at Maui Community College and scored 2nd. year of college and so they let her in without even a GED.  My girl has an IQ of 180 and retains what she reads;  Well, she did in those days anyway.  

I became the sole cook at the homeless shelter in Puunene, Hi. where I cooked breakfast and dinner for up to 100 people 6 days a week.  I also made snacks for the children coming home from school.  This was my most rewarding job of all time.  


Soon after I became the shelter cook, another woman started working there for a short time, and we became friends almost instantly.  Homeless shelters can have such a negative effect on you if you don't have the spirit for it and my friend quit as soon as she got a job as a concierge in one of the big hotels in Lahaina.  Two years later, the shelter went state and I was replaced by a dietician.  I was forced to find fast employment elsewhere or leave the island I loved. I had put myself through college waitressing so got a waitress job, first in Lahaina, then in Kihei. On Maui, the most profitable job can be waitressing if you really love it, I did.  I worked from 2-10pm, 5 days a week and made enough money to cover my rent, my car, and still do pretty much anything I wanted to do.  

Working as a concierge, my friend was encouraged to go on all the excursions Maui had to offer and she was allowed to take a friend with her,  I was that lucky friend. We looked down at the sun as it rose on Haleakala,  


 We went to various luaus, on different snorkeling excursions and even went on a helicopter ride around the island.  It was snorkeling off Molokini that I really felt that I was at home.  Here I am, this beautiful mermaid trapped in this overweight old wahine hoale and I'm stuck.  The captain of the boat I  just jumped from announced that in two hours he would blow his whistle for us to come back on board, however, I no sooner jumped in the water when he blew that stinkin thing.  It didn't just happen once, but every stinkin time I went snorkeling no matter which boat I went on.  When my friend Richard came to visit me I was finally able to go to Makena beach after one of those excursions and snorkel for as long as I liked.


To Be Continued....

3 comments:

  1. this sounds interesting- bet Hawaii was beautiful-jeanie

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  2. I love this story! Tell the rest...it always makes me laugh...and it also confirms that Father Yahweh keeps an eye on you! I love counting your blessings with you! FINISH THE STORY!!!

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