The comfortable temperatures and balmy breezes of a comparatively dry Hawaiian winter had spoiled us for nearly 28 days when the news of snow storms, below zero celsius temperatures and troubles with the German train service made us feel even less thrilled to be returning home than we already were. After 2 days of travel, having spent 16 hours in cramped economy seating, crossed 11 time lines and suffered through an agonizingly slow train ride, we arrived home, cranked up the heat, settled in, and went to bed.
Hours later I awoke and peered out the windows at a dull white winter world slowly coming to life. The market stands on the square shed warm, welcoming light. A few early shoppers scurried along and the occasional car was muffled by snow. I opened the window to feel what I saw. The still, snowy air smelled astonishingly right and it did, after all, feel good to be home.
It is now, all cozy and warm, tucked in safely under a low winter sky, that I dream of Hawaii, the things that we did and the sights that we saw. The lushious green forest, the bumpy road up, chickens and dogs and blue sky above. The view of the valley by day and by night. The twinkling of the ocean, the rolling of waves, long sandy beaches and small rocky shores.
I see Mom on the porch and feeding the chickens. Leo chasing the dogs and sitting in cars. Laptops at breakfast and Laptops after dinner, serious complaints and light conversation. I remember Sushiya Sushi, Mei Dim Sum, plenty of poky and excellent Thai. Tony’s good cooking, dinner at Wong’s, Ramen and Pho and our Shrimp Shaking day. The tea ceremony, the making of Mochi, some things relaxing and others more taxing … And everyone’s smiling, at least in my dreams, where I get to choose.
As I look out the window it’s snowing again, so I’m back to my bed with The Breath of a Wok and the inspirations brought home in my heart.
By-and-by I will be posting more pictures from Hawaii here.
