My trip from LA to Hawaii was a little better than the trip from Indy to LA. For one thing, I wasn’t in the second to last row of the plane with a woman behind me loudly complaining about people in my row typically leaning back chairs and squishing people in her row (so of course, I couldn’t recline without feeling quite guilty). For another, I had an entire row to myself! I also had a three-hour-long conversation with a Mormon man named Roger. He and I had a good talk – I had quite a few questions for him and knew my Bible (which he led me to understand is not the norm when Mormons evangelize), so we had a lively (respectful) discussion.

The last plane ride went much quicker than the first, once we got off the ground. Our plane was delayed in LA for an hour – they had a radio go out waiting to take off, so we taxied back to the gate and had it replaced. Radios, I gather, are quite important when flying over a thousand miles of ocean. =) Personally, I didn’t mind the delay – I’d much rather take off with a fully functioning plane than a defective one.

Last night, when I got to Honolulu, I met my family at the baggage claim… ‘Round and ’round the luggage went, but my suitcase never appeared! After much waiting and much mom-stress, we discovered that my suitcase and its destination tag were separated in LA. The suitcase never left the city. Northwest kindly arranged for it to meet me in Honolulu today.

Leah at the airport

Me and Daddy

So.

Today, I got up early (because my body is still 6 hours ahead of Hawaii time) and went on a 3-mile walk with my mom, two of her [fun] friends, and little sister Leah. We returned to shower, then met another of my mom’s friends (and her 2 darling children) and my dad and went to lunch at the Dixie Grill.

Leah under the Dixie Grill security system notice

a prop in the women’s bathroom at the Dixie Grill

the sign on the women’s room door

Next, we went to the “Swap Meet” (aka, if you hear my mother talk about it, the “Swamp Meet”) – an outdoor flea market that stretches the whole way around the Aloha Stadium. We walked all the way around it, which took about 2 hours. I am pink. =)

We went to a Coldstone Creamery for the kids, then picked up my suitcase. I was glad to see it again (even though it was looking a little worse for the wear). This trip, of course, was the first time I put all my toiletries in the checked luggage instead of the carry-on. I would have been in trouble, but (fortunately) little sister, mom and I all wear about the same size clothes. I borrowed pjs and shorts and a tank (because all I had was jeans and a sweater).

That’s all. That actually took most of the day, so when we came back, it was dinnertime. We’re making spaghetti in this neato contraption Grandpa sent Leah recently. (see, Grandpa? I told you we’d use it while I was here!)