Trip to Hawaii

My brother got married last week in Hawaii so I spent four days on O'ahu. It was a very nice break from winter. Here are a few thoughts from my trip:

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1. Regarding my non-stop 8-hour flight from Dallas, if there were any opponents to public breastfeeding on board when we took off, I am certain that there were none when we landed. There were two infants that were only silenced by (1) food or (2) hearing the other baby screaming. I have been in the position of flying with an infant and I know the flight was much longer for the parents than for the rest of us.

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2. Sunday we attended a student ward at BYU Hawaii. Some Polynesian guys were wearing lava lavas and flip flops. I was mildly envious.

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3. Just before the Sunday meetings began, I met my brother's fiancee Heather. She is delightful. I understand that she is quite a singer and I was looking forward to hearing her singing voice. Unfortunately, she was seated in front of me so I couldn't really hear her. However, while I was straining to hear my future sister-in-law, I realized I could hear my current one who was sitting near me. Man, my brothers' wives can sing!

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4. There were seven of us staying at a 3-bedroom villa in Laie. Because I was traveling without Kara, I was assigned to share a queen-size bed with my sister. I hadn't shared a bed with her since she was six. It was Christmas Eve so all the siblings camped out together. Unfortunately, back in 1977 Amy got sick and threw up in my bed. I told her that after 33 years I was willing to give her another chance, but if she vomited again, I was out. That was her ticket to having to room to herself. Fortunately, no sickness this time. (On a related note, as we all entered the Polynesian Cultural Center together, the workers assumed Amy and I were a couple and started to line us up for a photo. As soon as I realized what they were doing, I stopped them saying, "This isn't my wife; she is just the woman I am sleeping with!")

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5. One of the first nights I was there, my mother (who I see rarely these days) gave me a hug and told me that she loved me. I replied unceremoniously, "I know." Just what every mother longs to hear, but it was true! In fact, I realized that the fact that she loves me is probably the first truth that I ever learned, and it has never waned for a moment. But it is still good to hear it. I love you too Mom.