Auntie Angie's List

I posted a big sign "HOPE" in bright orange duct tape above our deck so people driving by or running or walking by could see it.  We have "caught" multiple joggers and drivers stopping to take a picture of it and that truly makes me happy.  It's the small things!  I just added "JOY" to another beam and I think I will add "LOVE" and "STRONG" to another.  I do think that HOPE is the most important thing of all through this pandemic and throughout life.  I learned at an early age that if I didn't have something planned in my future that I looked forward to, that I didn't have as much positivity.  So the other night Dustin and I started jotting down things that we want to go to here in Oahu and abroad.  We used to spend a lot of time planning our trips and we have fun doing it along with some wine, which always helps the ideas expand!  Well, of course our list of different hikes here to explore is LONG, but other places that we just want to check out are on our list too. Problem is that the beaches are not open for setting up a chair with a good book and coffee or wine.  Only swimming, surfing, running or walking, no lounging.  That will be so nice when we can go to some of these pristine coastal areas and just sit.  I also want to check out the Byodu Temple, kayak or SUP to the Mokes, and get a tour at Kualoa Ranch where parts of Jurassic Park was filmed.  I want to go visit some amazing spas that I have heard about and the Thai Massage right up the street if it is still opened after this whole thing is over.  We are also looking into getting a boat, so that's something fun; taking the Dept of Land and Natural Resources Boating safety course the last few days has gotten us even more excited about it!  Dustin has more time to research on shore duty; he barely had time to put away a dish when he was on sea duty with 24 hour duty days every 3 days!  It seems like that was so so long ago, but I have to take myself back there sometimes in order to appreciate now what we have with so much more quality time together!  I am babbling, but don't care, back to some of the things instilling HOPE in me....island hopping (there's a whole FB page dedicated to this) to Kauai to Barking Sands and to the Kauai Marriott that Dustin used to stay at, hiking the Napali Coast, going to the Big Island and seeing the lava and black sand beaches, going to Maui where I have never been!  As of now, inter island travel is off limits until June 30th, but hopefully that will change and Dustin will be allowed to travel as well.  We've also dreamed of being closer to places out here in the middle of the ocean, so there are long term talks about New Zealand, Austrailia, Whistler, Singapore, Vietnam just to name a few. BUT as for now, I am enjoying staying at home and embracing the little things like HOPE with duct tape making others smile!