SKY HIGH

A few summers ago, I impulsively decided to go skydiving with a few of my friends.  It was one of those situations where we were bored and wanted to do something new and exciting but everything else suggested seemed "been there, done that."  That is, until skydiving was thrown into the mix and suddenly we piled into the car and found ourselves driving to the North Shore, our hearts racing to keep up with our nervous excitement.  I've always wanted to go skydiving, but was too scared to ever go, so in hindsight the best way to get me to do it was probably in the spur of the moment.  During the two hours of pre-waiting I was a nervous wreck of emotions and it was even worse when we were flying thousands of miles above the Pacific Ocean in a rinky dink plane, but at least I was strapped to an instructor with a parachute.  So I felt safe.  That is until...

The fall. 

Initially, it was a dizzying tumble through the sky that I was so disoriented as to where I was I didn't have time to feel scared.  When we finally stabilized and falling stomach first, I was surprised at how I felt.  It felt like I was floating down (albeit very fast) instead of just a rush of speed.  My stomach wasn't in my throat like I expected.  It was actually...very calming?  I could open my eyes and see the vast blanket of fluffy, white clouds.  Once we got passed through the clouds, I could then see all of the North Shore below me.  It was so spectacular and unreal. The dive was over in the matter of minutes and when I landed I was in a daze of, "Did that just really happen?"  I also paid extra money to have pictures taken aka sacrificing another person's life so I could have photographic proof.  I thought it would be a once-in-a-life-time experience, but I'm already gearing up for more!  Next on the agenda: bungee jumping. 

19 + 26

It was both of my brothers birthdays last week.  July babies.  Only just a few days apart except for in different years.  We didn't get to celebrate Tyler's birthday since he's living up in Seattle but we did have a nice chat with him on the phone.  For Trevor's birthday we went out for dinner.  Prime rib!  He was very happy and it was actually a nice family dinner.  I still can't wrap my head around how old we're all getting though.  Tyler turned 26 and Trevor 19.  However, it seems like just a few years ago we were still kids again with the two of them always ganging up on me, or playing copious amounts of Nintendo 64 (Super Smash Brothers was our crack), or riding our bikes/skateboards/scooters around our neighborhood.  As much as I wished I had a sister growing up, I am so grateful to have two brothers.  I may have suffered a lot of bruises growing up from all the horse playing or was always out voted in which TV show we would watch (hence, a lot of Gundam, Dragonball Z, and Pokemon), but at least I always had two people around that I could always play with.  I have nothing against only children (my best friend is one), but seriously having another sibling around growing up is so much fun.  

I'm really glad that my brothers and I will all be living in the same city together soon.  It's been years since we've all lived in the same place together.  Even though we'll all be leading separate, busy lives it's very comforting to know that family is just a short ride away.  I'm hoping that we will grow back to that closeness we shared back when we were kids.  It's been way too long. 

HILO DAYS

I found an old box of photos and discovered these gems from when I used to go to Hilo to visit family friends.  I must have been two here.  I obviously don't remember this particular time because I was too young, but those tidepools  have always been etched vividly in my memory.  I remember going to that same spot when I was a few years older and going fishing and paddling.  Those were some pretty great times I wish I could go back too.