On the weekend following my vacation to London with Steven and friends, two of my friends that were on vacation in Hawaii called and decided that they would like to fly me to where they were. On Tuesday, March 20th, using their frequent flyer miles, I found myself flying on an adventure to Maui, described to me as the "Rich People's Island." From Minneapolis, I flew 8.5 hours to Honolulu and then 45 min to the Kahului Airport on Maui.
My friends are Dottie & Michael. I've known Dottie since I first moved to the Twin Cities in 1993(?) when we both worked in the same company. Later we both managed to escape from there and actually ended up living 2 blocks from each other for a year. At that time she was working as a caregiver in a home for people with mobility problems. Michael was a resident there and that is of course where they met.
Michael is a truly beautiful person. He has an exceedingly sharp mind and very quick wit. He has limited mobility and is always in a wheel chair. Eventually they married, the fourth wedding I went to that summer and the only one of the bunch to bring tears to my eyes.
Upon my arrival on Maui, Dottie & Michael greeted me with 3 leis. One of shiny black kukui nuts (supposed to bring you protection), one purple orchids, and the last of small, white, very fragrant flowers called tuberose. That evening we went to dinner and then shopping in Lahaina, a small town on the western tip of Maui. I came to believe quickly that it is the "Rich People's Island" as we passed jewelry shop after pearl shop after designer clothes shop after art gallery....
Dottie, Michael, & Myself at a Tai restaurant.