Bitter Sweet Departure (Day 6)

So our last day was very sad! We were so sad to leave our tropical paradise! We slept in and took last minute pictures of the resort. We mailed off the post cards we had bought and packed up all our stuff. I took advantage of the big bathtub, my last chance to do so! We sat on the balcony and admired the view one last time! Then we said goodbye to our wonderful room and checked out. Then said goodbye to the beautiful resort. We had some time to kill so we went to an outlet mall that was close by. We stopped at Jamba Juice and got a smoothie and some mini loaves of sweet bread, so yummy. At the outlet mall there were plenty of great deals to be had! It was a premium outlet with shops like Coach, Barney's New York, Armani Exchange, Etc. It was fun to shop around and see what deals we could find. After we were all shopped out we headed to our final destinations. We stopped at Alamo and dropped off our rental car and said goodbye to it. Then took the shuttle to the airport. There were WAY less people on the shuttle than on the way from the airport to Alamo. Just us and another couple and their little one. Before you can even check in you have to send your checked bags through a agricultural inspection to make sure you weren't trying to smuggle fruit back to the main land. We got all checked in and although we were hungry we decided to find our gate before we ate, I thought that was kind of silly because we were there petty early but it ended up being a good thing. We had to walk quite a distance, at least 10 min. Once we got to that area there was another agricultural inspection for your carry on baggage. Brent put his bag on the belt then I put mine on. We went to the other end where we found my bag, but not Brent's??? Brent looked and this cute little Japanese man had his bag!!! Brent ran after him saying "sir sir" But of course he doesn't speak English so he didn't respond. So then Brent tried tapping him on the shoulder, still no response, Brent then resorted to shaking his shoulder at which point he finally looked at Brent. Despite the language barrier it was quite easy to communicate, "ummm that's my bag you have" To which the little old man quickly started to apologize. Quickly handed the bag back to Brent and we all continued on our way. Brent an I chuckling the whole way. When the old man caught up with his son we saw him repeat the story to him and they chuckled as well! Seeing this little family clearly in Hawaii on vacation made me think about the cultural differences between our country and their's. There it is normal to have multiple generations living together. Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, Dad, Grandchildren. Here if you do that you are looked at as a mooch, or not finical stable. There they respect there elders and care for them. We throw our elderly in nursing homes not remembering the years of sacrifice they made to help us get to the point in our lives we are at. It made me think our society could learn something from theirs! So anyway from that point we had to take an elevator to another floor, to then wait for a shuttle that would finally take us to our gate. The bad news was when we got there there was only one place to eat and it was WAY over priced! But we had to eat and the only other option would have been to back track exactly the way we had come and do it all over again! Not so hot on that idea we paid $15 for a mediocre burger. But it was some sustenance. After lunch we went to the gate and waited to board the plane. The gate right next to ours was Japan Air, it was the biggest plane I had ever seen. It even had two stories! I though, someday! We boarded our plane and waited for take off. I watched Hawaii from the window until I couldn't see it any more. Like you might do as a kid when you are leaving your Grandparents and you watch them as you leave the driveway waving the whole time till you can't see them any more. That was a little how I felt leaving. I took a few final pictures from the plane,



What is left of the volcanoes that crated this tropical paradise!




Hanauma Bay






The last pic of Hawaii! :(

one of sunset on the plane that turned out pretty nice! If it was at all feasible we never would have left! We could be happy beach bums! This flight was a bit more of a struggle for the kiddos. There was a bit more crying involved in this flight. Terina's dinner was not as good, Brent thought his was better. but they came way too soon, not enough time from lunch, but I figured I had to eat since it was all I was going to get for the way home. I finished my 700 and some odd page book and tried to sleep, unsuccessfully. We finally landed and got our baggage. Brent's sister Heather came and picked us up (THANK YOU!!!) and the timing was so PERFECT it was unbelievable. She called just as we were walking out the doors to ask where we were. By time we got to the curb she was right there and spotted us right away! I've NEVER had that happen, either as the person being picked up or the person picking someone up. It always seems to involve waiting and circling! It was amazing! When we got home Bosco and Bentley were over joyed to see us! Bosco and I headed straight out side. He has a pee pants problem and when you come home and greet him (even if you've only been gone a few hours) he pee's away. So we have learned the best thing to do is just go outside where that is ok. Bentley was super excited as well! They sure did miss us. And we sure did miss them! As terribly sad as it was to leave Hawaii is was nice to be in our home, to sleep in our own bed! The dogs were also so kind as to let us sleep in! Since by that point we had adjusted to Hawaii time and were waking up around 10 AZ time! Fri was sad, we had to get back into the swing of everyday life, grocery store, run some errands, pick up more dog food. But there was one shinning happy moment, The Office Season 4! We spent all evening laughing till we cried! That is the funniest show ever!!!