Mid-February is the time of year when parents with babies and young kids too young to ski or go sledding catch cabin fever. Unfortunately, the Hoobing Family is not exempt from this generalization and the President’s Day three-day weekend was a excuse to get out of town and visit our friends in McCall.
When my name was called, I walked down the makeshift aisle in the football stadium turned ceremonial meeting place in my black gown to receive my college diploma. For years to come, I would have dreams that I had signed up for a class that I forgot to attend and wake up thinking it had never really happened…I hadn’t really graduated. The fact that in three days I could not dig up a photo proving it did take place made me start to wonder again. But it is true, on this day, almost exactly ten years ago, I graduated from the University of Idaho with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a minor in Mathematics.
Having kids will definitely bring some needed unpredictability back into our lives….probably not to the extent that we had in China, but perhaps as much. On our first date night awhile back, Andy and I came up with a plan to take a year off of work to travel the world in the next ten or so years. At this point, it is only blue sky dreaming, but I really want us to make it happen. Hold us to it!
First immunizations, a trip to Stanley and much more post-baby too much information (TMI).
I immediately occupied what I dubbed the pregnant lady hammock. It was a hammock similar to those I have seen at Art in the Park where you can comfortably sit upright. It was awesome and I spent almost the entire morning reading in it. Some people walked down the beach and beach combed while others also slept or read in hammocks. At some point, Derik asked the “guides” (who really didn’t do much but drive the boat and cook/serve us lunch) if there was snorkel gear.
I about jumped out of my shoes when the minister started reading a scripture about how the wife must submit to the husband and the husband must love his wife. Why and the hell must the only the wife submit? I knew that the minister had not gone over this prayer with Anna as she would surely have put the kibosh on this reading. In talking with her later, I found out that this was literally the only part of the ceremony that the minister had glossed over in the rehearsal.
We spent the morning in the best palapa in the world which Andy is now dubbing “the love shack”. After a short nap, I hung out with Anna and then Vicky in the pool and Sereana, our daily pool bartender made me another of her signature fruit smoothies.
Later Anna and Derik met up with us at our hotel and we pretty much spent the day hanging out by the pool and ocean, reading, swimming, enjoying food and drinks and relaxing in chairs and hammocks. It really doesn’t get much better than this. Later there was the usual afternoon downpour and it was probably good we all went inside for a bit as our skin had gotten more sun than we had expected. It is always crazy how easy it is to burn this close to the equator. My mom is still talking about how she cannot understand how she fried herself. It is quite easy to do here.
“Dear God. If you exist, cool. Um, can you please do the following three things: Most importantly, allow this plane to land successfully in Fiji. Also, please don’t let me go into labor on this plane or actually during the whole trip. Finally, can you please make this turbulence stop oh and one last thing, please God turn off the fasten seatbelt light so I can go to the bathroom. Thanks.”
One final note about our driver…apparently his wife is big and mean and she beats him with the ubiquitous broom made from a coconut tree. He asked me if I wanted to purchase such a broom and I declined. Instead I found some beautiful red coral earrings at the bathroom/tourist gift shop along the way. I probably overpaid for them but they are a really unique, beautiful design.
