A quarter century of change

There it is, the remains of the last glass of a set that we bought with our wedding gift money twenty-seven years ago. Gabe knocked it off the table.

I went back to my wedding album to see if the glasses were a gift or if they'd been purchased by us with the gift money. In light of the five rather recent weddings of my own children it was fun to look through the way it was for us.

We had a small wedding, fewer than 80 guests. We received $295 in cash (on our college student budget that was half a month's living expenses). We didn't need to purchase dishes, cutlery, knives, cookbooks, bakeware, pots and pans, or any other kitchen items (except glasses). We received 3 sheet sets, two towel sets, and several wedding memory items (figurine, picture frame, cross stitch).

We only received one very strange, probably a re-gift, gift. It came from someone I didn't know at the time and is still a name I don't recognize so I think I'm safe to mention it without the offended party reading up about it here.

It was an electric hot dog cooker. I tend to try to find a use for anything and everything, but that one baffled me. I never found cooking hotdogs--open fire, boiling water, broiler, microwave--to be a challenge worthy of its own appliance. I try to imagine the market strategy for such a gadget--"Tired of waiting around for your hot dogs to cook? Tired of not knowing if they're done? You can now cook every hot dog to perfection! No timing! No checking! Just set the cooker and wait for the bell." We passed off the hot dog cooker as a gag gift to Keith's roommate when he got married...I sure hope we gave him more than just that, but I don't remember.

That one broken butterfly glass opened a bag of memories that seemed so recent, but upon closer inspection were actually an awful long time ago. The saying must hold that time flies when you're having fun.

Kauai, Hawaii in pictures

Sorry to my kids who've been looking for these for a few weeks. I'm sacrificing to get them done now, but don't see another way. I'll have to have coffee for breakfast.

We returned from our wonderful week-long respite a full 3 weeks ago now. I came home so relaxed and refreshed that I seemed to just float in la-la land for a couple of days. Then bam. Life found me again. I was laid flat by the flu for two days and needed two more to get back on my feet. A few others joined the sick club, basketball games were on the calendar, field trips were scheduled, school had to get done, meals, laundry, cleaning, real life for sure.

But I still feel the effects of our week away. I smile when I think of how simple it all was. If we wanted to go somewhere at 8, we did. Just like that, we just left. When we put something down, it stayed put. When we cleaned something up, it stayed cleaned. When I washed the dishes (notice I didn't say 'we' this time) they stayed washed. It was surreal. It was so easy. It was utterly relaxing. It was a wonderful break. But I don't want to move and I don't want to retire just yet. Breaks are good, but living the crazy, busy, scattered life that I do is better in the more permanent sense. And getting away makes that clearer. The love and appreciation I have for my family and home is always keener after a step back and time of reflection.

The very best part, of course, was being with Keith and not having anything to think about but being with him. We could do everything together all the time, and with the exception of a .3 mile spur on a 9-mile hike (I passed), we did.

Kauai is called the Garden Island for good reason and the pictures pretty much speak for themselves, so I'll keep the text to a minimum and let the pictures do the talking.


Keith is a marvelous trip planner and researched some spectacular hikes. We logged over 20 miles in our six days. Warning signs were abundant, we are not faint-hearted hikers.





My "tow rope" when the uphill switchbacks got to be a bit too much.





We did not leave feeling cheated out of relaxation.





Loved the trees

















Loved the sunsets





Some typical tourist activities:
Visited the falls best known as the "Fantasy Island" falls. Tattoo points over them and says, "Boss, da plane, da plane!"

Historic walk through Waimea, the landing spot of James Cook, with 80-year-old native guide Aletha--a wealth of information, she had a fantastic memory and shared all we wanted to hear. What a treat to get a personal account of her memory of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the pre and post-statehood days of Hawaii.

The Grand Canyon of the Pacific, Waimea Canyon

A luau



We also saw whales, dolphins, seals, and turtles, birds and birds, and too many chickens. We took a boat trip, snorkeled, shopped at the open markets for local produce, and visited the largest coffee plantation in the US. We hiked like we were young and played shuffleboard like we were old.

But best of all, we added to a precious pool of memories of enjoying being together.

Distracted

I called my husband at 3:30 to make our evening plans.

I asked him what he was doing. He said, he was up to his eyeballs (well, he didn't really say "up to my eyeballs" but I'm sure he meant to) putting together a quote for an order. I won't say how much it was, because that just isn't done--nor should it be--but it was a pretty significant deal, certainly enough to cause him to be a little distracted.

I asked if he planned to come home or just head straight to the ballfield to coach Bryce's team at 5:30.

He was planning to head straight to the field.

I told him that Lisa was sick, Shane and Owen had to be at their baseball games by 4:45, and Bryce at his at 5:30. I said I would leave Bryce home with Lisa while I took the others and if he could manage it he could come home for Bryce before the game.

"That's great," he said, "you can bring all three boys to the field at 4:45 and I'll meet you there."

I told him that Lisa was sick so I needed Bryce to stay home with her....

He got it. I took the boys to their destinations and returned.

The phone rang at 5:10. "I'm leaving the office. Do you want me to get Bryce?"

I told him that Lisa was sick so that would be great.

He came home, picked Bryce up, and asked me to grab his jacket for him.

They left and 15 minutes later he called me. "You grabbed the jacket with the broken zipper. Can you bring my other one with you when you come?"

I told him Lisa was sick and I wasn't coming.

Maybe I should have just told him in the first place that Lisa was sick.

Ellen and Daniel's Wedding Photos

Here are the promised pictures taken by Bob Mainhardt. I'm warning you, there are quite a few, 40 to be exact.

Chet singing and playing the piano, just like home


Chris, Arne, and Daniel


Joey and me


Owen and Maria


Josiah and Lisa


Keith and Ellen


A final kiss


Mother emotions


Young hands together


Old hands together


The Ceremony


Ellen and Daniel wrote their own vows, and read them to one another. They later signed the hand written documents and presented them to each other.



A foot washing ceremony was a beautiful representation of the servant spirit that the husband and wife should have for each other.





The kiss


Mr. and Mrs. Kleven


Posing for pictures









The Klevens


The Whites



In honor of Gabe, who was 250 miles away in the hospital, we all held up three fingers the way he does it.


Pictures in the Park


Role Reversal



Daniel with his brothers and sister


Ellen with her sisters










Leaving