Kona, Hawaii

See Casey find a hammock--hidden beneath two shady palm trees. See Casey nap in the hammock. See Casey abruptly wake--wondering if another application of sunscreen is necessary. See Casey go back to sleep. See Casey's skin turn pink in color.

See Casey driving up the Kohala Coast with the jeep top down, listening to the classical station--the perfect soundtrack to the landscape. See sheep, horses, cows, and goats. See Casey visit the local farmers' market in Waimea. See Casey purchase homemade rosemary bread. See the bread make it home--unscathed.

See Casey nap.

See Casey swim with wild dolphins. See Casey learn she can hear the dolphins before she sees the dolphins. See Casey develop a new strategy based on this learned information. See Casey swim close enough to touch the dolphins. See Casey sight a dolphin 10 meters beneath her. See Casey "double take" and realize that dolphin is a reef shark. See Casey swim towards the real dolphins. See Casey swim with a manta ray.

See Casey nap.

See Casey learn to surf. See Casey on the board. See Casey not on the board. See Casey get back on, off, on, off, on the board. See Casey up on the board--and back off. See Casey carve a wave (total accident--but it happened!). See Casey off the board. See Casey tired after 45 minutes...paddling and fighting waves is hard! See Casey thinking of a starting a new business: a jet ski "towing service" for surfers. See Casey back on board. See Casey go pearling (think saline nasal cleanse i.e. pearl diving). See Casey on and back up on board. See Casey saying the surfer's motto "refuse to fall" while up on board. See Casey fall...fall in love with surfing.

See Casey nap.

See Casey nap.

See Casey take another surfing lesson. See Casey up and on board more than off. See Casey turn and paddle more quickly. See board hit Casey's head (insert sound effect here). Hear Casey chant "refuse to fall." See Casey still on board.

See Casey nap.

See Casey surfing...again. See Casey's tan show the markings of wet socks and rash guard. See surfing become a new wave of enthusiasm. See Casey catch a wave on her own (no help from instructor). See Casey pop in the middle of waves. See Casey get confident. See bigger wave "knock sense" into Casey. See Casey's future hobby. See Casey give profuse thanks to surf instructor, Kona Mike.

See Casey nap.

See Casey leave the island with plans to return soon.

Strange(r) Assumptions

Columbus, Ohio

Mother’s Day is approaching this weekend. It’s a favourite holiday of mine, since I get to celebrate not 1, not 2, but 3 moms.

Starting last year—and apparently continuing this year—something odd started happening. Complete strangers began wishing me Happy Mother’s Day in the days preceding the celebratory event. Me—mother to zero. I’m not offended by this act of kindness (I simply smile, say thank you, and move on with my—non-Mother’s –day). My curiosity is piqued, however…why would a stranger assume I am a mother?

Do I look like a mother? Act like a mom? I frequently scowl at ill-behaved children who are allowed to grace a public locale. Is it because strangers automatically assume since I have reached child-bearing age I must HAVE offspring?

Though I’m pretty darn certain I will one day (not soon) have a child (adoption), I’m quite certain that today is not the day to celebrate me as a mother. Rather, it is a time to say Happy Mother’s Day to other 3 other special women. They iron out the wrinkles of life, still put me in time-out when necessary, and tell me to suck it up when the scratches of life do not yield blood.