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Hello from Hawaii. What a wild thing to type. It’s my first time here. I am on Kauai, on the west side of the island, and my friends are off doing outdoor yoga while I’m getting this thing ready ahead of time because tomorrow’s adventures start at ass o’clock in the morning and involve a lot of driving and beaches and I hope some turtles.
I’m only functioning at 50% because of jetlag/heat, but it’s vacation so it doesn’t matter, excuse the typos, etc. So far Hawaii seems at first glance like, I dunno, Florida, in that there are beaches and gift shops and box stores and tropical plants I can’t identify. Until I remember that we’re on an archipelago in the middle of the ocean, thousands of miles away from anything and everything. Also until you drive up a mountain and look out over a lusher (is that even a word?) version of the Grand Canyon and see the waterfall and start singing the TLC song just to get a rise out of everyone else.
You know those moving walkways in airports? My friend calls them “walkalators.” So now I sing “it’s time for the walkator” to the tune of this song.
When people talk about Hawaii, they don’t mention the chickens. So here is my heads-up if you've never been: Once upon a time there was a hurricane and it blew down the chicken coops, and all the chickens got out, and the island kind of shrugged and said “oh well,” so now there are chickens — and roosters — everywhere. There are probably ten times as many chickens/roosters here than people. And the roosters did not get the memo that cock-a-doodle-do is just for sunrise. They screech 24/7, but you get used to it.
There are lots of “feral” cats here too. I sat down on the porch this morning and an adorable scrawny kitten jumped onto my lap. My friend was like “FEED IT RIGHT NOW” but it turns out the island is on top of this situation, with catch-neuter-release programs and also centralized feeding stations, to keep all the cats in the general area and prevent additional feral cat colonies from forming. We don’t have much to feed kittens anyway, unless they like Costco peanuts, guava danishes, or Boursin cheese spread.
Three days ago I found out about this StoryADay writing challenge. One of the prompts is to write a letter to your 14-year-old self. I want to try that, but I’m not sure what direction to take it. It could get SO dark, or else be funny. Or both? I dunno, I guess I’ll see what comes out. (After this vacation.)
On re-entry
Last week I asked you what’s changed for you since you got vaccinated. A few responses:
"After being vaccinated I have eaten in a restaurant twice and hugged two people who don’t live in my house. We stopped using grocery delivery and go to the store for ourselves. That’s about it. I’m fine with a gradual reintroduction to the world. I have to find pants that fit before I can leave the house, so it’s going to be a while anyway."
"I am having a hard time with re-entry because I have little kids. We do some activities for my almost five year old and that’s really it. I am still scared of them getting the virus too."
"Getting fully vaccinated has really changed my life, in ways that would have seemed small pre-pandemic but mean so much now. Some friends and neighbors unexpectedly needed support, and I could finally give them my physical presence and an actual hug instead of just texting "virtual hug." I was able to have an unmasked (+ also fully vaccinated) friend over to my house, for the first time in 14 months, and we ate together *indoors*. I started making roadtrip plans with friends and family, where we will be in cars and houses together. I feel so much more human, and I am so grateful to all the stars that aligned for these steps toward normalcy to be possible."
Good stuff
- This poem. (Poetry Foundation)
- David Bowie as Tilda Swinton and Tilda Swinton as David Bowie. (Kottke)
- The American Girl doll: Imperial Wives Collection made me laugh. (Twitter)
- I’m not a fan of Madewell (because it isn’t #fightme) but this spare parts jewelry kit is a brilliant idea. (Madewell)
- Only funny ‘cause it’s true. (Instagram)
- I love most of these outfits, but wish the dudes would shave their legs and apply some lotion. (Sad and Useless)
- In which Waldorf and Statler finally get what’s coming to them. (YouTube)
- Do you remember that story the DC-area “cable guy” wrote a couple years ago? The writer has a whole book out now, and I can’t wait to read it.
- The Smithsonian has an amazing looking exhibit about Chicano graphics. (American Art Museum)
- Cicadas as DC tourists. (Washingtonian)
For next week
The flight over here was 4+ hours of listening to the other two people in my row making out with each other, lips a-smacking, despite the goddamn mask mandate. I was disappointed I didn't need to fart. As soon as I started wishing bad things would happen to them, the plane hit all kinds of turbulence. I decided I would think kinder thoughts, and the flight was smoother. (The square of weed chocolate also helped.) Anyway, tell me about the worst behaved people you've encountered on airplanes. Because I'm sure my flight yesterday wasn't that bad. As always, you can reply directly to this email and anything I share will be anonymous.
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