Highs and Lows

Our three-day weekend was a mix of joy and sadness. The sadness first- our sweet neighbors, Ryan's beloved playmates...moved on Friday. I wish I could say their departure was drama-free, but there was a touch of panic that should not have existed (thanks to a not-very-kind homeowner whom shall not be named).

The joy- Ryan finally got clear x-rays after a ten-day fever and could leave quarantine and play with his friends one last time before they moved (as well as go to a birthday party), Rich performed in the theater's original play festival, we got to see our neighbor's gorgeous new digs, and we hiked out to see the lava flow! Though Ryan has seen the lava lake a few times, it was his first time seeing lava up close (he was a little unnerved by the extreme heat).

Though there was much more joy than sadness, it still felt like really tough weekend (I also helped a second family move the last two days). We'll miss seeing our neighbors and their kids every day. :-( But we're happy that they're in a much nicer home, and plan on seeing them regularly. They're like 'ohana.

The hike out was perfect. It was my third time seeing lava up close ('up close' meaning within a few feet away). However, it was the first time I was able to walk out to see it on a flat gravel road (versus hiking for miles over jagged lava). Being able to hike 'only' 8.5 miles on such a smooth surface (the lava just happened to cross an emergency access road) felt too lucky to pass up, which is why we really wanted to take the three boys before the lava changed direction or stopped. We were still a little worried about Ryan's fever relapsing, so we brought a wagon (NOT recommended...that was like a Crossfit workout) to haul him back out and avoid overdoing it. Thank God Rich did the lion's share of the wagon pulling. After two miles, I was spent.

The hike was pretty warm, since it was at sea level...so we had to figure out ways to make it more fun. My nephew Riki, thankfully, is always game for my silliness.

Cooling lava (but still scorching hot and scary, trust me).

I always get the heebie jeebies standing this close to lava (since the surrounding lava is often still-forming and it's INTENSELY hot). I keep seeing visions of myself stepping onto the wrong rock and falling deep into the Earth's fiery hot, red crust). However, Rich and Keni were more reckless fools and walked right up to the biggest section of flow (Ry and I cowered a distance away).

I always have at least one semi-terrifying moment near hot lava, and this one came after I ran a little too eagerly up to a finger of lava. I heard my older brother yell, "Stop!" right when I noticed I was about to jump up on to a rock that hadn't fully formed yet...I could see the glowing orange 'crack' of magma just a foot ahead and nearly had a heart attack. From then on, I was tentatively and gingerly tapping every piece of lava with my foot a few times to make sure it was hard before I stepped on it (which didn't look neurotic at all).

It's funny, many moons ago, we were the a-hole punks throwing rocks into the lava, or poking it with a stick. This time, we were the grouchy old geezers scowling at the young kids for doing the same thing (we told a few hooligans how dangerous and disrespectful it was to Pele).

I've spent four out of the last five days helping people move (since my parents also volunteered to help a friend move), so I was excited to be home for the first time in days. But...I got my first call to sub teach! It felt like I'd never left. I got to work with a coworker that I really respect, I found that I enjoy working with younger kids and I got to sneak a few peeks at my child in action. Wins all the way around!