March 2, 2003

Dear Mom:

...Suddenly unemployed in this unfavorable economy, I had no choice but to succumb to my travel whims. Maintaining some fiscal responsibility, I found an affordable ticket from Chicago to Kauai - the ‘Garden Isle’ of the Hawaiian Islands. ‘Yes, perhaps I will be lonely,’ I responded to those who expressed disbelief that I would travel solo to the land of honeymooners galore. Well, lonely, no way! No time! Adventure began on the second leg of my flight out, where I sat by an esteemed Navy Air Captain. Several (appalling) stories and hours later, we arrived in Honolulu, where I made the spontaneous decision to stay over for the night before traveling on to Kauai. Mr. Navy Captain was gracious; we spent the evening over sake and sushi par excellence.

Off to Lihue the next morning, I negotiated an ultra-cool (and far more practical) mini-SUV for a sub-compact price. For that first night in Kauai, I was financially committed to stay at the youth hostel, an experience to which I confess I have outgrown (tho the characters residing there had their own special charm). Luckily, kind folks from the car rental place had hooked me up with an affordable apartment rental located in the jungle beyond Kapa’a. On subsequent nights, I happily slept in my own private palace, overlooking groves of trees: oranges, lemons, coconuts and grapefruit...

Love, Anne