Oceania Pacifica

I love the Pacific Ocean. From the warm turquoise waters of Hawaii to the turbulent seas of the Oregon coast. A perfect day for me is being in or on or near the Pacific Ocean. I love the unpredictability of the ocean. It can be calm and inviting or reckless and fierce. I am respectful of the ocean’s power and grateful for it’s gifts.

This past winter, Adrian and I had the splendid fortune to spend time at a beach house on Kauai’s North Shore. While the ocean delighted us with its incredible beauty, it also never failed to remind us of its remarkable intensity. Here are some of the memories that provided the inspiration for my February BJP….We spend our days swimming. We dive beneath the powerful waves and fling our bodies over the smaller swells. I am a confident, capable swimmer and my body feels light and free as I am tossed about in the warm turquoise water. Our good friend wants to go snorkeling with us for the first time. A few years ago, her mom died in a tragic diving accident in Costa Rica. We drive to the other side of the island to a sheltered bay where the fish are plentiful. We all have a wonderful time and I am so proud of my friend for facing her fears. Afterward, as we rest on the beach, lifeguards pull a man out of the water. He had drowned in a shallow bay filled with snorkeling tourists. We drive back to the North Shore in sorrow and silence.I sit in the shallow water watching Adrian snorkel. Suddenly he veers toward the shore, his fins flapping as he swims madly toward me. An unfamiliar fish has swum too close, startling my darling, silly husband. I laugh and kiss him and ask him if he wants me to beat up the big bad fish for frightening him. I return to snorkeling, holding hands with my beloved as we float above the coral reef.There is a roadside memorial decorated with palm fronds, ginger, flowers and fruit. Last year a local boy drowned off of this beautiful beach. He was an expert surfer and the close knit community mourns his loss.One day we snorkel with sea turtles. Graceful and patient, they allow us to observe their undersea dance. I am completely enchanted.The ocean is fierce and wild today. We acknowledge the ocean's power and postpone our beach plans. We go hiking instead, enjoying the endless blue from the cliffs high above. Today the ocean is calm and as smooth as glass. I float peacefully for hours, caressed by the gentle sway of the big blue sea.....

Checking into the Clown Motel

Adrian and I discovered this motel a few years ago on an epic road trip west. We came across this vacation hot spot in the middle of nowhere. We had been driving for most of the day across miles of open range land in Nevada and when we first saw this sign were convinced that it was a mirage. Then I wondered at the marketing strategy behind this. Why would anyone think that attaching painted wooden clowns to the motel doors would act as a lure to potential patrons? Or perhaps the owners were clowns. Or maybe this is the official motel for the International Convention of Clowns. Wouldn't it be wonderful if this was a chain of motels like the Red Roof Inn or Best Western? You could travel across the country staying in Clown Motels. Maybe business would be so good that the owners would branch out and open a few upscale Jester Hotels. Or maybe a quaint Mime Bed and Breakfast out in the country.

Unfortunately we were on our way to Yosemite National Park and did not have time to stop and take advantage of all of the wonderful amenities offered at the Clown Motel. We were also a bit confused by the sign. Would our mini pets indeed be welcome at the Clown Motel? Or did the sign mean that after an evening of free HBO in our clean room, would we only be offered a mini breakfast in the morning? And what exactly is a mini pet? A ferret? A tiny pony? Or what about a mini breakfast? If it meant that we'd be served mini donuts I would have made a U turn and checked right in to the Clown Motel, that's for sure. I would have been staying all by myself though. Adrian was frightened and wanted to put as much distance as possible between him and the Clown Motel before nightfall.

I think this picture of the Clown Motel should act as a universal 'Gone Fishing' sign for bloggers. When you read the words "I'm checking into the Clown Motel" it will mean that the blogger is going on vacation, will be out of town on business, is having another psychotic episode or just doesn't feel like blogging for a while. As for me, I'll be checking into the Clown Motel and will be gone all week. Adrian and I are headed to the shores of Lake Superior for some camping fun. Hopefully it will be a clown free holiday.