* Yikes, we are so behind in posts….we’ve made it to Easter Island and are trying to get our feet under us. There were all kinds of events and work to do as soon as we hit the ground, so we’ve been a bit swamped, not to mention slooooooow internet is always frustrating. So we’ll do our best to keep this updated while we are here, but it may not be as often as we’d like.
When we fly to Easter Island, we usually go through Miami, which is a short 2.5 hour drive from where Nona (my grandma) lives in Fort Myers. So, whenever we can add a little extra time to our trip, we try to fly to see her first, then drive to Miami to catch our plane to the island. This time, Ta’u was busy on a shoot in Hawaii, so I went on my own to see her before meeting him in Miami. I think the last time it was just the two of us was when I visited her for my 11th birthday, my first solo trip across the country (Minnesota to North Carolina) and even then my grandpa was around, at least in the evenings after work. As an adult it was a whole new experience and we had a fantastic time together just sharing stories about life and how we see the world and exploring the golf course complex on which she lives. 
We raced her neighbor down the street on our golf cart, then took an hour and a half golf cart cruise past all 27 holes right at sunset so we wouldn’t disturb too many golfers. It was terribly windy and getting dark but we still had to sneak by at least 7 or 8 groups that were still out on the course. 
But we got to see many of the giant birds that live in the area including egrets and herons. 
And even an anhinga, with it’s snake-like neck. 
If you venture out to Sanibel island you can see roseate spoonbills and pelicans and all kinds of other birds too, but this time we just stayed close to home rather than doing all the touristy things. It was a bit too cold for the alligators to be out of the water so we didn’t see any of those either, but they are around too. 
Most of our time together we spent talking about the past. I love hearing stories about what life was like for Nona, raising 6 kids, with a husband in the Air Force and then with a job that required him to travel all over the world and be gone for long stretches of time. I always feel like talking with her gives me new insight into who our family is, because it helps me see the context in which my mom, for instance, grew up and how her childhood and experiences colored my own. It’s fascinating to think about those family connections and what gets carried on and what changes.
She shared with me photos and pamphlets she had saved from her first trip to Hawaii, in the 1970’s, with her own mom (my Nana, or great-grandma). Seeing Nana sitting on the beach at Waikiki, some 30 years before I did the same while living there, was so fun. And it was interesting to see what has changed in Hawaii in nearly 40 years. 
Isn’t the photo on this brochure great. I’m super impressed she was surfing without getting all that perfectly styled 70’s hair wet. 
It’s hard to be close with family when they are scattered all over the country and the world as mine is, and always has been. So when we get time together to learn about each other and feel closer, it has extra special meaning. I really felt like we were just two best friends talking story (as they say in Hawaii) for the week. I couldn’t be more thankful to have had that time with Nona and to have that kind of relationship with her. I miss her already. Thank you Nona! I love you! 