There are places in this world that speak to us, as long as we take the time to listen. Some of these places draw us back, over and over again. And, over time, we develop a desire to share that space with people who are closest to us - in the hope that they can also hear what we hear and see what we see.
Or perhaps that they will hear something slightly different and allow us to expand our own understanding in the process by witnessing their conversation.
We had that opportunity during our visit to Kauai in December. Our friends, Sue and Steve, accepted our invitation and braved snowstorms that made plane departures uncertain and travel the wrong kind of interesting. But, they arrived and we had that special opportunity to introduce people we care about to a place we care about.
It's a good thing.
Tammy and I are often astounded by how little time many visitors seem to take just staring in awe of what they are seeing. It's enough to make me consider the possibility that either they have blinders on or their sight is not working somehow. Or, maybe we're the ones with the problem. Well, if we are, I think both of us are okay with that.
The good news is that we found out that Sue and Steve could also see what we were seeing. Perhaps, they were seeing things a bit differently than we did - and that's fine. The point was, they were seeing. And they were content to let Kauai, the Pacific Ocean, and this grand Earth tell them about itself.
It even got "Little Steve" to come out and play. It was a chance to explore and experience. And it was an opportunity that was not squandered, like so many such opportunities seem to be in our lives as we attempt to be "responsible adults."
We got to play with perspectives. Different points of view. Angles we usually didn't consider.
We were allowed the opportunity to watch the different shapes and colors of the water. We could touch and observe the rock formations and take a moment to consider different plants and the pollinators that were visiting them.
And each of us got to experience things in the ways that suited us best - just as we also had the opportunity to see the world and all it had to offer in this special place as a team.
We got to do this because we worked to give ourselves the time.
This particular walk was on the Mahaulepu Heritage Trail. A tough enough walk to provide some exercise and a little challenge, but not so much that Tammy couldn't navigate the trail and find ways to keep moving (or find a place to sit) so the Achilles didn't tighten up when Sue, Steve... or Rob... wandered off to check out some odd thing or another.
There were little fish and critters with shells in tidal pools to discover and wonder at.
There were flowering plants with bees collecting pollen.
There were interesting patterns carved into the rock.
The clouds painted the ocean by choosing where and how much light touched the surface.
Birds soared over head - and sometimes, when we were on a high piece of land, they would soar at a level that was even with us.
Some rocks were pock-marked, showing how they erode over time with the application of salt water droplets.
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