Six Months More

Well the Jeep lived just a little bit longer. When unsuitable buyers arrived I chased them away until Chris was convinced the best thing to do was rebuild Jeep's transmission. Six more months of joyous riding ensured - another trip to Makalawena, a trip to South Point beyond Kaalualu. But nothing lasts forever and I eventually had to sell the Jeep in preparation for our trip to Utah. Chris had the best advice. I should think about the young lady who was buying Jeep - all of the fresh, new adventures she would have. She was the perfect buyer. She had just returned from cliff jumping at South Point when she came to see the Liberty. On our test drive in the Jeep, she turned steeply and the tires made that ridiculous scraping sound inside the wheel well. She smiled and was happy I had chosen big tires. She understood the value of ground clearance. Yes, she was the right buyer for Jeep and I often wonder what kind of fun those two are now having together.

The objects that represented my Hawaii lifestyle disappeared one by one at the garage sale... our surf boards, spear guns, wet suits and machetes. What strange times those were. I dreaded our Hawaii departure for months, feared its potential for years. Now I just wanted to rip off that Band Aid and get past the moving, packing and goodbyes. Seeing friends for the last time was the worst. I dreaded it, so much worse than hearing my Jeep drive away with a strange new driver behind the wheel.

Of course, there is a lot of excitement on the other end. A brand new house we had never seen, cars and motorcycles to buy, neighbors to meet, new land to explore. Not to mention parents, excited to receive us in Kanab. But winter was cold and long and my new Subaru, while practical, couldn't compete with the capability of Jeep. Finally, winter turned to spring. A new job driving 4X4 Suburbans full of visitors out to remote spots helped me miss Jeep less, gave me purpose and helped me connect with my new environment. There have been tons of highlights, actually. Driving around in a UPS truck in December, learning perspectives from a real Kanab local, enjoying homemade goodies from incredible new neighbors, my new orchestra performing on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Dreaded endings can give way to amazing beginnings.

Our first stop from the Las Vegas airport was to purchase this Subaru Forester so we could drive home. The second stop was to our stash of camping gear. For years, we had been hiding chairs, fuel canisters and other items we couldn't fly back to Hawaii with in the desert. If felt like a homecoming to pick up the chairs for the last time.