February: 2002
Hawaii

Celebrating Jack's Birthday

On February 25, after a busy month, we grabbed our suitcases and headed for Hawaii. Jack's sons, Pete and Ted, had arranged for a family birthday celebration. Jack was born February 29, 1912.

The only things we left behind were some warm, snuggly clothing. It happened that the weather on the Windward side of Oahu was blustery for most of our visit. We settled into Pete and Esther's Waimanalo home, and feasted our eyes on the gorgeous bay and (on one occasion) joyful whales on the horizon. Such grace and beauty.

One day daughter-in-law Mary Anne took me to The Willows for lunch. We drove from Waimanalo around via Sea Life Park, by the Blow Hole and Hanauma Bay, through Hawaii Kai, and on into Honolulu. The sun shone brightly on us. Memorable drive. Finally, the new Willows. Ah! All my favorite food: sushi, kahlua pig, haupia, haupia cake, lau lau, and other goodies. Can't remember them all.

Saturday, March 2, was birthday party time, and what a thrill to see and visit with so many Vorfelds. Bob and Wilma came from Maui. Ted and Martha came from Kona. Jan and Jim (and James and Kate) came from California. And there were so many others. We had a big Chinese food buffet under a huge tent (good thing, because it rained), and this was topped off by one of the best cakes I've ever eaten. Pete got it in Honolulu. Too decadent.

Monday, Jack and I flew to Kona for the day. Ted met us and drove us to Waimea, where we visited and lunched with Dave and Joann Coon and Joey's mom, Charlotte Fleener. Charlotte is Jack's sister. She wasn't up to traveling to Oahu, so we went to see her. She's as lovely as ever, and we had a delightful couple of hours before we had to drive back to Kona for our return flight. Late Wednesday we boarded a United flight, transferred in San Francisco, and were home in plenty of time to pick up the cat, Bear, from the kennel. As we flew over the ocean, we both thought about the blessing of having so many marvelous, generous, fun family members.

And now, back to work. The pace hasn't stopped.