day 27

Day 27: Time is Limited

Friday March 25, 2011

Today I got a call about a potential job offer in San Diego.   “Can you start in two weeks?” I just applied to the job yesterday, do not know everything about it, and was asked to start in two weeks.  I know Anthony and I are looking to prospectively move back to California, possibly within the year, but our time line is malleable.  There is no specific date.   But today it hit me.  Hawaii is not forever.  My time here is limited, and in some ways whatever time I have left (one month to one year) is going to end.

I watch the tourists as I walk in Waikiki, pure enjoyment in their summer laden clothes.  Flip flops, bikinis, sun block packed on.  I then look at tenants in my building, some retirees.  They seem to be living the tourist lifestyle.   There is this one particular 75-80 year old Caucasian woman, who always wears the color purple.  Many times it is a purple one piece bathing suit with purple shorts.  She adorns her short white hair with an orchid.    Once she even had broken her left wrist, and wore a purple cast.  Anyone who wears that much purple, you know they love life.  Most of the time when I get in the elevator, I am frustrated about something.  My dogs being crazy, dreading work, or worn out with work.  But when she enters the elevator, briefly there’s a moment of “wow she appreciates being alive and being here.”  Each time I see her, when we do our casual check ins, she ask me how I am.  I respond “fine.”  When it is her to respond, she says “fabulous.”  She has a jump in her step, and does not care if she is eccentric.  The other day, she wore her purple bathing suit, purple shorts, flower in hair, and a winter fur vest.  We talked about the tsunami, our horror, their reality that all was safe in our building.  Off she was to enjoy the day in the beach.  I know tourists realize time is essential.  Maybe retirees grasp this too.

How can I implement this everyday in my head? Each day is a gift.  My Hawaii clock is ticking.  Each week that passes by without getting in the ocean is a waste.  Stay present and grateful.  How do I do that? Create a bucket list of things to do in Hawaii before I leave again? With there being no set day, it makes it difficult.  It is more theoretical.  But the reality is this is temporary, as is everything.  The question is how to embrace it?