August 25, 2004

The Most Blessed Woman Alive

My Wide Blue Seas, Views from Kalopa State Park Road, over looking Paniolo (Cowboy) Country on the north slopes of Mauna Kea, near Honoka'a

The title is no exageration, nor is it the least bit overstated. I sit before you via the World Wide Web a living miracle. I cant hardly believe it. I have no one to tell so I will tell you now and Woody once he gets home.

I had a lovely serene stay at home day with the cats and a nearly silent neighborhood but for the birds and a occasional dog. Windy and full of majestic cloud scapes (have you noticed that I have clouds in nearly every picture I post?) I laid in my lounger and just soaked it up. I needed that.

This morning was the same. I was headed up to the Studio to learn some more repair stuff and everything was lovely. Stopped by the side of the road, snapped pics, just wonderful.

Had a great day at the studio, Now it was hard and I am pitifully slow (took me all day) but I managed to size then unsize a ring and it was in better shape than when I got it which is a halmark of this mans work and my personal goal when repairing someones jewelry. Next week more of the same.

I left early, 4:30 so I could drive in the light and do a bit of exploring on my way home. All along the highway there are side roads that lead up in to the foot hills of Mauna Kea. Many are to small neighborhoods, like the one that Doug lives in, But I notices signs to a state park, so I thought that I might try it and see if the park was nice...The drive was wonderful and something that Woody and I need to do sometime soon as he will love it. But I wanted to get home before dark so I started down the hill...I stopped a few times to take a snapshot or two.

Right after I took the photo above, I stopped again. I try to pull the car off the pavement as far as I can as it is so big and blocks the little narrow roads at times. I usually leave it running as I am right there and nobody car jacks here.. So I crossed the road to take the pic, and as I am standing there sizing up my photo op, I feel the ground sink then give way and I tumbled 10 to 15 feet down into a ditch. The vegetation there was tall and gave me the feeling that the land was stable but like I told one of my readers a week or so ago, Hawaii is a land full of hazzards, most unseen at first.

I felt a stiging stab at the ankle and thought " oh great a centepede gets me at last". But then I realzed that they dont buzz, I scrambled up that sloppy revine like hell itself was after me and sure enough, either I had fallen into a hornet nest or just disturbed it. I was across the road and into car before the swarm massed. (as I think about it, I didnt look for cars on the road thank God its so rural) I got the heck out of there.

I am highly allergic to everything, and should have gone into anaphlactyc shock, but did not. The stress alone should have triggered it, but did not...

I got back to the highway and started home. My knee and ankle hurt pretty bad. I realize that I might have one of the wasp bastards still on me so I think "well Il stop at the next populated area." Then the car starts acting up. Shimmying like its going to shake apart at 50 mph, I slow down and start praying...Oh God, I am 70 miles from home with no money no medical and no help, Doug has left to go to their church and I know no one else on this side of the island. Help me...

I stop at a Minute Stop Mini Mart and shake my clothes out, no varmits in the car or on me, but I am a grassy muddy mess. I get some gas so I can get home.

It was an incredibly beautiful drive home...I see rainbows all along the way out over the ocean, until night falls. My car, the most dependable car bar none I have ever owned, is running like a champ again, No shock, in fact I am quite clear minded. An I roll into my drive way safe and sound for all practical purposes.

I am badly banged up, knee is so wrenched that likely I wont be able to walk in the morning. The ankle is wrenched and swollen around the bite. Where my head hit a rock...(why am I not dead, Lord!) no bump, pain, nothing. My elbow is scraped on the opposing side of my body from the wrenched joints and is the only open wound. My glasses are bent but fixable

My camera works and I am trusting that my Green machine will start the next time I need it to.

Jesus, son of David , have mercy upon my soul... I chanted this for the whole way from Laupahoehoe to home... I think it saved my life.

Some of you will ask if this is the end of my adventuring. Yes until I can have my car checked out, and it may be the end of me driving to Honokaa for a bit but will this check my curiosity and my desire to embrace as my of this incredible palce where I live? No hardly. War wounds, nothing more and I have lived to tell the tale...

I would appreciate your prayers. This is really going to hurt by morning.