Grace: Giddy for Others

1. Shared excitement in my coworkers package that arrived in the mail
2. Out WAY too late on a school night
3. Well-timed email with hopeful news
4. Friends in love
5. A brownie in my future

Eight Months Ago

May 24th 2009


The very first wedding related project I took on, truly the VERY FIRST, was to begin folding 1,001 cranes. I got the idea in my head and I ran with it. From the very beginning I knew they would hang with many pretty colors.


It's a Japanese Hawaii tradition to fold cranes for a wedding. Origami cranes symbolize dedication and hope. Tradition holds that by folding 1,001 cranes, you learn persistence, patience and determination - all ideals necessary for a successful marriage.

They also say the bride should fold 1,000 cranes and the groom will fold 1. I said "pshaw!" But what happened? I taught Bryan hold to fold one crane, and he never did another one.


I'm a sucker for good symbolism and meaning. Mostly, I liked something constant I could focus on. Even though it was a regimented process, it was also a creative release for me. On those days when nothing went right, I could fold a few cranes and see my pile grow and grow.

I was incredibly proud of the way they looked at the wedding. They created a bright and cheery (albeit a bit busy) backdrop for photos.


And they were appreciated by many.


They currently hang on a wall in our apartment. Bryan thinks I'm crazy but I plan to hold onto them until they disintegrate with age. Hopefully by that time I won't need a reminder to maintain patience and persistence.

Flying High

2009 was quite the year for adventures. First we traveled to Bali and Japan (still need to finish telling you about that). Then we kayaked the Na Pali Coast. And took a boat dangerously close to LAVA. And that's not all.

I also went flying in a place WITHOUT AN ENGINE. No engine. It was awesome.

A friend generously gifted this trip to a group of us. It was absolutely incredible. Just a bit terrifying until I realized how relaxed I really felt. And then it was amazing.

Isn't It Ironic?

We spent our Saturday afternoon... ICE SKATING... for a nine year old's birthday party.

And it was FUN. And funny, because I barely let go of the wall. But I didn't fall. Even when all the punk pre-teen boys darted in and out of my personal ice space. This is Hawaii, where did they learn to skate so fast?




When it was all done, I returned my rented skates, put my slippahs back on, and happily walked out into the warm air.

A Decade of Life

Last night I sat down and finally wrote (typed) a few resolutions. Every new year I make resolutions. I never look at them again throughout the year. Most of the time I don't even remember what I resolved to do by the time March rolls around. Yet, I sure do seem to do a lot, don't I?

Following the footsteps of other bloggers, here's much of what I did in the last ten years. TEN YEARS!:

- Moved from a purple room in China Heights to a yellow room on Jackson Street, and eventually in to a ridiculously large beige room.
- Cried when the mechanics told me my beloved Prelude would drive no more, invested my precious money into the car, and drove it for at least five more years
- Had a hell of a good time at my first job
- Took a second job, and eventually a third one (turned down a few in the process as well)
- Bought my own laptop and began my Mac addiction
- Met life-changing, life-filling friends
- Made lasting friendships
- Met Bryan on a rooftop on Polk Street, saw him play on stage, said hi, talked on the phone, went on our first date
- Dated two other guys briefly but chose Bryan as the clear winner
- Traveled to Greece, Italy, New Orleans, New York, Boston, Hawaii, Hungary, Czech Republic, London, Fiji, Sydney, Vegas, Bali, Tokyo
- Joined my first gym, then a second, then a third - you'd think I'd finally feel comfortable going!
- Learned to throw a clay pot, climb a rock, paddle a canoe, dance the hula, and attempt to surf a wave
- Fell in love
- Moved to Hawaii
- Moved in with Bryan
- Wore a pair of shiny pink pants - and more than once
- Partied so hard orange tuffs of carpet appeared in the living room
- Honestly left a part of my heart in San Francisco
- Watched the sunrise in Maui
- Paddled with whales
- Visited every Hawaiian island
- Went to many beautiful weddings of even more beautiful friends
- Met friends' babies
- Starting blogging about things like gold shoes
- Said yes and accepted a gorgeous ring
- Hiked the Na Pali coast and kayaked it the next year
- Laughed so hard and so often
- Spent a lot of time in deep thought
- Got married, had a day I will remember forever
- Became an aunt
- Grew up a lot
- Became one of those people that says "I can't believe it's been ten years already!"

Many of you were with me over the last ten years. What else did I do?