The time I checked "being whisked away" off my bucket list.

The Lehua blossom unfolds when the rain treads on it. -Hawaiian Proverb

This was an amazing trip and an amazing gift for me, but there are bound to be some awkward moments when you are going on a spontaneous trip to Hawaii with someone who is your "suitor" and not your boyfriend or husband.  Here they are in my longest blog ever.  
Upon booking this trip to Hawaii I had minimal time to do so. It was done very quickly and with little thought.  Mr Suitor had given me his United password, but was ready to get out of town and I needed to leave work ASAP to meet him, plus the internet here at the office leaves a lot to be desired.  I got it done though.  I am going to Hawaii.
When we board out connecting flight in LA, he has been upgraded to first class.  He has generously paid to upgrade me to an exit row seat.  So we do not sit together.  I am going to Hawaii.  
Also in my flustered state I was unable to really pack a bag.  My suitor tells me to only pack flip flops and a swimsuit, that they have everything we need there.  He really wasn't even going to let me pack this much, but I was able to stop by my house using an argument for birth control.  So I only brought that and somehow managed to put a maxi dress and make up in my little bag. But that is about it.  I didn't mind washing my underpants in the sink nightly or buying a few clothes at Tommy Bahama that I likely will never wear again.  I am in Hawaii.
So here I am in paradise, I mean, WOW.  I am realizing that this is the most spontaneous thing that I have ever done.  I begin to panic in more ways than one.  This is not a big island and I know no one but my suitor whom I have never spent more than two nights in a row with.  YIKES!   On Friday we gather some supplies for the weekend and head off to the pool for the afternoon.  The pool is enormous and has minimal guests.  It is just beautiful.  We go out for some Mexican and margaritas that night. My suitor has all but shut down I assume to think about his work crisis so on Friday he says very little.  I  do have paradise to keep me company so I tell myself that he is going through a difficult time and I will manage. I am in Hawaii.
Saturday, is beach day.  Suitor drives me to the north side of the island so that I can see more of it.  It is such a beautiful place.  The drive is an hour, and it is lots of fun!  I keep seeing beaches and he says "Not pretty enough yet." so we keep driving.  Once we got there I realized he was right.  On the beach that afternoon Mr Suitor comes out of his funk and when we drive home I see a Hawaiian rainbow!  Check that one off the bucket list.  We pack up a picnic of wine and delicate cheeses to take up the hill to a little pavilion to watch the Hawaiian sunset.  We set up our little picnic and poured wine and everything then right out of a romantic comedy the sprinklers came on in full force.  We laughed and then moved everything over still had a wonderful evening.  When I saw this little pavilion I wanted to have a picnic up here for a "romantic date."  As he is driving us up the hill I am texting with my sweet friends back in Texas, and he asks about it.  I tell him a little and he says "They know this isn't a romantic getaway right??"  And of course my friends know that he is in work crisis.  I am so glad that we were able to clarify this right before our romantic date.  But I just ignore this and carry on because I am in Hawaii.  
The next day is Sunday departure day :(.  I am getting ready to go when my suitor informs me that in my flustered state on Thursday's departure I have booked the wrong ticket home.  I am leaving Monday and not Sunday.  This is not happy news.  We are unable to switch without paying a hefty sum and even then it would still be standby.  So I am stuck for one more day in Hawaii.  My suitor says "Well I am sorry that you are not stranded in Milwaukee or Detroit.  This could be worse Ana."  Right.  Another 24 hours in Hawaii.  There are worse things.
Mr Suitor says "Well at least I will be home when you get in on Tuesday."  
I say "Oh good, so you can pick me up at the airport."  
He looked at me as though I had just told him the earth was flat.  A stern conversation begins in which I tell him that I would have picked him up and he says I wouldn't then realizes I would because I have in fact done just that (on my birthday no less).  He says that he will pay for me a cab.  At this point, I don't really want him spending anymore money on me so I call in a favor to a friend.  Because I am no longer in Hawaii.

Bad dreams about Hawaii?..

Do you ever have that dream that you are late for a flight, you don't have everything you need, you can't find it, you miss your flight, or you are on an airplane without your things?  Some combination or variation?  It's always a pretty scary one for me.  Well I don't think I will be having it anymore.  Thursday morning I got a call from my suitor who is going through and exceptionally difficult time in his career asking if I would like to go to Hawaii.  His best friend lives there so he wants to get away for a bit.  Of course I say yes but he tells me I cannot pack a bag that we are leaving in two hours.  I am nervous.  My worst nightmare coming true.  But is it really a nightmare??  I'm going to Hawaii!   I walk out the door, call my boss from the airport and take some vacation days.  But I don't stop shaking until we are over the Pacific.   Now here I am in Hawaii without my things, but somehow it's not so bad.  I can think of no better way to conquer that fear.