The Top Three Things Not To Do In Hawaii

In four day's I'll be on a plane to Hawaii and thought I'd post about what I don't plan on doing while there.

The Number 1 Thing I Plan On Not Doing: Get a concussion.

(This explains so much about me.)

I can hear you out there wondering why this is the number one thing I plan on NOT doing while in Hawaii. It's because it really puts a damper on the rest of your vacation. I know, because several years ago Hubby and I went to Maui for the first time, and on the first day there we went to the beach. Can you say HUGE waves? As in fifteen to twenty foot monsters. Have I mentioned I'm from Utah where we don't have waves. At all. Ever.

Waves in Utah.

Waves in Hawaii

I didn't want to get in, but, yup, you guessed it, Hubby talked me into the water and out past the lethal breakers. We swam. We played. We got tired and headed in. Hubby made it. I didn't. Killer waves that pummel you into the beach are not fun. Neither is watching the world swirl and heave for days after while your brain tries to recover from being in the world's biggest jackhammer powered washing machine. Ouch.

The Number 2 Thing I Plan On Not Doing: Get stranded in the jungle seven hours from the hotel with nothing but a half-empty water bottle and a towel--all while dressed in only my swimming suit.

Yes, we did that, too. On our second day, while my head still felt like it was in the spin cycle. Did I mention concussions hurt, because they do. But don't we do awesome stuff on vacations?

Here's how that one went down:

We woke up, and I felt like dying. Concussions suck. Hubby asked what I wanted to do that day, and I croaked, "Anything but the beach."

We went on the drive to Hana and then on to the Seven Sacred Pools. The roads looked like this:



Concussions and curves = Bad.

But it was gorgeous, and we swam in secluded waterfall fed pools--with no waves. Heaven.

At least until my sweet hubby lost the car keys in the bottom of the Seven Sacred Pools. At dusk. Far, far away from civilization.

Long story short, we ended up being rescued by a native Hawaiian who carted us off to his house in the jungle (with no electricity) and helped arrange for us to get back home the next morning. Truly awesome family. Truly awesome experience. Actually, it turned out to be the best part of a great vacation, but I don't want to duplicate it this time. Just saying.

And the Number Three Thing I Plan On Not Doing: Letting my pale, white, Utah skin burn to a crisp in the tropical sun. Double ouch. Can you say sunscreen and aloe? I'd provide a picture, but I'm not that mean.

Anywho, what does this have to do with writing? Sometimes you think you know how your book will go. You have it all mapped out, outlined to within a in inch of it's death, then something happens. One concussion or another unexpected event and the whole thing takes on a new life. You can either hang on to the old expectations and bemoan the trauma, or you can go with it and see what new adventures crop up. Who knows, you may end up having an awesome romp in the jungle dressed in only a swimsuit. Sometimes the best things in writing can't be planned.

So, go do something unexpected today...just avoid concussions, getting stranded, and burning to a crisp. It's better that way, I promise.