Marge and Tom Jones Had A Lovely Aloha Party As We Departed For Hawaii

Marge and Tom Jones live down the street from us. We met a few months ago when we found out they were making a trip to Hawaii. We had a little dinner party for them and told them about our trips to Hawaii. Sunday they returned the favor big time.

They had a party at their home down by the Old Fort. But it was more like a luau. They had friends and family there that lived in Hawaii for several years. The food was fantastic - but what blew us away was the ukulele playing - singing - costumes - and authentic dancing. Before the evening was over they had us all drawn into the festivities.

I am typing this story from 30,000 feet over the state of Georgia. We are flying north to see our kids and grandkids in Richmond. All 8 Everharts together will watch Florida State play in the Rose Bowl on January 1st. Then Lulu and I will continue on to Hawaii on Jan 2nd.

We will be staying at the Hyatt in Waikiki for a convention. Then for the rest of our trip we are booked into the Moana Surfrider Hotel. We will walk our bags because it is right on the beach in downtown Waikiki. A one time this was the only hotel on the beach. We could never afford it before - but Lulu found a relatively economical government rate for our stay. Two year ago it was on this hotel beach where we had our surfing lessons.

In the 1990s - we used to spend a month every summer at Waikiki when Lulu taught a summer course at the University of Hawaii. In those days our friends and family used to come over and spend time with us there. Our good friends the Taylors from Tamaqua PA just spent Christmas inHawaii but have since have flown home. We would have loved to be there with them - but our schedules could not match.

We left mild 70 degree weather in Tallahassee. Lulu just said that it was snowing in Richmond. It will be our White Christmas. We have two large sacks of presents that Santa let at our house - thinking the kids would be there for Christmas.