Tropical Breeze Rev 1

I’ve lived in the islands for twenty years.  I moved here after my fourth husband beat the crap out of me and I had to leave town.  It’s so bloody humid here during part of the year that when I’m off work I usually hang out in my room- modestly covered by a pair of Costco ladies briefs in a bag, and lying directly in front of a fan, drinking something cold or with ice in it.

I live in a big old house with 7 other random travelers.  I’ve been in this place for 6 months after the old house in Kakio Point was condemned.  All the houses on this side of the island are weather beaten with windows painted open and gaps in the walls.  I am used to the feel of tiny mice holding a grand prix in the middle of the night, my belly the first bridge in the course. 
I work at the Tiki Lounge near Kalauea Iki; during the tourist months I make good tips and sometimes bring a big spender home for a few hours so I can pay the rent.  I’ve lived on the beach before when the money ran out.  It’s not so bad, could be a lot worse, believe me.  Back in Montana, during the winter, people’s toes fall off- yes, actually break right off- frozen and brittle.

Here it’s rodents, the reptiles and the bugs.  They are everywhere; you can’t get away from them.  I think your blood gets thicker or thinner, I can’t remember which, after you live here for awhile. They leave you alone after you’ve passed the initiation.  And the scorpions are a pain in the, well, wherever they pinch you, if you are so unlucky as to lie down with one.
The air though, the air of the islands blows warm and sexy.  You walk seductively down the streets, in the markets, in the clubs, just to let that air kiss every inch of you. And it smells like flowers, but it’s a subtle scent, not the overpowering artificiality of perfume or scented soap, but a soft romantic smell you want to wrap around you like a cocoon.

The food is here fresh, and juicy, and colorful, and messy.  A mango can leave you sticky for days, and the rum drinks with pineapple and little umbrellas leave circles on the table tops and stumbling women in their wake.  Pupus - island appetizers, are also very sensual- kalua pork, sashimi, shave ice.
It would be difficult to return to the mainland after living here for so many years.  I never really think about it anymore.  I just live, for today, in today, for as long as it lasts, an hour, a day, a month, a year.  It’s all the same.

It’s hot, and getting late and I need to take a shower before my shift.

To be continued

©2011 sharonjcorrigan

Comments

anita said…
I like it! Waiting for more. xox anita
July 30, 2011 at 10:18 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Late for lunch Rev 1

I was running late for my workshop and decided to try pulling in the QUALCOMM driveway because the building where the meeting is held shared the parking lot; at least I think it does. I sometimes shoot right past the left turn, even with the signal, because I miss the sign and don’t know the name of the street. As I reach the crest of the hill I knew that the strategy had worked. I stepped out of the van at 11:58 and ran across the lot towards the entrance. Our vans always smell funny. It must be something EVS uses to try to clean the upholstery or carpet. It’s like all the drivers have been working at Jiffy Lube and forgot to wash their hands. I asked the ladies at reception where to go this month and I see the group admin coming out to close the door at the end of a hallway. She sees me coming and hands me a name tag with a smile, as we both go into the room. They are just getting started with the program and everyone already has their lunch. In the past, when the meetings hav
Read more

Monument Sign Rev 1

I’d been waiting for the monument sign for six weeks. The company had broken the mold and had to order a new one from the factory. Urger Shack, people drove by and laughed and no one stopped in. What the hell is an Urger ? They’d yell as he sat on the bench outside the front door, always leaving the AC on since it was the middle of summer and the food in the kitchen would spoil fast. For six weeks he’d sat on this bench, trying to figure out how to use “urger to his advantage, maybe start a trend, even a cult would work if it got people to stop at the care, even for a coke. Urger Shack, Urger shack. Wait? That ‘s it. If we’re going be silly let’s go for it. Urger Hack, get rid of the S and pretend it was cool. Urger Hack, Urger Hack, or Hurger Sack, no that made no sense at all. It was getting later, around 3 or so in the afternoon when the bus stopped. A bus, 37 screaming kids in a school bus from Salinas. Hey buddy the driver yelled, got any ice cream to shut these punks
Read more

Tuesday August 9

Waking up this morning in our Chateau near Salbris, as usual I was the first one downstairs because my friends like to sleep in.  I am still getting used to staying up past 9pm when I am with friends and have not ben successful at sleeping past 9:00am except for one day.  That one day, I was really awake but just laid in bed. So I tidied up my bedroom, and took my luggage downstairs since the bathrooms were downstairs anyway and the  stairs were so steep there was no reason to take anything but the adaptor up there, and maybe my phone.  With my friends we all spent many hours on facebook, and Didier is very good at doing research on the Internet. I took my shower and got dressed after loading up the coffee machine and turning it on so it would be ready when I was dressed.  I think this morning I worked on my blog, but maybe not since we were leaving pretty early for Chateau Chambord.  Yesterday after we arrived here, and got the tour from the father of our host, Didier and Anne too
Read more