The Big Island

I am here, on Shirley's land, loving it here, loving the land, and of course, loving hanging with Shirley most of all!

My daughter had the great fortune of coming to this island a couple of months ago with a friend of hers.

I call Tessie this morning, to check in and let her know how wonderful everything is. I tell her Shirley's land is just north of Hilo, up the mountain a thousand or more feet.

She wants to know exactly where I am. I forget the name of the area - there is no town up here, just a few land owners living on several acres of property each. Shirley has about 20 acres I think.

I tell my daughter it is about 16 miles north of Hilo. She excitedly responds in a squeaky voice "the 16 mile marker?"

She also stayed in Hawaii, taking the 16 mile marker turn-off, then passing the botanical gardens, turning by the always-vacant fruit stand, and heading up the asphalt road until it dead-ends into a dirt road!

We discover that she has stayed at the neighbor's adjoining property!!! What a coincidence!