My first day in the islands was pretty mellow. Went into downtown Kona and walked around, which was a pretty extreme feeling. I will give you my feelings for what has happened to the town in the years since I’ve been gone at some point in the near future, but for now I’ll just tell you that I had breakfast at a place called Durty Jake’s, where my ex-girlfrend used to work. That was pretty intense. I used to eat there all the time when she worked there (not so much to see her as it was that I got 50% off.) So that was a pretty intense trip. I thought about her a lot on the first day. I mean, we’ve been broken up for 4 years and I’m over it, but at the place and the time when I lived here, she was a vital part of my life. And I’ve got a memory for every place downtown, and most are connected to her.
You know that feeling you got when you went away to college and you retured home for the first time, and it was no longer your town or your school? I kind of got that feeling too. I mean, we were young and tan and beatiful dolphin trainers, so we felt like we were freaking rock stars. Now I just feel like a tourist. I don’t want to give you the impression that I’m sad or bummed out. I am absolutely thrilled to see the sights, hear the sounds, and most of all, smell the smells (something you never hear anyone say when they visit Philly.) I understand that time passes and that’s all part the process, but there is a certain bittersweetness, I suppose. But most of all there is excitement to see some of the incredible things that I had almost forgotten existed.
Oh, and I went ahead and upgraded the rental. I am totally kicking ass in a 2007 Mustang convertible. I rule!