Here we go!

So much to think about and want to remember today! Today’s the big day- I’m flying to Maui to start my yearlong internship. It’s exciting to be living in Maui for a year! Of 500 applicants, I’m the one walking off the plane today. That’s just insane. But I’m thankful and joyful, to say the least!

I’m also anxious. Worried to be leaving close relationships behind and “on-hold”- don’t want them to disintegrate or die out because I love them all so much. This is where I need to learn how to let go and let things be. To trust that this, too, is part of God’s perfect timing/plan.

Blessing of today: getting bumped up to 1^st class! This morning I said to my family that I hoped I’d get a little blanket on my 2^nd flight from Sacramento to Maui so I could sleep most of the way… now I’ll get that luxury for sure, plus more! Here’s the story:

When I bought my plane ticket originally, the only flights left were mostly 2 stop flights from LAX to Maui. Ridiculous. So I bought the only 1 stop flight left- LAX to Sacramento, a 4 hour layover, and then to Maui. Still crazy, but the cheapest and the least hassle of the options. When I got to LAX this morning, I thought I was on Alaska Airlines, but that wasn’t true. 1^st flight was with Delta Airlines, and then the 2^nd flight was with Alaska Airlines. I didn’t have a seat on either flight, and I’d have to re-check in with Alaska Airlines in Sacramento, and give them my luggage claim checks so they could find my luggage and transfer it. Nightmare? I think it would’ve been. But I went through security anyway and waited. The Delta flight attendant at my gate- “Lisa”- called me up and said, “Are you going to Maui today?” “Yes,” I replied. “Via Sacramento?” “Yes.” “Why?” “That was all that was left when I bought the ticket.” “Well that’s just crazy. I’ve never heard of anything like that! Your first flight is overbooked and I’m looking for volunteers to take a later fight. We’ll give you a $300 flight voucher and some meal tickets while you wait. But if you do that, you’ll only be able to use the vouchers on the same flight pattern. And since you’re going to Maui today, can I put you on a non-stop flight from here to there later today? We’ll find your luggage before it leaves and save it for that flight. You’ll go straight from here to Maui, and get there only 5 minutes later than your original itinerary. Oh, and it’s in first class. Is that ok?” After gasping for a minute and then exclaiming, “Absolutely!!!” we worked out the details and I’ll have my first 1^st class experience on my trip to Maui. It means a 7 hour wait in LAX, but DEFINITELY worth it!!! Thankful for a friend’s mail package with a new mix CD to listen to, and another friend’s advice to carry on my laptop and a few movies. :)

I hope to figure out how to post pictures soon.  Aloha and mahalo! –JM (Aloha means hello/goodbye and Mahalo means thank you/you’re welcome)