Melissa, I remember you from your posts as 3 little bird! We have 4 ladies, 1 couple, and 1 guy who will be there April 9 - April 18. All in our 40's - 60's (well, 1 of the 60+ girls acts like she's 30!). We stay in a beachfront rooms at Gail's place (NTH). If you will be "home" the same time we are, please let me know via post and we will make arrangements to hang out, especially if you are cliffside. It would give you a nice, comfortable place with cool people to hang with and a/c and clean restroom literally steps away on the beach. I really connected with you via the rum creme exception to drinking! The only time I touch booze is Bailey's/rum creme in the my coffee in the am. We are pretty low key, but fun if I do say so myself. We have lots of local friends who stop in with local fruits and juices. Not exactly a party, but we do have music!

I treated my mom's best friend (more like an aunt to me), my mom, and my daughter a few years ago to a trip to Oahu because my "aunt" was in end stage breast cancer and we wanted to have a "girls" trip to remember. At the same time my age 17 daughter was just cleared of the cancer that she had been diagnosed with at age 12 (we also went to a specialist at MD Anderson) so this was a combination of the celebration of that incredible news and our last girls trip with "auntie". The trip was physically difficult for my "aunt" but we always just did things at her pace, spending a lot of time on our ocean front deck and we ended up having the most wonderful trip. She truly cherished this until the day she passed. The memories created for us are priceless. She taught us so much on that trip! She showed us how to live with dignity and grace under the most extreme physical hardship and also how to accept what was coming (very soon for her, but inevitable for the rest of us) with the same dignity and grace. This was so important for my teenager who had also had many surgeries and radiation, to see. I sense that you carry that same spirit that my aunt had and I always embrace the opportunity to be in the presence of someone such as yourself. Please, please contact me if our dates work. The other member's of our group talk WAY TOO MUCH! I'm hoping they can learn something from you as well! LOL. I only say that because you seem to have a wonderful sense of humor.

Regardless of whether we are "home" at the same time, I wish you the best and I am so honored that you are willing to share your story with your Boardie brother and sisters. Know that everyone you have touched with this post is a little better human being because of it. Always remember, you made a difference in our lives! - Michelle