Hot dang, it's 2010

Jan. 27, 2010

Three thousand yards today for the U.S. Masters Swimming Hour Swim (ok, 2,995) today – NOW I can feel the new year. Sweet Em counted yards for me, the sun was shining after 10 days of rain, and Alan got his cast off.

Ahem. Back up. Fabulous time in Hawaii on the island of Oahu having fun with Josh and girlfriend Shelby and her extended family, who live near Honolulu. Flew in Dec. 29, had a great evening, swam in the morning, picked up Julia at the airport when she arrived early afternoon, and all four members of Team HJ headed to the beach….Sandy’s Beach. Tell anyone on Oahu you’re going to Sandy’s and they’ll shake their heads and ask, “You want kill yourself??”

Josh loves Sandy’s, and has had many good times there. Three of us (not me) body surfed and had a blast for almost an hour just about until "closing time." A lifeguard got on the bullhorn and warned us that the waves are rough at Sandy’s, they’d be leaving, and advised everyone to go to a safer beach. I packed our valuables into my shoulder bag and headed to the water’s edge to get my gang out – just in time to see Alan get smashed into the sand by a big wave that just thunked him down.

Lucky for Alan the wipeout only broke his left arm and didn’t break his neck, which happens a fair amount at Sandy’s, according to the lifeguard who wrapped the arm in ice and gave us directions to Queen’s Hospital, a one-hour drive back into Honolulu during rush hour.

Josh and Alan made that trip in Josh’s rental car while Julia and I drove ours to Shelby’s family’s house where they had prepared a feast for us. Delicious dinner, very big cast for Alan’s arm. The rest of the Hawaii trip was grand, although Alan didn’t get very wet.

How can I spell “many other adventures” awaited us? Five days after we got home, he had surgery at Sutter Davis Hospital. A few days later we flew to Santa Monica for my mother’s dear companion Morrie’s memorial service. And then our kitchen cabinet tore loose from the wall and crashed to the floor the night after we got home, smashing our counter, the floor and all our dishes.

The good news is Alan’s big post-surgery cast came off today and his bone is healing well. Only a Velcro brace for the next few weeks. He took his first run in a month this afternoon and he was thrilled, as was the dog.

That’s enough for one night’s post.

Visual aids: Alan’s arm today sans cast, kitchen cabinet crash.