DONE!!!

this trip is finally coming to an end, and we're pretty much just counting down the moments before the sun goes down. the hours before our packed bags will be secured and put upright before being rolled to the trunk. the minutes before boarding, and the seconds before take-off. it's a rare thing for us to go on such adult-like vacations. rare to be apart from my family for so long without any held malice. rare to be missing home so much. but even more rare to have loved this trip so much despite all preconceived notions and newly-made ones.

some of which will remain.

again, i think it's truly a thing of growth to be so open to people and to see things through new eyes. it's really best when we're all able to shut up and sit back and see the dynamics of people. an even funnier thing when you're able to watch others make a true fool of themselves. who knew that it's sometimes best to keep our mouths shut? who knew that sometimes, the more people say in the intellectual scheme of things, the stupider they sound. it's funny to realize that i was once that. i once judged people by the amount of books they read, and not so much the length of the words used but the measure of depth and meaning.

AND OH, HOW I USED THOSE DEFINITIONS. DEFINITIONS OF WORDS, MEANINGS, USAGES... ohh you knowww

anyway, i think the more open you are to people and experiences, the more youre able to grow from them. if youre so willing to shut yourself off from people and situations, how will you take on the great things about people and learn from the bad? i guess i learned that it doesnt matter how smart you are...or the difficulty of questions and conundrums you bring up in conversation.

it just really doesnt matter.

because what is knowledge and wisdom if you havent enough warmth to attract? and if words and attitudes and opinions so easily repel, then what of it?

ive learned that the people ill remember out of this entire trip were those who were warm and hospitable enough to have left an indelible mark on the memories made. it's funny that simple words of interest, or lines exchanged from common interests, or just giggles of commonly held facts will forever endear you to someone. no matter how short those encounters were.

and the fact of the matter is that it takes 2 or more proper encounters to change a person's mind after a bad first impression.
i think that holds true.

anyway, i've learned to not judge people by the amount of money made, or the cost of their confidence clutches. not even the amount of experience on their resumes, or their eloquence in job interviews. because the people i've learned to surround myself with are those with the sincerest of hearts, and with an openness, not of their wallets, but of their minds. because of all the qualities that attracted us to our Creator, it was not his justice, nor his power, and not even his wisdom that did it. instead, it was his Love. so of all things to imitate, it should be that. only then will people be attracted to us.

like in Across The Universe--

Uncle Teddy: Because, Maxwell, what you do defines who you are.

Max: No, Uncle Teddy. Who you are defines what you do. Right Jude?

Jude: [awkward] ... Well, surely it's not what you do, but the, uh... the way that you do it.

so even with us, who have the most humblest of jobs... we know surely that we are all gifted enough to be able to do anything we want in this system...

to make salary at lucritive companies and firms, answering phones, sipping on coffee, playing freecell all day.

or even to sell bread and flowers on the side of the road all day.

or even and read enough to defend the lowly, or study enough to help the sick.

but it's neither what we do or who we are, but how well we do it, and how we use our talents to better serve Him where we should.

so i guess i appreciate even being a lowly bartender, the money i get to support my pioneering, and the social skills ive developed to be more approachable.

id hate to be unapproachable.

so anyway, i guess there are some people who will find infinite loop-holes to justify their behavior and actions, but i'm not going to do that. what's done is done, and everyone's wronged everyone. but it's not the best to be so biased to defend and rationalize a loved ones actions, simply for the fact that theyve known them longer. and no, right now i'm not going to write a blog about how i'm the bigger person. because to say so, again, would negate that very fact.

so let us love, neither in word nor with the tongue, but in deed and truth.

thanks to all the california and vegas people that were sooo accomodating. again, we had no expectations, but nearly everyone proved to be so warm and loving.

come to hawaii and we'll promise to do the same.