Close Call

I am going to chalk today up as the scariest day of my life so far.

Today I decided to take the boys up to the Lavender field in Kula. Kula is in upcountry on the side of Haleakala Mountain. The mountain is very rarely clear and today it was clear as a bell. After a quick swim we loaded into the Versa and headed out.

The Lavender field is situated on the side of the mountain, it is an incredibly steep climb to get there and the entire farm is very steep even to just walk on. They have a wonderful little treasure hunt for the kids. The kids follow a map and collect stamps along the way. When they are done they take their stamp cards to the gift shop for a 'prize'. We had just finished our stamp cards and were on our way to the gift shop. I was humming along to the 'HAPPY' song and thinking about what peaceful day it had been. Ethan was singing the 'Jake and the Neverland pirate song' and dancing away.  We stopped at the bathroom on our way to the gift shops. The bathrooms are three outhouses in amongst some beautiful gardens and beside the garage. The whole lavender field is for walking only (no cars). Both the boys peed and I got the boys to sit on the grass just outside the the outhouse (two feet away from the outhouse not really thinking anything unsafe could happen two feet away from the outhouse while I was in there). Boy was I mistaken.

I finished peeing and was just stepping out of the outhouse when I happened to look up, there was a black SUV BARRELLING towards us. I mean it was going SO fast. I didn't have time to think and the only thing I could come up with in my brain was 'WHAT THE HECK IS THAT CAR DOING'. THEN I realized that they had lost their breaks and were out of control. It all happened so fast, they were coming right at us and next thing you know they smashed HARD into the side of the garage ONE foot away from my boys sitting nicely in the grass.  I was in shock, i mean I was in SHOCK. This car literally crashed into the side of the garage ONE FOOT away from my boys. ONE FOOT, that is like ONE ruler!! I burst into tears and started shaking uncontrollably. My kids had escaped being hit head on by a fast moving car by one foot. The front of the car was literally torn right off, a complete right off. People came rushing over, the lady in the car jumped out and immediately came and hugged me (oh man just tearing up just typing this). I was sobbing. I couldn't stop shaking.  She said she saw me (while out of control) and was swerving away (In my opinion she could have swerved a little harder). I looked at my boys grabbed their hands and we began walking away from the situation. I had to sit on the grass as I could hardly walk, my legs were weak. The boys were fine, hardly even phased. Ethan says 'oh mom they are going to have to plant some new plants' (the car also hit a large planter), and Wyatt goes 'Mom that car just CRASHDED' (that is how he said it). Then they both asked me why I was crying.

I quickly picked myself up and wiped away my tears. I grabbed my boys and we headed into get our prize as we were planning to before. When we got into the gift shop the owners gave me a tea, some bottled water and cookies for the boys. We sat on the deck and had a major CHILL out session. I was weeping and still weak in the knees. I just couldn't believe how my whole world just flashed before my eyes at the so-called peaceful  lavender gardens.

We went up and sat at the upper picnic tables and had our picnic as planned. The staff at the lavender field took my information and the police came to do an investigation. They took my number for my statement.

It is unbelievable how fragile life is. I am so thankful that this was only a 'close call'. I am so thankful that my boys are ok. I am so thankful that my boys jumped right up and asked me if I was ok. They are such thoughtful little boys, words cannot even express how much i love them.

I gave both my boys (who thought I was completely crazy) an extra big hug and we packed back into the car. The whole event kept replaying in my head the entire drive home. I take this as my reminder that I need to live my life to the fullest. I need to love my boys harder. I need to be more understanding to their needs and be there for them as much as I can. They are my little guys and my entire world. Sometimes you get so wrapped up in life that you forget that the only thing that matters are the ones you love.

HAG

Most times I can let the little things go, but there are some things that really get under my skin. Grouchy, snotty people are things that I just can't deal with.

This morning the kids and I went to the gym , stopped at the farmers market on the way home then decided to head to the pool. I got dressed and made my 'pool watching tea'. I sat down in my beach chair and took a few sips. I just sat there thinking about how wonderful my life is, the kids have been playing so nicely, the weather it beautiful and it was just a great day. About half an hour later I hear the pool gate open. An older lady, who has come to the pool for the last few days, came through the gate. I said a friendly HI. She grumbled something back. There was something about this women that I noticed just watching her. You could tell she was a Hag.

The kids were just playing, diving for rocks and zooming their planes around the pool. They were not loud. They were not screaming (because trust me I put a quick stop to screaming). The kids actually truthfully were just playing, not super quiet but not overly loud. (Certainly not as loud as the huge kid pool party that had taken place a few nights ago, my kids were there and loved it lol). Anyways the HAG goes and sits on the other side of the pool, she puts her headphones on and lays down. Kids still playing.... HAG sits up, pulls her headphones up and says 'Can your kids be quiet'. ARE YOU FRICKING kidding me??!?!?!?! I looked at her and said 'What did you say?'. She says 'Can the kids stop screaming'. I thought my head might blow off, I looked at her and said firmly and extra bitchy "They are just playing". Then i turned away. Normally I only stay the pool for about 45 minutes but today I made it a point to extend our pool visit mostly just to piss her right off. I just couldn't believe it, seems like something so small but after getting a NOISE complaint (Not during quiet time hours...in other words NOT valid) then having some HAG to tell my kids (who were not even being loud) to be quiet, I was just dumbfounded.

If you can't handle the noise DON'T come to the pool to relax and expect perfect silence. Try your porch, the grass or the beach.

If you can't handle the noise go live in the seniors centre across the street or chose another ADULT only facility.

I am so sick of having to get after my kids to keep their voices down or try to stay quiet while playing. How is that fair to them? I will no longer attempt to dull my kids voices when they have every right to be as loud as they want. (Of course within reason, i can't deal with screaming)

As we were leaving the pool I looked at her and she was glaring at me. (seriously glaring). I maturely mouthed the word COW to her.

Tomorrow I think we will bring some super soakers to the pool. Hopefully the kids accidentally hit her.... wooops

We have met some absolutely wonderful people her on Maui and I will be very sad to leave in a month and a half. One thing I am looking forward to however, is to be able to have some freedom in our own house! No one likes noisy kids (myself included) but kids that are just playing, come on. So far our (or my) first rental experience has not been very positive.

Anyways I will try to keep up with a few more blogs before we leave. Just a recap of the last few months! SIMPLY AMAZING! I love this place!