Orange Leaves and Opium

I've been feeling uninspired lately. I blame this sticky weather and standardized state testing. With a week off of school I had planned to lounge around at the beach, rewatch old episodes of Community, and organize my closet. But with the break rapidly approaching I decided to do something a little more grand. So I flew to New York. 

I have family there, so I wasn't being completely spontaneous, but still I wanted an adventure to spark my imagination. I let myself wander around the city and get lost in the bustle. I saw the Statue of Liberty, a Broadway show, Central Park, and a number of art museums, shops, and restaurants. I travelled on planes, trains, and automobiles, as well as taxis, subways, busses, and boats. I wore out my red tennis shoes. The fall air was delightful, and I finally got to experience the colors and smells of a true October. 

The best part was visiting my little Rachel, whom I absolutely ADOOREE. (Name that movie). I was pleased to see how well she is thriving in the fast paced city of Boston. She's the perfect combination of elegance and wit. I love that girl. 

I did however have a minor-to-moderate realization. I left the warm peaceful island of Oahu to feel more splendid and luxurious. I thought the bright lights and sky scrapers would pull me out of a slump. This was not the case. The initial attraction of the North East didn't hold any lasting allure. It's like the book, The Alchemist. In my search for culture, I realized I've been standing in the midst of it all along. Obviously. Sophisticated or not, Laie is the essence of humanity. Laie is my real inspiration. 

In summation, it was a wonderful vacation. Just what I needed. But I'll never doubt for a second that I'm where I'm supposed to be. The only negative: I ate way too many poppy seed bagels.