12.08.2010

Day 05 – A picture of somewhere you’ve been to

Talk about old school. This picture is embarrassing for the 3 of us. We totally look like a happy little family with a foot in between us all. Haha.

When I was younger my family and I would try to take a family vacation at least once a year. New Mexico, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington D.C., Florida; we loved to travel. One year my mom took my sister to London, and I wasn't exactly thrilled about that. So... My uncle Gordy had a conference in Hawaii for Mountain America, and I convinced my parents that it was the perfect excuse for us to go to Hawaii and tag along. This was back in October of 2005.

I absolutely loved Hawaii. One of my favorite parts about the trip was visiting the Kona Temple and being able to do baptisms for the dead in the Laie Temple. The Kona Temple is one of my favorite temples in the world. So much so that I want to name my first son Kona. Too bad I'm white and that doesn't really work. (: So the real reason I chose to talk about this trip was because of my worst memory there. Why would I want to share my worst memory of a trip with you you might ask? Well because it's funny and quite frankly it's the best worst memory I think I have. My worst memory of Hawaii was the PCC. Most everyone LOVES the Polynesian Cultural Center. NOT I! Brace yourself for this next story... It's a good one, and I honestly can't believe I'm telling it on the internet...

PCC NIGHTMARE:
So my mother and I went to PCC one sunny Hawaiian Day. Only problem was, that it was only sunny for about the first hour we were there. Turns out the day we decided to go, Hawaii had the worst monsoon they had had in about a decade. Long story short, the whole day was miserable. We went from building to building freezing and soaking wet. No buff polynesians climbing palm trees, no fire dancers, nothing. My mom and I tried to tough out the storm to wait for our "All American Buffet" and show later that night. So we waited because I was starving and totally in the mood for some pizza and chicken nuggets. Unfortunately, turns out that the "All American Buffet" was anything but American. Purple rolls and jelly noodles... I can promise you I've never eaten that in Utah, and I'm pretty sure Utah is in America. I was miserable and ready to go. My mom seemed relieved that I felt that was because she was all gung-ho for going as well. Unfortunately we couldn't just get in our car and drive back to the hotel. My mom is all about mass transit when we go on trips, "that way we get a better feel of the life there". So true. Most trips I love taking mass transit. Not so much this time.

So we're sitting at the bus stop in the pouring rain waiting for the bus to come. I HAD TO USE THE RESTROOM SO BAD! But we didn't want to miss the bus because it was one of the last ones of the night. Now for the fun part. We finally get on the bus. We looked at our stuff and realized that my camera was completely trashed, along with a couple books that we had borrowed. A good $200 down the drain (no pun intended) because of the stupid storm. So we're driving along and by this point I REALLY REALLY have to use the restroom. I kid you not, I was in so much pain I don't think it has ever been topped by anything before or since. I was sprawled out on the seats crying and shaking uncontrollably. Needless to say, the other passengers on the bus really enjoyed my company haha. The bus driver was winding through all these suburbs and I obviously couldn't just get out there and use the restroom or else we might not catch another bus. Also, its not like Hawaii just has port-o-potties lined up in the neighborhoods for little 13 year old girls who need to use the restroom. It seemed like a century, but we finally came to a shopping mall. I was off that bus so fast! I made it a whole 50 yards before I told my mom there was no way in heck I was making it into the mall. SOOOO... I may or may not have squatted by a tree and gone right there. What an experience. I have left my mark on Hawaii (:

My mom and I still laugh about this story. We both love Hawaii, but I think we can both agree that we won't be going back to the PCC. I'm sure it's a great place, but my memory of it is enough. Not something I need to do again. And that, friends and family, is my story to go along with the picture of somewhere I've been.

-Tay

2 comments:

  1. That story still makes me laugh- what a horrible mother you had- but kuddos for Taylor who was in awful distress; extremely full bladder, the sound of rain pounding down on the wind shield of the bus, mother singing drip drip drop little April showers; making it to the tree with the lawn cut out around it before giving in to her physical needs! The Mass Transit Riders of Hawaii thank you!

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  2. P.S. It was not 50 yards, the tree was about 6 feet from the street in the parking strip between the road and the mall parking lot!

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