The latest batch of memories from Mom and Dad‘s house includes an armful of folders with brochures from a series of vacations they took.

Once-in-a-lifetime trips to Ireland, Nova Scotia, England, an Alaskan cruise …

One destination, though, was a repeat. When youngest son Bill, a Marine, was stationed in Hawaii, they decided to visit him. For the next decade or so, they returned each winter – even after Bill had completed his time in the military. After many winters of dragging through seasonal affective disorder, Mom enjoyed the sunshine, warm temperatures, fresh fruit, and lovely scenery of Hawaii.

As did Dad:

We now know they also read many a book during their stay. Much to my delight, they even kept a list in 1999 and tucked it away to be discovered 25 years later.

What a treat to find this list! My brother Dave and I had wondered how much reading Dad was able to enjoy during retirement. Having inherited their collection of Folio Society books, I open each new-to-me volume carefully, hoping to be able to tell if someone has already read each page with delight. Sometimes a bookmark slips out. More often, not.

Did they bring an extra suitcase to Hawaii packed with books?

Not as long as they had this …

Perfect! I wonder how often they’d visit the library during their stay?

Let’s see, Dad read an even dozen books, and Mom …

… looks like Mom read 14 books, including The Man in the Queue by Josephine Tey, which I read just a few months ago. I’m so glad she enjoyed Ms. Tey, too.

Please don’t be concerned my parents didn’t enjoy many of the delights Hawaii has to offer. They toured historic sites and visited the many glorious displays of nature. I remember Mom describing their trip over a volcano in a helicopter. That story still makes me a bit woozy!

Mom also took the time to write. She penned this poem about halfway through their visit to paradise in 1999:

Kailua Morning

Because of a turtle we talked

The man who lost his wallet
and the man from Wales
had seen the turtle in the water

We couldn’t find it

But the local man who lost
his wallet in the water
and the Welshman crossing
that same water to Hawaii
we found

~ joan vayo, January 25, 1999

“Kailua Morning” © 1999  Joan Vayo. All rights reserved.

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