Aloha

The tide is slowly starting to change. I am spending a week on the west side of Washington with my friend Matt because on August 18th he's taking off for graduate school in Hawaii . The night before I left Yakima, over face book messenger my friend Jordan told me he is already there in the land of Pearl Harbor and hula skirts on vacation.
In the midst of party preparations today, I couldn't help but remember, not only has Jordan beat Matt to Hawaii this summer. But he also has already been to graduate school. Also, like Matt (and myself), he enjoys coffee and traveling. ( Which one of us hits the airport runway the most? That's still yet to be decided.)
I also find it funny and weird that Jordan entered my life just as Matt's about to leave the state. I couldn't help but wonder, was there a reason this is happening? Is this the universe's way of making sure I always have a fellow travelwhore since my best friend still has yet to be on a plane? Or maybe there is no rhyme or reason to this.
I do know these things for sure.
1. Not only do they both know me which makes them ultra cool. Matt's Bachelors Degree in journalism proves he has a way with words and knows how to get the scoop. Also, a bank on the east side of Washington hired Jordan because he clearly has a knack for numbers.
2. I will miss working and hanging out with Matt like we used to. He is the Jewish brother I never had. Who else is going to make fun of the fact I can't say Puyallup right after he leaves Washington state? Plus, him and his family have welcomed me into their world with nothing short of open arms ever since we met on newspaper staff. On the way up to their house on Thursday we stopped at Snowqualmie Falls just because I said I haven't seen it yet. Yesterday they took me to Seattle, their synagogue, and all this was followed by a formal dinner. I feel honored because I know this isn't something they do for just anyone.
At the same time, I look forward to getting to know Jordan more.
3. I hope I continue to have many Starbucks with both of them.
4. Aside from our love of coffee and globe hopping, all three of us enjoy what we do and do what we can to make the world a better place. According to a website link that Jordan sent to me, he is starting a non profit foundation. Matt raised 500 dollars after the Oklahoma City bombing happened to help people there out. For three years in a row I was involved with The Vagina Monolouges to help raise awareness for violence against women.
Although theater is the last thing on my mind right now. The sun has dipped below the horizon and the luau held today has come to an end. It was fun. I got to catch up with my friends Shannon and Ted who have been dating over a year now. :0) I saw Matt's friend Jeremy do a dance in front of the tiki torches as they where being lit. Although I didn't know weither to say Hawaiian native or village idiot. I also learned I can create paradise. With lots of tape,flowers, birds, sandals,fish, a Elvis Blue Hawaii record, leis, ect. I was able to give the Hartmann household a little slice of Hawaii all the way up here in Washington state. Now, the tiki torches have been put away. But the rest of the decorations are still hung around the house. True to form, Matt has already located the Starbucks closest to the place he will be living for the next few years. As everyone heads to bed, I can't help but think maybe people are just like the waves in the ocean- always coming and going out of one another's life. Sometimes with a purpose and other times with no purpose at all.
Some waves are long and others are so short they don't even make it to the shoreline. Since you can't always control how long the wave is, all you can do is enjoy each ride.