I woke up at 9 and Rebecca had long since left for work. I made breakfast and finished off my last piece of Halloween candy. For the first time in my life, my Halloween candy lasted through Christmas.
I called to work at 11:45 and they told me to be there at 1:00. I had just missed a bus but there was another one coming at 11:59. I scrambled to get ready and was walking to the stop at 11:57 when I realized I didn’t have my contacts in. Legally I need them to drive because I was wearing them when I took the eye test for my license. I sprinted across the busy street darting through cars to get back to the apartment to get my contacts. I grabbed the case out if the cabinet and sprinted through the courtyard and I saw the bus had passes the stop and was waiting at the light. I ran across 5 lanes of traffic and the driver let me on. I sat down and struggled to catch my breath. I was now starting to sweat. It appeared that I had wasted 7 minutes showering because I would spend the rest of the day smelling like a moldy mattress.
I tried to put my contacts in on the bumpy bus with no mirror, I pulled out the left lens and saw a rip in the side rendering it useless. It was too late to get off the bus and go back so I tried in vein to put in the right lens hoping I could just keep the left eye shut while I was driving. The bus was too bumpy to put the lens in so I gave up and spent the rest of the ride figuring out what I could do.
I got to work and was given a run right away. I put the right lens in and then delicately placed the torn left lens into my eyeball. For the first minute or so, the left side of my face was scrunched up like a stroke victim. I looked like Popeye if he had switched from spinach to fried chicken. After a few agonizing moments I opened my eye and I could see. It was a Boxing Day miracle.
I managed the rest of the night with the torn lens. I will need to find a new pair to switch these out. I’m only supposed to have them in for two weeks but they are expensive so I wear them for two months before switching.
I was waiting at the holding, area which is a big dark empty parking lot and some of the fellas from work were chatting. They told me that the lagoon next to the holding area is where they dumped the cremated remains of the 300,000 plus natives who died of disease when the white men started showing up. Allegedly, if you dig down a foot or so, it is just black ash mixed with mud. Many of the other drivers don’t like to be in the parking lot after dark because of the spirits. I don’t like to be in the parking lot after dark because of the homeless people and junkies.
I also learned that the Japanese tourists don’t tip because they still hold a grudge against America for dropping the atomic bombs. That’s like kicking a body builder in the shorts and bring mad at him for punching you until you swallow your teeth. Some of the tour bus drivers told me that they don’t teach history in japan, and when they go to Pearl Harbor, they are learning the truth about what happened for the first time and it brings many of them to tears. I’m not sure how much they told me is true, and how much is just jibber jabber, but it was interesting.
They sent me home at 9:30 and I was at the bus stop when a coworker drove by and offered me a ride. I was so appreciative. It took 10 minutes to get home as opposed to the 40-60 it would have taken on the bus. This island is full of some of the nicest, warmest people I have ever encountered.
I got home right as Rebecca was going to sleep so I quietly made a grilled cheese sandwich and went to bed.