Seattle to Kona - Two Kiwis and a Frenchie.

The actual official day of moving to The Big Island was focused on a soon-to-be-Hawaiian French Bulldog. This was more complicated than you would think, but he was a non-negotiable, like reef-safe sunblock. 

We’d been up since four am, doing tasks related to leaving the rental, so I was tired and tense at the airport. Standing in the queue to see the agent about loading our bags had me box breathing and repeating one of my mantras: there is enough time, money, and love, over and over.

However, Nigel, the other half of Team Keam, was confident because we had spent six months investigating, researching, and obtaining bloodwork and documents. If you’re interested in the process, there will be a separate blog, but for now, as Milo is not a service dog, the only way to transport him safely was to buy him a seat and designate him as precious cargo. 

Yup, like a cello or a 27-pound tiara.

Back to me at SeaTac. There was a long queue, a flight to catch, and a dubious agent at the counter who needed a supervisor’s approval before taking our luggage. Luckily, Milo’s a chill and well-adjusted dog used to being in a crate and didn’t mind waiting or being pulled through the terminal like a towed boat. 

TSA was delightful, and Milo enjoyed exploring the airport. Thankfully, the Alaska Airlines onboard staff were dog lovers; he was strapped in, slept in his crate, and was such a delightful guest that they gave him his own set of wings. A local vet signed his documents, and ten minutes after we left the plane, he was rolling on his back by the luggage carousel. 

We were met by Ed Barry, the realtor who’d sold us our home, and his wife Audrey, with leis, a huge gift basket of Hawaiian goodies, a homemade birdhouse (one of Ed’s hobbies), and two Hawaiian plate dinners. 

TH had been here in November, when about half of our stuff had arrived via shipping container, and had set up the house ready to be lived in, which was bliss. We ate on the lanai watching the sunset. 

My friend and mentor Suzanne says that when you align with the universe, the proof is how easy it is. I think she's right. 

More soon, 

miss you and mahalo, 

Erin.