Around 8:30 last night, I got a call from an 808 area code. Hawaii.
Instantly, my heart sank. It could only be one person: the dolphin snorkeling tour operator.
I'd left them my number so they could get in touch in case the tour got canceled. Indeed, someone was calling to let me know that with rising winds, heading out in the morning would be unsafe. The captain called it off.
On the upside, I got to sleep in this morning, for the first time in ages. Weird not to sleep in on a vacation, but I felt there was too much to do and see. Well, today, I got up close to noon.
On the downside, with rain pummeling the island, there wasn't much to do. We hopped into the Jeep and drove out to some waterfalls, then into a small state park. When the rain took a break, my cousin photographed some chickens sleeping in the afternoon sun. I read the news on my cell phone.
It was neither a vacation day, nor a regular day. Some twisted thing wriggling between the two.
We drove to Kaapa, a coastal town on the eastern side, and got drinks at Java Kai. I had my laptop with me, and she read. I think we both lost track of time, and at one point we looked up at each other with the same thought.
"What kind of vibe do you get from this cafe?" La Divina asked.
"Exactly! I've been wondering about every single person who walked in. Who are these people? Do most of them live here, or are they tourists, or what?"People who walked in looked like yogis, business men, homeless people, generally with unkempt beards and wild eyes. Eyes that have seen things I'd never believe.
That instant, a man sat at the table next to ours and made polite eye contact.
"Where are you from?" I asked him.
He smiled and started telling us fragments of his story. Atlanta, Chico, California, and Austin, Texas. A life defined, in a conversation with two women in a cafe, by its itineraries.
I asked what he is doing in Kauai -- tourism or work -- and he replied he is a healer specializing in tapping.
"Tapping? What's that?"
"It uses the same pressure points as accupuncture, but instead of needles, the healer applies a repetitive motion to the area and helps release certain tensions and energies." Here is his group's website. Here's more on tapping.
"Is that something you could show me, now?"
"You want a quick demonstration? Sure."
He took my hand in his, and started tapping.
"Think of a problem you have, a crisis you're facing."
"Okay. I got it."
"And repeat after me," he said, "or use the words that come most naturally to you."
"Okay."
"I am about to relax." "I am about to relax."
"I am taking a deep breath." "I am taking a deep breath."
"I am a beautiful person, and I love myself." "I am a beautiful person, and I love myself."
"I am holding a sadness inside." "I am holding a sadness inside."
"Whatever sadness or anger I harbor inside, I forgive." "Whatever sadness or anger I harbor inside, I forgive."
"If there is anything I cannot accept, I do not blame on myself or others." "If there is anything I cannot accept, I do not blame on myself or others."
"I am expelling any feelings of guilt." "I am expelling any feelings of guilt."
"I am a good person." "I am a good person."
"I have something special to offer the world." "I have something special to offer the world."
"This anger inside will be calmed." "This anger inside will be calmed."
I don't remember the exact words, but they were something along these lines.
Meanwhile, he was tapping, as a pianist's forefinger or a woodpecker's beak might, upon my hands, arms, forehead, neck, stomach.
When it was over, which seemed like a while later -- more than a 10 second sample, I felt very relaxed. A little sleepy. Michael said the sleepiness could be a sign that I'm trying to avoid working on myself -- taking a nap from my problems.
I'll be frank: I have had little exposure to such methods of healing. At the same time, there was something fundamentally calming and comforting about his message: Love yourself. Don't blame yourself. Work on your problems, but above all, love yourself.
Gained: The blessing of a tapping healer. A definite shift to vacation mode, since this would never have happened in San Diego.
