Lead, Follow, or Get Lost in Paradise

Abby is on spring break.

With time on our hands

we headed (north?) into the inland

of Oahu.

Our destination was the

Dole Plantation, home of the world's

largest permanent maze.

Ain't it cool?

France wasn't thrilled about being hauled

away from the beach.

but once she learned that 

there were 8 hidden stations within the maze,

she took charge of the expedition.

She careened around the high bushes and canes,

Scott and I trying to not to lose her.

It was hard on the Scoutmaster who

wanted to examine the map before

charting a course.

It was hard on Britain to blindly follow anyone,

let alone France.

But as we raced behind her, I realized

how much of her life is a maze.

She has to navigate around tricky social roadblocks

at school and online.

Her homework is always problematic and learning

doesn't come easy for France.

Teenagers know their adult 

future is tantalizingly close, but they can't see it, 

the hedges of adolescence and parental control still

force them to adhere to a predetermined course.

France was fierce and determined, it must have been

cathartic for her to lead the way; 
control her destiny and ours, 

even for 42 short minutes.

After we emerged, we indulged in

Dole Floats.

Yes, the same delectable concoction offered

in Disneyland.

We then enjoyed a totally cheesy train ride

around the plantation and walked the garden filled

with the different varieties of pineapples

Isn't that just the cutest little pineapple in the world?

And Germany: the dole floats weren't 

nearly as good as the Disney ones.

I think it was because I couldn't share one

with you.