Friends

As we get settled, we're making friends. Here is a shout-out to a few ...

Dan is Matt's swim coach. He's 22, but he looks 12. I'm sure he's yet to shave. But what a sweetheart of a young man. Since Matt can't very well monitor my goings-on what with all the water streaming out of his face, he asked Dan to keep an eagle eye on me. When I finish my run and limp out onto the deck to stretch, Dan waves at me like I'm his kindergarten teacher. I suspect that after my surgery, Dan will park me next to whatever platform he's coaching from and wink at me every few minutes. I'm cool with that.

We walk to Aulani three times a day: once in the morning as Matt heads into the office, once after our lunch, and, as long as dinner isn't complicated, I head over around 5:30 with a book in hand to curl up in a lounge chair and wait for my guy to shed his work day. On all these walks, we pass landscapers, security guards, and mostly, streams of Japanese tourists (with the occasional Aussie passerby). Some of these regulars are smiling buddies. They gape at us, eyebrows and hand raised in a wave, with a look that says, "Still here?"

One of the security guys who guards the Aulani service entrance is Matt's favorite. His name is Rod. Every day, Matt asks Rod what's for lunch. Every day, Rod says, "Fried rice." Then they make that funky hang-ten hand signal.

Carol is Matt's surfing buddy. She rents him a board for 20 bucks a day. I think Carol is about 50, but she thinks she's 22 (maybe Carol and Dan should hook up). With her blond braid and skin-tight wet suit, she runs on the beach after her surf lessons are done. I like how she bosses Matt around as though he's her newest groupie. "Mind grabbing that board? Can you just drag that over here?"

I called Carol last weekend to make sure she'd be at Chun's Reef the next day. She said, "You're who???" Oh, Carol.

Millie, Dr. Nakashizuka's assistant, is surely the funniest. She probably weighs 90 pounds wet and is, I swear, the doctor's only employee. She bills, schedules, takes vitals, charts, and wears a phone head set all the while, taking calls non-stop. I have never heard Millie use an article when she speaks, so she says things like, "I have to check with doctor" and "What day should I make appointment?" Everyone in the medical community knows her. No matter what facility I walk into, all has been thoroughly prearranged. I never need to show orders, ID, or insurance. I'm pretty sure everyone is terrified of her, including Dr. Nakashizuka.

Last week, she scheduled enough time between two appointments, so I could grab breakfast. As she took another phone call, she gave Matt a severe stare and said, "You take her to Sizzler."

Recently, Millie explained a process to me involving contrast and prep. I replied, "Got it." She snorted, and said, "I like you. I only have to explain once."

I should take Millie to Sizzler. I wonder if she'd wear her headset.