Stones Left Unturned

As i sat in the airplane on the tarmac I began thinking about the past, and last, three weeks that I've spent on Okinawa. Wondering if i was able to capture the memory, perhaps the image of the 'essence of Okinawa', places of Okinawa, and what Okinawa means to me. I know that there are things that I didn't do, or things I couldn't do, many of which I regret, and weigh heavily upon my mind. Our plane begins to back up in order to get ready to taxi. Once we've backed out of the line up. The airport personnel stand waiting for everyone to clear, disconnect and give the signal to send the plane of to it's taxi and take off. As the plane begins to move the two men standing, one in a pale green jumpsuit, the other in his white shirt and dark blue plants and both with awesome but hilarious hats, bow to the plane and begin to wave the passengers and crew off to their next destination. That image to me is one of the most humorous, touching, and Okinawan things I know. I only wish I had kept my camera out to take a photo of them as they waved.

I've sat reflecting how I spent this last vacation on the island. I nearly spent the last three days attempting to capture in photography the places, images and icons of Okinawa that some how may keep it from disappearing in to a distant memory and adventure long forgotten. Even now i can think of a number of places or things that I didn't get. And even the time that I lived on the island seems so long ago. Will it all be forgotten? How many opportunities did I miss due to "we'll do that later" or "we've got plenty of time to do that, right now we're busy"? And how many did i miss or postpone through school, and sleepy or laziness. It's funny that in the last week, I've had to remind my self that I can't take a semester off because I've got the ATP, and I have a show this spring, but i wonder if i didn't, that i would probably have opted to take a few online courses and not return to Utah until the 90 day visa expired.

I find it sad and funny how my family, with 125 remaining days on the island, is only counting the time that they'll wait to come back to Utah. Though I understand the desire to be off Okinawa. Scattered with long work days and dramas, it only seems fitting that they'd want to get off the small island. I imagine that being on the island for 6 years increases the desire to leave only more, but i enjoyed the luxury of being able to return approximately every 6-12 months. I think providing an opportunity to find closure of the odds and ends that I wanted to tie up. Even with all those vacations some short and others months long over the summer, I am still finally leaving the island thinking of the summers where we never once went to the beach, or the festivals I didn't see. I know that as they approach the end of their stay the things that they do enjoy on Okinawa will become more apparent, and more immediate. And as the days close there will be a scramble to get a photograph of 'that cool place we went two summers ago'.

As i think about Okinawa and all the treasures that I will miss It makes me wonder how many of the treasures at home I miss. How much of the summer do i spend working instead of going and seeing the marvels we have there. The fact that I've lived in Utah most of my life has perhaps fitted my sight with a filter that i don't remember the uniqueness of my own home, and some how in my mind i know that I'll always return there... even if i were to decide to make a life changing move across the country, returning to Utah-home, never seems to be out of reach.

I do wonder how long it will be until I reach the island of Okinawa. Some how it feels as if ten years will be so far away, and there's no telling that I won't keep telling myself that i still have time, and I'll do it later. How long will I push it off, leave a return to the island as another unturned stone. Though, it is on my list of things to do, will I find the time? The money? I feel as if too many things there are left, and many of which I will probably think about from time to time, wishing I hadn't left that last stone unturned, wondering if could have fit it. And even if i do return, will I ever be satisfied to think that i have finished everything.

Will I ever feel as if i have left no stone unturned?