1997 Oklahoma Marriage, Cook Islands Honeymoon

1-6-97 Eastern Oregon
3.5 Weeks left 'til I lose my bachelorhood. Mandi and I are driving to Oklahoma. This may be the last time I get to see this part of Oregon, and if so, I'll miss it. I really like it here. Rimrock and sagebrush for miles with mountains on every horizon. I could get used to this. It's just beautiful.

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1-23-97 Miami, Oklahoma
Well, Mandi's grandmother (Iona [Bell] Trask) died yesterday morning. I can only be reminded of last spring when Gramma Smith [Helen] passed away. Of course, it's difficult for everyone, but it also gives everyone a chance to be together before the wedding. Someone even pointed out that this is the only way she could see out wedding. Last nighi we went and saw the body. It was hard because Mandi and I had not been communicating well all day. She thinks she has to be strong for everyone else and so I got pretty much shut out of her emotional life all day. Of course, I wasn't about to get hurt like I did with Emily, so I shut Mandi out as well. We made up before we went to the funeral home, so we were okay, but Jack cried like a baby. That was the first time Mandi ever saw her dad cry. [Impressive considering all he's been through over the years.] He's had lunch with his mom every day for 25 years. I'd cry too.

Oh yeah, also last night I called Angie "Sis" and she said, "How's it going Bubba." Bubba stuck with the family and that's my new nickname. [In fact, Mandi's uncle Rod, Jack's brother, hollered out, "WAY TO GO BUBBA!" as we kissed at the alter during the wedding. Not everyone uses the monicker all the time, but Bubba I am to this day...]

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1-24-97 Miami, Oklahoma
Today was the funeral for Mandi's grandmother and it was anything but normal.
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2-8-1997 Cook Islands (Rarotonga, South Pacific)
I've been married now for a week. The wedding went smoothly, the only real problems were that I was supposed to have a white vest for my tuxedo instead of a cumberbun and we were missing my bootenier, but we swiped one from a singer and no one knew about it anyway.

So far the honeymoon is a success. We're both happy with the physical part of the relationship, we're on an island in the South Pacific, we caught tuna, saw a traditional Rarotongan dinner and dancing show, and we're both happy with the physical part of the relationship. Of course there are snags; Mandi burned herself to a crisp in the boat today, and our hotel room at the Rarotongan Resort Hotel doesn't have air-conditioning. Still, things are going great.

Did you know that Eke is the New Zealand Maori word for octopus? I'm not sure how they prepare it here, but it sure beats the South Korean method.

The reef here goes completely around the island, so you're always near great snorkeling. We've been twice so far and the fish are amazing. Its just like being in an aquarium. Aitutaki is supposed to be even better, so we can't wait for Thursday when we fly over for even more water fun.

Kia Orana (Aloha)

"Bubba" update: at the wedding, Rod gave me a hat that says, "Bubba" on it.

More wedding: I was doing fine with everything until my family got lost on the way to the rehearsal. We were halfway through when I turned to Michael Andersen, my Best Man, and calmly informed him that my marbles were scattered all over and now would be a good time for him to take charge of me. He did a good job I guess because I calmed down in a few minutes and everything went fine from there on out.

For my bachelor's party I was made to dress as Darth Vader while we attended the 20th Anniversary re-release of Star Wars in Joplin, MO. What a great way to go! I mean that.

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2-11-97 Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Today we did nothing!

Yesterday we hiked all the way across the island. Our guide's name was Pa and he's really unique. He's a blond native (bleach?) with dreadlocks and he claims to know all the medicinal uses of the local jungle flora. His herb lore was impressive; he learned it all from his grandmother; and it was entirely an oral tradition. Anyway, he's being filmed bt the Discovery Channel for a series they're doing and Nike wants to use him for an ad or two. He's perfect for the part: he's built like a runner and waltzed through the green while I slid all over in hiking bookts. [In fact, I know I've seen him on the Discovery Channel, and I think Nike did indeed use him.]

Last night I went spearfishing in the lagoon with Teariki, a local, and one of the guys who works here in the restaurant. I shouldn't have left Mandi alone, but we didn't go out 'til eleven. We used flashlights with steel spears duct-taped with surgical tubing between them. I've never been before and was happy simply not to spear myself in the foot. In fact, I shot several parrot fish, our primary quarry. Of course, they outdid me about 40-1, but it was still a blast, and Mandi and I made up today. An even bigger blast!

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2-15-97 Aitutaki, Cook Islands
Here's an idea: A poker game using all the foreign monies I've collected over the years.

Well, the total population of Aitutaki is 2,700. It is almost all lagoon. I remember asking the travel agent to put me on the beach in the photos and brochures. Yesterday, Mandi and I were there. We fed the fish in the lagoon while we snorkeled and ate lunch on One Foot Island. Everywhere we turn there are palm trees and coral reef lagoons. Hermit crabs are more common than insects and you have to watch where you walk or you'll get whacked by a falling coconut.

The hotel manager warned us on arrival to be careful about the sun because on a clear day the burn time is 2.5 minutes. Yesterday Mandi burned clearly in about five minutes. We took a lagoon cruise and on the way out she roasted her back, but not too badly. The whole day was pretty amazing.

First, we stopped at some obscure island [motu] at the edge of the lagoon for a history lesson, then we dropped off the cook at One-Foot Island while we went snorkeling. The fish were as spectacular as anywhere else I've been. We saw Butterfly Fish, at least two kinds of Wrasse, Eels, and I don't know what else. There were a plethora of species. They just swarmed as we fed them, I mean, there were hundreds!

On the way back to One-Foot for lunch I noticed a sand bar sticking out of the water next to the boat. It seemed to go quite a ways and when I asked the skipper about it he told us we could get out and walk to the island which was still at least a quarter mile off. He also told us that the bar was where all the Cook Islands promotional photos were taken. I couldn't believe our luck!

Of course we got out and immediately took our own pictures. Then we found a nice shell and walked all the way to the island. Only a small portion of the bar stood above the water, and then only at low tide, or so we were told, so most of the trek was through knee deep water. Never have I seen beauty like that; only the majesty of Alaska could compare, but the two are so different they can't be judged on the same scale or merits.