A lone picketer, delirious from the heat, suggests a union hula. Half of the group wanders off to enjoy lunch in the air-conditioned franchise of their choice. The rest of us entertain ourselves with a whimsical dialogue. Second-graders from Wailuku Elementary arrive with pastries and popsicles courtesy of a generous, sympathetic mom. Two friends bring me a cup of frozen yogurt.
Small gestures mean so much when the timing is perfect.
This is like the last six miles of a marathon. We walked the equivalent of a Wailuku to Kihei round trip. Traffic picks up and boisterous, supportive passengers cheer us down the homestretch. Tomorrow we'll wake up and log another 20 miles. Growing old is such a treat.