Last Goodbyes, originally uploaded by marafilms.
It’s tradition to give flower leis to those arriving in Rapa Nui, and shell
leis to those who are leaving. Even now, as they did when I was a child,
the bright flowers smell incredibly sweet and the sharp shells pinch and
scratch the skin. After the flowers have wilted away, and the memories of
the island have faded into sepia, those shells always seem to remain. They
serve as a vivid and painful reminder that there exists a beautiful culture
and people whom I cannot be near to.
It has been several visits since my last trip to Rapa Nui. Now, with the
coming of the eclipse in July, it seems even more important to rejoin my
community and help the island through this event with uncertain outcomes.
I cannot wait to smell those fresh flowers again.