Rouillie's Blog

At a job fair here on Maui today, I found out that one of the places I worked at in Kauai has changed management - yet again.  That would be at least 4 property management companies in less than 6 years I think.   I wonder if it is because half of the property is haunted?   Frankly, this was one of my favorite jobs and although I’ve only worked on the haunted side a couple of times alone (among the very few that will). And although the presence can be felt, it is harmless and just a part of the landscape – it belongs there.  In fact, my favorite stretch of beach is right there between this haunted region of the resort and the Aston Islander on the Beach.  It’s special somehow.  I feel very safe there and am bothered by neither people, nor insects or the many orbs that can be seen at deepest of night in the light of bright stars or brightest moonlight.

Some of my most memorable experiences, albeit in the odd category for some, occurred on this beach adjacent to the resort.  Once a small centipede circled my toe as I sat reading on my beach mat, then released it and headed on its way.  Another time, I awakened on a beach mat surrounded by ants, yet I and my backpack remained undisturbed.  Another time I was awakened by a tourist that warned me not to be startled, but there was a large seal sleeping next to me.  (It should be obvious by now that I took a lot of naps on this beach.). It was about a meter away and seemed happy to see me. Does this mean the seal didn’t feel threatened by me, or that it somehow thought I was one of them? I’m not sure how to take this really, considering that my girth was (is) nowhere close to the size of this beach mate. It didn’t start moving away until it noticed a few people coming to look at the couple napping on the beach together. 

And another time, having missed the final bus to the camp-ground that evening, I camped out overnight to find a large crab early the next morning, on a beach full of smaller ones, sleeping in the crook between the top of my thighs and my lower belly as I lay on my side.  It was nestled like a baby in the womb.  I had to tap it several times before its eyestalks jutted up and it realized that it was time to go.  The funniest part of this experience is that it didn’t even bother to hurry. I literally scooted it along with my finger. 

And yet another time I could have sworn that I heard a beetle singing as it circled my head a few times while I walked through the field alongside this same hotel (heading for the beach of course).  And in my excitement, I quickly called my daughter, who lives off island, and told her that Kauai has fairy folk!  She laughed after she asked me if I’d picked up a funny cigarette habit. 

So honestly, this property seems like gold to me.  If I managed it, I’d hold onto it for whatever it was worth.  And the stretch of beach alongside, I miss every day…