My mom promised me when I finished college that we'd take a trip to Hawaii where she claimed was the most amazing sunrises. I never finished, dropping out after 3 ½ yrs. Besides being a bit disappointed, Hawaii on the back burner, time went on. Sadly my mother past early on after a two-year struggle with lung cancer.

A generous friend offered his miles to pay for a trip to Hawaii for my daughter Bri and I. I had yet to go as I couldn’t afford it. There I stood, less than 2 months after my mother's death at the mouth of Haleakala, the east Maui volcano that forms 75% of the island.

We started at 1:30 am from the other side of the island to be there just as the sun rose. In this pic, you can make out the other side of the mouth of the crater, which is 7 miles away. Beyond the lip is a layer of white clouds that looks like the rollin waves that surround the island. Temps were in the low 50's but a crisp, sharp wind made for a constant, colder chill. Contrary to the gust there seemed to be a stillness that almost hummed as the sun started over the other side. As the sun rose the sky and landscape changed dramatically. The dark earth revealed forms not recognized before. The sky became a slow moving kaleidoscope. The experience was so huge that is impossible to take it all in.

There I stood, with my own daughter, witnessing a most magically moment. I was more than on top of the world. I was touching heaven, and I knew my mother was there - kissing both Bri and I.