New Zealand weather thwarts our plans again aka why we're not sky diving

Yup, it's true. Due to yet another few days of rain there will be no sky diving for us tomorrow and, sadly, probably not til we're back in NZ in November. It's ok though. There is a light at the end of the tunnel known as Australia. We're almost there.

Today we drove from Waitomo to Taupo. Once we realized the weather sucked we grabbed lunch, went for a walk along the river and then drove around the lake for a bit. Follow that with some pasta and sauce and chocolate mud cake (and a bottle of wine for me) and you've got a pretty good day.

So yeah, tomorrow (Oct 9th) is 5 years since my brother Jason's accident and death. It's hard to believe it's been that long. I haven't talked about it with Evan yet. Honestly I've never talked about it with him but I hope we decide to do something to remember Jason. I have so many questions for Evan. They were so much closer than I was/am with either of them but that door has never been opened to me and I'm not about to barge my way in. One day.

I spent some time today on our walk remembering Jason's voice and laugh and even remembering when I found out. It's all a little "out of body" (like I'm watching myself from afar) but I don't want to forget any of it.

If he's out there somewhere I hope he's watching us on this trip and knows that it would be heaps (as they say in NZ) better if he were here.

I hope my parents are ok. This is the 1st time we haven't been together this weekend. Despite my hurt over what they think of me right now I love them and miss them and know that this weekend is hardest for them in a way I may never understand.