Thank you, Rastagal!
Thank you, Rastagal!
dorisw
2017 was our 15th trip to Negril. Other islands we visited: Cozumel, Mexico (4 times) St. Lucia, Barbados, Grenada, Aruba, Harbour Island, Bahamas, Anguilla, St. Maarten/St.Martin, Ambergris Caye, Belize (twice)
Oops, sorry, Rastagirl.
dorisw
2017 was our 15th trip to Negril. Other islands we visited: Cozumel, Mexico (4 times) St. Lucia, Barbados, Grenada, Aruba, Harbour Island, Bahamas, Anguilla, St. Maarten/St.Martin, Ambergris Caye, Belize (twice)
I think that we are on to something here. Make Negril the next Mystery Romantic Destination where Hearts go to Heal and start the journey over again. There has to be a movie in all of this or at least an AMC mini series (but without the Meth or Zombies!). Now the only trick it how to get Pool Guy into the story line with Beach Towel Shopping..!!
Lol
Packed the bags this morning. Sweetie Pies was finished Wednesday night, I really only managed to throw some things into a pile in the living room. There's an amazing balance point you can achieve in traveling when you decide to take only the things you're really going to need, you suddenly realize how much you can fit into a carry-on and a shoulder pack. Once you commit to being a mobile traveler the entire world opens up. Having said that, I feel like I'm traveling heavy this reach even with just the two items. Too many swim suits, shorts and tropical shirts but I gotta work with Sweetie Pie's plethora of suits, sundresses and cover-ups all of which seem to take up next to no space...
We'll head to Detroit for the stay and park tonight, fly out at 10:30 tomorrow morning and land in Paradise at 2:29. Should make for an enjoyable scramble to Negril. Will we make sunset or not? Will we immediately succumb to the island and say "Who cares?" Will that first Rasta Shack suck us into it's orbit? My anticipation is enormous. A lot of fun things are lined up. Sweetie Pie and I always tease each other about "evil plans", for the duration of our Paradox in Paradise I will be playing the role of the evil Dr. Yes...
Thanks for all the feedback - much peace to all of you.
Brasi - it was your story that really got me thinking about the cathartic value of doing this. Respect. Rum-pole's pretty bold too, made it easier. It's a little weird and unnerving putting it all out there, but I'm all in now.
Don't think I'll be posting much after today until we get back. I've lived here getting ready to live there, gonna follow that moment. We plan on the pub crawl on Wednesday. Only thing that could possibly stop us would be something else...
What's so funny 'bout Peace, Love and Understanding?
Brasi - it was your story that really got me thinking about the cathartic value of doing this. Respect. Rum-pole's pretty bold too, made it easier. It's a little weird and unnerving putting it all out there, but I'm all in now...---
I'm flattered. By your mention...and that rather than ostracize me for laying out my feelings this board's community TOOK ME UNDER THEIR WINGS. Rather rhymes with Sather...btw.
What's obvious is that we all have a common love. I for one won't forget the kindness shown by everyone here. I love Rum-pole's explanation...Trip Report's are kind of like "paying it forward" with positive energy...to get those of us at home through the times when our next reach seems so far away! So maybe the catharsis through trip reporting...is the poster's pay off for allowing others to live vicariously through a reporter's eyes?
I digress... get writing, son!
Ahhhhh Brasi.............Originally Posted by brasi
Brasi - it was your story that really got me thinking about the cathartic value of doing this. Respect. Rum-pole's pretty bold too, made it easier. It's a little weird and unnerving putting it all out there, but I'm all in now...---
I'm flattered. By your mention...and that rather than ostracize me for laying out my feelings this board's community TOOK ME UNDER THEIR WINGS. Rather rhymes with Sather...btw.
What's obvious is that we all have a common love. I for one won't forget the kindness shown by everyone here. I love Rum-pole's explanation...Trip Report's are kind of like "paying it forward" with positive energy...to get those of us at home through the times when our next reach seems so far away! So maybe the catharsis through trip reporting...is the poster's pay off for allowing others to live vicariously through a reporter's eyes?
I digress... get writing, son!
Friday was an incredibly slow and difficult day of work. Meetings about projects I’ll need to be working on when I return followed by meetings on the politics of the projects I’ll be working on followed by grousing about the politics of the projects. The longest days of the year are the last work days before vacation. I print out the travel documents, The newbie list for Sweetie Pie to peruse and the poetry I will be reading to her. Love poems referencing the sea are plentiful and easy to find, it’s such a great metaphor in so many ways.
We meet at Sweetie Pies to change and load the car. Dogs are walked and we head over to Coolbook and Heavy Hand’s (Sweetie Pie’s sisters well deserved nickname) for a farewell dinner and drink. We joke about opening a bar in Negril and naming it the Heavy Hand. We decide HH can’t bartend there, she’d be a liability. Coolbook and HH are seriously bumming as we walk out the door.
We head to Detroit Metro to do the stay and park. $85 at the Clarion for a nights stay, breakfast and 8 days of parking. The room is ridiculously hot even though the thermostat is set at 65. We take this as a good sign but sleep restlessly with just the sheet. We are awake, showered and dressed before the wakeup call. The cattle call that is air travel these days goes about as smoothly as we could hope.
We sit with Robin on the flight. She has just turned fifty, lost her husband 2 years ago to a long term illness and is headed to Jamaica to get “Back in the game”. Her and Sweetie Pie hit it off and have several long chats. While I’m trying to nap with Robins pillow pet I hear her say something to Sweetie Pie that is one of the nicest compliments I’ve ever received. The whole week would be a little strange that way, a lot of very nice things said by some lovely people. I long ago learned the value of effective flattery as an interpersonal skill tool – just a little, just the right thing at just the right time. Well, Robin was loaded for bear and hit dead center with precision timing. I felt like I was in the clouds…
We pass over Cuba and I’m starting to get antsy. “We’ll be in Jamaica in less than half an hour Sweetie!” I begin to scan the horizon for the first sign of the island. Big cloud heads are the first give away, then a small bit of green. As we turn to land I tell Sweetie Pie to watch out the window and it will seem like we’re going to land in the ocean. She is amazed how close we land to the sea. We’re early and have to wait for a gate to open for us. This worries me a little, it means congestion at the terminal. It is well founded as we wait an hour and twenty minutes to get through immigration. We’re not going to let it get us down though.We keep crisscrossing the line with some folks we’d met at Detroit waiting to get on the plane, they’re headed to Treasure Beach for a week then a week at the Rockhouse with a group that’s referred to as the Old-Timers, Rockhouse guests for 20+ years I think. We joke at each pass and try to point out the grumpiest people in line.
What's so funny 'bout Peace, Love and Understanding?
Hope you're having fun (both of you).
Sounds like you have a lot on your plate (when you get back).
When you write your report you'll be passing on the kindness, repaying, what you got from the board.
If I've helped you in any way I'm glad, I have a debt to pay here too.
I'm looking forward to hearing how you two fared.
Bon voyage!
I am so excited for you both!
Live it up Guirigay and Sweetie Pie! Hope your new adventures and new memories in Negril together far surpass any others you had previously!
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