Trip Report: ULTRA BUMP

[rizla]

CREATURE OF HABIT

For those of you who have followed my trip reports over the years, know that I crave structure. Each day was nearly identical. We arrived at the beach at 10 AM and chose a nice spot under a large tree. My backpack was full so that I had everything that I’d need to stay until sunset: book, sunblock, bottled water, Digicell phone, sarong, towel, sheet, assorted toiletries, and snacks. The beach had comfortable lounge chairs, a bar, clean bathrooms, showers, and a grill that made it that much easier to spend the day there without having to walk back to the room. By 11:30 AM, I snacked on fresh, grilled red snapper and sliced fruit, along with the veg that I brought from breakfast. I only got off my lounger for necessities such as a swim; otherwise, I read for hours on end. Gone are the days of journal writing, but I kept a small notebook on hand to jot down notes and quotes that I didn’t want to forget. At 5 PM, I enjoyed jerk chicken to hold me over until a late dinner.

By afternoon, the beach emptied out except for the few of us who knew that the sunset was the best time of the day. The couples left to go to the pool at that time. When we asked a couple who we befriended why they never watched the sunset, they confessed that they did not know about it. With the beach mostly to ourselves, we got a private show. Each was unique. Each night I said that wouldn’t photograph it since I have so many already. Each time, I couldn’t resist and shot another one.

Once the sun dipped down, we gathered our camp and headed back to our rooms to shower and get ready for dinner. Nights ended relatively early for us and I gladly continued my book on the verandah with the tree frogs. I indulged in a bowl of porridge as a bedtime snack.

A BITTERSWEET VISIT

Our dear friend of many years, Wayne, has been sick for many months. He was being treated for an ulcer since the fall, with the pain getting so bad that they had to give him shots of pain killers. A few months ago, a doctor in Kingston discovered a large tumor and suspected that he had pancreatic cancer. After an arduous preparation, they finally performed an eight-hour surgery, a whipple. Before surgery, the hospital requires receipts proving that a patient was able to get a certain number of people to give blood to the banks, which is not an easy task in Jamaica. There was also the daunting task of bringing specific hospital supplies with you prior to surgery. Weeks were passing and it was obvious that he would die if he did not get this surgery. We did what we could from the States, but mostly felt overcome with helplessness and worry. Wayne survived the odds and made it through surgery.

The results proved that the doctor’s diagnosis was correct, but he was optimistic that they caught the cancer in its early stages and got all of it. He was allowed to return to Westmoreland to recuperate with his family, but he will be returning to Kingston in the coming weeks to begin chemotherapy. Luckily, the timing worked out so that we could spend a few hours with him. Our friend was in Negril last week and warned us that he is now bald and lost about sixty pounds. Seeing Wayne was still heartbreaking because the light in his eyes is dimmer; he is tired; and his spirit is broken. He has been to Hell and back, but he is sure that he is going to be all right. It’s not his time to go.

Lisa paid for him to have a day pass and, again, the staff could not have been kinder to him. For the first time since knowing him, he put on his swimming trunks and joined us in the water. He said that he had not been in the sea in about three years. It was sweet to see him float with us. It was very healing for him.

It never rained during our visit and, from what we were told, it hasn’t rained in weeks; however, the dark clouds moved in and pushed us back to the resort for our only lunch buffet visit of the trip. It was good to see Wayne eat a nice sized plate of food, but we could see him starting to fade. He took us to one of our favorite trip ritual spots, PetCom gas station, for Lisa to fill his tank and for us to stock up on goodies. Everyone needed a nap after that so he took us back to SATP and he went home. The day took a lot out of everyone. Lisa and I weren’t able to talk about how heavy our hearts felt until hours later. Even then, I knew that Lisa wasn’t ready to go there so she tucked it away for a few more days. I didn’t push.

** More posts and photos to come. Some names have been changed.