Chapter 2

“The real glory is being knocked to your knees and then coming back. That's real glory. That's the essence of it.”
― Vince Lombardi

As we got ready to leave for our trip I was quietly hopeful that my recollections of the magic of Negril hadn't been overstated. When we returned from our first trip, I was back on Negril.com almost right away. There was no doubt in my mind that we were heading back. We had seen just enough to know we hadn't even scratched the surface and we were ready for more.

The better part of year immersed in the enthusiasm of the board actually had me second guessing the trip a bit too. I could have called this trip report "Brought to you by Negril.com" because the influence of the board was evident in pretty much all our plans. Maybe Negril wouldn't be as good as we remembered? Perhaps we had woven a fantasy of memories that couldn't manage to live up to expectations?

So our departure date finally arrives. I had been counting down for some 230 days and I couldn't believe that tomorrow we would be back in Negril. I had a bit of pre-trip anxiousness. I had packed and repacked, second and third guessing most every choice. I don't know why I bothered. Judging by the pictures I appear to have only worn two things the entire time.

Work day done we both rush home for a few last minute details and then the cab arrives to take us to the airport. Check in and security was no problem.

We head over to the restaurant to see about a table. If this story is going to have a villain, we are about to meet up with it here. I don't have its permission to be in the trip report so let's just say I have never Thanked God For Thursdays. I've always wondered at naming a restaurant after a particularly beloved day of the week. Is it not kind of mocking you the other six days?

They are all full but our name went on the list. We were plenty early and in no particular rush. Not 10 minutes later a table for two opened up. We settled in to talk excitedly about all the fun we were going to have over the next 10 days. The tables on either side of us seemed to be occupied by tired and worn business travelers. It felt so good not to be one of them.

We both ordered warm sandwiches. I know Sunshine had a cheese steak. I think mine had chicken. They could have served us MREs and I'd not have complained. As it was, neither meal was actually much better than that. In fact, we joked the food was pretty terrible. It didn't bother either of us one bit; tomorrow we would be in Negril and nothing else mattered. The view departing Winnipeg.