Writing Life

At breakfast this morning, Diane & I ran into a couple that we’d been eyeing for the last two days. We thought they might be these two (and here and also here).

Turns out, while I was waiting to get my omelet, they got seated right next to Diane and it was Chris and Dan. We fell right back into good times. They said they’d even thought/talked about us last night, reminiscing about us coming to the wedding in the garden veranda back in 2004. We always remember that wedding, it was beautiful and simple and a perfect cap to our first trip to Jamaica.

They’ve moved out of Nebraska and now live in Missouri. They’re both doing great, and Chris was actually teaching all week over at the workout center. I even passed her this morning on the track as she was warming up her Step class and I was doing a five mile run.

We talked for about an hour and a half and had an awesome time. [Updated] I was able to upload the picture just now.

Our trip to Jamaica was wonderful! As always must happen, vacations end. It’s harder, though, when you go into the airport and the sun’s out, it’s in the mid 80s and humid, and you deplane at your destination and find it’s in the 30s, windy, and dark. But, we’re back, we’re unpacked, and plowing through messages, both physical and virtual!

On a cool note, I didn’t smoke on vacation…the first time in ages and definitely the first time I didn’t smoke in Jamaica. It was hard a times, mostly just remembering doing it. But, if I gave it a thought, i.e. if I had one, I realized in my mind that it wasn’t what I really wanted. And, waking up each morning having survived the previous day’s challenge, I was more empowered. 52 days and counting!

And, on a really sad/pathetic note. After Diane & I got through immigration control at the airport, we were still in the secure pre-Customs baggage claim area. I looked around the huge, very modern looking facility at BWI Airport. Not one sign was in any language other than English. Not even anything in Spanish! What shocked and upset me was that this wasn’t a local mom & pop store in the ‘burbs, or the turbo-flop wing of the airport. It was the international arrival facility. One would think that it’s not just English speakers who’d be traveling through this area. Why not a few signs with multilingual instructions?

I have to note that the best part of this trip started before we ever landed in Jamaica.  While flying in, Diane filled out our customs and immigration forms.  I was dead asleep, exhausted after happy hour on Friday and packing/shopping on Saturday: 4 of the shirts I wore in Jamaica I bought on Saturday, around 6:30 PM!

The best part was that in filling out my occupation on the immigration forms, Diane wrote “Writer”.  That was one of the best moments of my life.  I really was taken aback and also all warm and fuzzy.  I love my honey!

Having a ball in Jamaica still.  What a trip it’s been, with me drinking Guinness @ the sports bar and pretty much drinking my way through all the types of gin they have here.  I hated gin, and now I’m making choices between Tanquerey, Bombay Sapphire, and one or two others.  Gin martinis and G&T’s rock (less sweet and still great tasting!).

On the non-drink front, heading out to go snorkeling in a few.  Should be a relaxing and beautiful day today!