thatched roofs and palm trees

I have returned from the vacation that I thought would never happen.  There was one minor glitch with our connecting flight in Ft. Lauderdale being that the seat numbers we were assigned didn’t actually exist on the plane.  We got an upgrade to 1st class, though, so no worries!  After that it was all thatched roofs and palm trees.  Pool drinks and blue water.  Ocean breeze and latin music.  I entered a state of relaxation normally reserved for coma patients or yoga masters.  Our biggest worries were what we were going to eat for dinner and if we were going to have a vodka tonic or vino tinto.  I read a book.  I got a tan.  I said “hola” and “gracias”.  I loved every moment. 

Here was the view from our balcony:

The picture does it no justice.  You’ll just have to go see it for yourself to fully understand how beautiful it is. 

countdown

No, not the Final Countdown (do duh doo doo, do duh doot doot doooo!), that will be happening next Tuesday night as I’m lying sleepless in my bed waiting for morning so I can drive to the airport.  But, we are counting down.  Five days.  Then I will be here.  I’ve never been anywhere like there before and neither has my husband.  We’ve been wanting to take a trip like this ever since we got together.  We are a couple who have a passion for travel, but who have never actually been anywhere.  Well, I’ve been a few places when I was a kid, but once you’re married, if you haven’t experienced something with your spouse, it’s like it didn’t happen.  Things are only truly real if I can share them with Tom. 

I’m buying trip insurance.  Just a little extra coverage to pay for an emergency flight home in case of a major medical incident or natural disaster.  How grown-up is that?  Am I a friggin’ responsible adult or what!?  When I was in college (and for many years after) when I went downtown for drinks or to a club or concert all I would take were my keys, debit card and drivers license (and maybe lip gloss).  Now, I add my health insurance card to that list (and my glasses).  Good by care free youth!  It doesn’t help that I work in insurance.  This job makes you constantly think about all the bad things that could happen and if you have the coverage to pay for it.  Not only am I an adult, but a paranoid adult.  Urg!  Man, do I need this vacation!