Jamaican Me Grateful

First off, sorry for the title of this blog post, but I had to do it. How could I not, right?

So, I have been trying to focus each post on just one thing for which I am thankful, and that is still my intent.  But this week, coming off of an anniversary trip to Jamaica, I am grateful for so many things that I cannot confine it to one, or even to a handful.

First off, I am grateful for in-flight entertainment.  I am not a good flyer.  Haven’t been since 9/11.  My knuckles turn white at the slightest hint of turbulence.  So if I can distract myself with some mile-high “Dirty Dancing,” I’m all for it.

I am thankful for quirky resorts with room names, instead of room numbers.  The Caves, in Negril, is such a cool little place.  I didn’t count the rooms, but it surely has fewer than 15.  Each room is its own standalone (or duplex) building, complete with a stocked fridge and a free library (Yay, I read 3 books while there!), but no TVs. The grounds are full of little nooks and crannies carved out of the cliffs facing the ocean. Before arriving, I was afraid I might miss the beach, the TV, or the convenience of the anytime buffets you find at “super resorts,” but I did not.  Not at all.

Here’s a biggie.  I am thankful for this man.

My cribbage opponent, my partner in crime, my husband of 10 years.  We collected so many inside jokes over the week, played countless games of cards, explored the grounds and found our own little favorite spots.  Honestly, I have no doubt we could have amused ourselves at a Super 8 in Podunk, but Jamaica was so much better.  We had such fun together, we just about forgot to partake of any Red Stripe (pictorial evidence aside!).  Full disclosure, we did discover a little drink called a Ting-aling-aling, though, and it was pretty darn tasty.  And at The Caves, when their bartender is off duty, they encourage you to step behind the bar and just help yourself!

These snorkel masks.  Oh, my.  These things are amazing, and we took full advantage of them.  (Thanks, Steve and Mary Ellen!) You could just hop right off your perch anywhere in the resort and snorkel away.  One day, the resort’s guide, Paul, showed us the ropes.  He led us into a labyrinth of caves, where we swam under rock walls to navigate to connecting spaces; he pointed out stingrays and sea snakes and a huge variety of fish.  He retrieved sea urchins and starfish from the ocean floor for us to hold.  Dan did get stung by a jellyfish, but that didn’t stop us from jumping back in the water each of the next several days with no further incidents.

The sunsets.  Appreciating the sunrise and sunset each day is a big thing for Dan, and now for me.  In Negril, though, it’s really all about the sunset.  And it was reliably beautiful.  We did both say that the Negril sunsets didn’t have anything on our sunset views at home.  But, then again…Negril did have about 50 degrees Fahrenheit on Wisconsin.  So there is that.

We didn’t make it down to Rick’s for a sunset, although we could see the bar from our resort.  I was just way too relaxed to force myself to leave my cozy tropical enclave and go party it up Spring Break style down the road.  Or maybe I am just getting old.  Probably both.

Here’s another biggie.  I am so thankful for my family.  Specifically, I am thankful for my parents.  Without them moving in for the week to take care of the kids and Pearl, there is no way we could have gone on this trip. I know my folks and my kids had a great time while we were away, and I had zero worries about Baylor and Ryan, knowing they were in good hands.

Last, but certainly not least, I am so grateful that I get to be Mama to my two beautiful kiddos.  Dan and I had never been away from them for such a long stretch, and we were both missing them mightily by the time we got home (aaaand, maybe also for a few days before that). It’s nice to go away sometimes, but there is nothing better than coming home.