Something Hit Me Today….

Something hit me today… Right smack dab in the middle of my face… And I caught it!  What do you think it was? A bug? A snowball?

Nope!

It was a smile!!

Today was a day where I just felt happier than I have felt in a long time.  I saw the smile and I felt the smile. Such a great feeling and something that I just needed to take a moment to fully appreciate.

And what, may you ask, brought on this smile?  A few things actually, but mostly just a realization that life has turned a corner for us and has turned us in the right direction.  The past few years have been really difficult for us…..I know that might not be what my Facebook posts show on most days, but Facebook and real life aren't always compatible!  There have been too many days where my heart was so heavy that it was all I could do to just make it through the day.  But what is it they say?  What doesn't kill you makes you stronger….I should be able to lift a truck full of concrete by now!  But lately, there have been more 'good' days than bad…..


We're grateful that my mom is doing well….as well as can be expected without my dad by her side.  Life moves on.  Also grateful that Vince's mom has recovered from her brain surgery this past February.  Doing so well that she just returned from a 3 week adventure in China.  Also very happy that our 3 sons are doing great right now and their lives are moving forward in positive ways.

And this past week was sooo fantastic….

A few days ago we learned that our favourite Latin band Maná was going to be performing a concert in Mérida, Mexico….on THE day that we are scheduled to arrive in 2014.  We saw them in LA in 2007 and it truly was the best concert we've ever attended.  Stars aligned and with some persuasion from our son Jason, we took the plunge and secured tickets.  Still can't quite believe that we are lucky enough to see them again!  A dream come true.  What an incredible way to start our holiday!  Maná

And then today just started out perfectly….I woke up and my mouth wasn't pounding from recent dental work.  Yippee #1.

Took a look at Facebook and what do I see?  Yippee #2...My dear friend Cori, posting a series of beautiful sunrise photos from Isla Mujeres.  She slept on a lounger on the balcony so she wouldn't miss the sunrise.  She did that for me.  For ME!!!  Such a special, thoughtful gift and I hope she knows how much it meant to me.  She loves Isla as much as I do, and understands how much I miss my special 'happy' place!  Gracias Cori, for the very special gift!

So, today I smile, and hopefully, tomorrow will bring more smiles.  December 1st and the first Sunday Advent.  Our little family will gather to light a candle and enjoy Mom's famous Danish æbleskiver.

I'm just going to keep on smiling!!

Isla Mujeres 2012 ~~ Day 28-29 ~~ THE END!!

Isla Mujeres 2012

Friday Mar. 9

~~Day 28  “LAST is a 4-Letter Word”

Today begins the day of ‘Lasts’…..the last time to sit on the beach, the last dinner, the last sunset.  Sigh…..

But this is not the last sunrise!  I get one more tomorrow!  So I sit back and enjoy…

Not about to waste a minute of this day, we take a walk to centro and then back along the malecon.  We stop to admire our home away from home….

We walk to the end of the malecon and then turn north on Juarez and walk a short distance to our front door…..how we will miss this beautiful place!

A light breakfast, a stop to enjoy the view….

And then we’re on our way to sizzle away on our last day on Playa Norte.  Rueda Medina looking spotless as always….

And for the rest of the day we just sit back and enjoy every moment….memorizing everything until we can return again….

We have a months worth of packing up to do, so we only have time for glimpses of the sunset and another moment to admire the moonrise.

We had a wonderful, delicious and romantic last dinner at Olivia’s….truly one of our very favourite places to enjoy a great meal. 

Saturday Mar. 10

~~Day 29  “THE END”…..until next time!

I don’t think I slept very much….there was no way I was going to sleep in and miss the very last sunrise….

Sweet, yet bittersweet.  Why does the time always go by so quickly!  As lucky as we are to stay for a month, it’s never long enough.  But I’m grateful for every sunrise that I have seen….

Our last moped ride to Chedraui to pick up some supplies that we hope will last until our return….limon mayonnaise, cacahuates, Kahlua.  

Then Vince returns the moped while I finish up the packing.  Our flight doesn’t leave until later today, so we aren’t in any rush.  We can sit back and enjoy the views for a little longer.

Muchas gracias to Cori and Pedro for creating this wonderful oasis.  It truly is ‘Isladise’! 

One more look….

Mr. Iguana says hasta luego….

And then it’s time to drag the suitcases to the ferry.  If I’d known that the ferry terminal was going to be demolished I would have taken more photos!  I’ll miss the rustic simplicity of it….

It doesn’t matter how many times we’ve been here, the colours of the water always takes my breath away….

It just makes me want to jump in!

Suitcases stowed, we hop up the stairs to enjoy the view.  And what can I see?  The balcony of Isladise where I was just sitting a short time ago!

And then the engines roar to life and my heart skips a beat….we’re leaving….we’re actually leaving……it’s hard to hold back the tears.

Isla Mujeres……We will return…….

Isla Mujeres 2012 ~~ Day 27

Isla Mujeres 2012

Thursday Mar. 8

~~Day 27  “Sunshine, Scenery and Strawberry Margs!”

Strangely enough I did not beat the sunrise today!  It was already into the sky when I raced to the window.

It’s a beautiful morning so we decide a little ride around la isla is a good idea.  I can never get enough of the view over the Garrafon area….

Love the colours of the water….ever changing but always gorgeous….

Zooming up the east side I make Vince pull over numerous times so I can capture the views.  It really is the most scenic little island!

There was work being done on some very nice new walking areas.  They’ve since been completed and I’m looking forward to some nice long walks without having to worry about traffic….

Getting ready for the beach we take in the amazing views right from our own Isladise balcony….

Time is passing too quickly….another sunset moving us closer and closer to our last days….

We decide to have a pre dinner drink at Las Brisas…..toes in the sand, under the moonlight, with wonderful music by Sandra and Lenin..

The strawberry margaritas were perfect!

So perfect that we order more margaritas with dinner at Asia Caribe…

Vince has his favourite…pork tenderloin with black mushroom sauce…

And I had rice and veggies…

It’s always fun to sit at the restaurants on Hidalgo and people watch!  Tummies full, but not so full that we can’t manage dessert!  And I wonder what that would be??  The usual, chocolate tempura from Comono.  I’ve checked with Penny and this is still on the menu….find it at El Patio on Hidalgo…..Delish!!!!