Day of Hope #35
Friday November 13, 2015
Goal: Re-create a vision of beauty
Quote: “Believing in yourself and your dreams is the secret to success.” - Unknown
This is a very special story. It takes place on Friday the 13th. Whenever the 13th falls on a Friday, I try to go somewhere special. I try to get some of my bucket list items crossed off. This particular day, I did just that.
My gal pal Frankie and I both have birthdays in November, and we usually try to go somewhere just us. This time, we were still contemplating where to go, back in October. We were running out of time.
I happened to have a picture on my vision board for that year. I assumed I might not get to do it as the year was winding down, but here is a perfect example of how doubt can be removed if you just believe. The picture is of a girl with her back turned to the camera looking out at the water in a sliding glass doorway. She looks so peaceful and calm. I want to feel that way too, so when I saw it in a magazine, I cut it out and put it on my vision board. She has a sheer white swimsuit cover up on. She has beautiful long brown hair. Since I ditched the clip-on extensions, and I had professional extensions added in March and my hair looked like that. I pick these pictures out the year before in November or December for my vision board. It’s always crazy when I actually do what was is on the board.
Back in January, I bought the outfit the girl is wearing in the picture, just waiting for the chance to wear it. It was November, so I said to Frankie, “It would be nice to go to a beach but that’s probably out of the question”.
She suddenly replied, “Well if we can’t go to a beach how about water instead? Let’s go on a cruise.”
We booked the cruise and the plane tickets. We are going. I will admit, I was a bit afraid. I have seen the movie Titanic a few times, so I got my kids together a week before my cruise to have family pictures taken, just in case the ship went down. I know it was crazy, but hey, it was my first cruise, give me a break. Pictures turned out amazing, and that was also on my goals for the year.
Time to go. We flew out of L.A., for our Mexican cruise. It was my first official stamp in my passport. We had so much fun. We booked spa appointments. We got facials and massages. We did excursions each day. I loved it. Unless you were up at the top of the ship and saw the water, we could not tell we were on a ship. It was a Princess Cruise Line.
We laid out in the sun and watched the water. They had a movie screen at the top where we watched a movie, a football game, and a concert while we were there. That was one of my favorite things besides the sunsets. We got all dressed up every night in our fancy clothes and went to dinners and fancy ship activities. We had some professional pictures taken too.
Our first stop was Puerto Vallarta. We did an extreme ziplining experience through the jungle. We ziplined, repelled down a hill, did a rope challenge, which was a tight rope 80 feet up, and bungee jumped. I crossed off lots of bucket list items in one day.
Our next stop was Mazatlán. We did a bus site seeing tour around the city, and through the old town. While we were on the bus, I distinctly remember the tour guide telling us to be very careful, as the tequila in Mexico is not like the tequila in the states. She said, “One margarita you have fun. Two margaritas you are enjoying the show. Three margaritas you are the show.” I thought it was funny but did not pay any attention to it after that.
We found this great restaurant by the ship port and decided to eat dinner and try a margarita. We made some friends and did some light dancing. Then, we were going back to the ship, but the gals we had met talked us into staying and having another margarita. Then came the Jell-o shots, and more margaritas.
We did a lot of dancing. I became known as the girl in the yellow shirt for the rest of the trip, as everyone remembered me. We danced the night away. Let’s just say, the tour guide was right, and I ended up with the tequila flu that night. Just a warning, if you get sick on a ship, they send in the hazmat team, literally, with hazmat suits and all. They take your bedding, and clothes. They give you a new bed, and wash your clothes, and it’s quite an experience. You are also quarantined for 24 hours. I learned my lesson that night.
Next stop was Cabo. Needless to say, I was still a bit hungover that day. We got off the ship, and the waterfront sidewalks were swaying. I thought it was just me at first, but it was actually moving. It was hot, and there were lots of shops to explore, but I decided to sit down on some church steps to get my bearings. Confess my sins from the night before, maybe. I had Frankie go off and do her shopping. I was sitting on the steps of the church, I look up to my right and there is a sign that says, “Free tequila tasting today at 10am.” No thank you. Only in Mexico. Let’s just say, I moved to different steps. Then went back to the ship, and I took a nap. I felt much better, and we went to a magic show and dinner. What a great 13th week.
My lesson of hope: Go do the things you want to do, don’t wait until it’s the right time. If you get the opportunity to cross off bucket list items, do it. Create some memories. Also, the tequila in Mexico, is WAY more potent than in the U.S. Just trust me.
