Nexpa to Nexpa

Hooray to no more busses!  I traveled nearly 40 hours by bus in 2 days and I'm thankful to be done with that. After Rio Nexpa with the girls and a two day pamper in Puerto Vallarta with Pops and Alex, I was ready to get back to Andrew and the van.

Round 1 of Nexpa was a success, and luckily my girls and I got some great waves. Besides bed bugs and jellyfish stings all over my body, it was an awesome trip. We met some really great people and I think the highlight was a group bonfire on the beach with everyone in town. Kyle and Gabby were great hosts at Rio Nexpa Rooms and I can't wait to go back.

Top: Clean-up set
Middle: Turkey vultures, Erika and I successful in Rikki having a beer, girl play time
Bottom: View of it all 

In Puerto Vallarta with Pops and Alex, it was Italian food, fancy cocktails by the beach, salon pampering, and nights on the town. Once we were out, I had my boobs grabbed by the waitress, Alex got the elevator eyes from men (PV has a very large gay population), and I was really happy to have a cold and not able to smell anything because I forgot how rancid my dad and brother smell.

Now it's back to tacos, cheap beer, bug spray, and going to bed by 8. On our way up, Andrew and I stopped at a few cool little spots. Playa Ventura is off the beaten path and we didn't want to stay in the concrete jungle of Acapulco (heinous) so we stayed here a couple nights. Not expecting anything really, we found a surf-able wave with no one on it, locals kids that kept asking me for kisses, and turkeys that sounded like old women laughing.

From there we headed towards Zihuatanejo and planned to stay the night somewhere on the beach. We headed down what seemed to be a road and landed at this little gem hidden behind the shrubbery. With not a soul out, we grabbed our boards for a sunset session. Fire ants and Andrew's ear infection kicked us out this morning and now we're heading back towards Truncones/Nexpa area for Christmas where it's going to be sand angels and hammock lounging. La buena vida continues.

Happiness

Currently, Andrew and I are en route north at Playa Ventura somewhere between Huatulco and Acapulco. I'm watching the sun rise with a cup of cinnamon coffee, listening to the waves and Marc Cohn, thankful as ever. Pelicans are flying by, low over the ocean. Up, down, side to side, they are in perfect, effortless unison. What a life that must be.

It's funny though, how I have to watch this morning routine of theirs in order to appreciate my own blessings in life. I'm sure somewhere, someone has watched me in the ocean, early in the morning, wishing they had my life as they drank their cup of joe.

In his book, "The Age of Absurdity," Michael Foley translates Jacques Rousseau's vision of happiness: "if you have it, you can't be aware of it, and if you are aware of it, you can't have it." He also makes the point of happiness sometimes being recognized only retrospectively, after it's lost.

It's easy to look in my memory bank to remember some of life's greatest times, but to be present and happy in the moment sometimes slips away from me. Always trying to make something what it used to be, or what it could be, when in reality, I'm going to look back at this morning and realize how perfect it was.

It's a good thing the morning isn't over and I still have time to appreciate it. Life is good, and I'm as happy as I've ever been. Now it's time to swim with the pelicans.

"God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing."- C.S. Lewis

Painting Busses and Giving Interviews

I'm en route to the west coast for surfing and family time. Flights are expensive and the boys need our van on the east coast which leaves me with the only option, take the bus. 

Since I forgot to take Dramamine until right before getting on the 5 1/2 hour bus ride to Mexico City this morning, it took me all of 10 minutes to lose my breakfast. Fail. Since the bathroom was occupied and of course I couldn't hold it in, I painted the back of that bus, only to clean it up with my bare hands. EPIC fail. It's a good thing for hand sanitizer and as all of you could guess, I spent the next five hours hovering the toilet.

Once in Mexico City, I decided to spend the money I don't have on a flight to my next destination because 15 more hours in a bus sounded HEINOUS. Still vomiting, I got the airport and saw there was a flight leaving in 30 minutes. Perfect. Except the lady told me it was $200 for the flight, and get ready for this... $300 for my boards (yyyeah). I just smiled and walked away, accepting defeat.

I felt like I was going to lose it again so I bolted to the bathroom only to be stopped by a girl who assumed I spoke English and kindly asked if she could interview me. FML. I felt like God was really picking on me at that point. I sat with her for 10 minutes as she asked me what I liked most about Mexico, why I come here, etc. Her entire family was there and had a video camera three inches from my face. Gotta love 6th grade school projects. 

Dinner at the bus station 

 I got a cab back to the bus station and met Jesus, who lectured me on why I'm not married with at least a child at 28 years old. Ay yei yei. I suppose it would be strange to a 46 year old man who already has grand kids (his daughter is 31...whhha?) He was nice though and told me to have a shot of 1800 in his name once I made it to the beach in the morning. 

So I've made it to the bus station where I found a corner to lay down and re-coupe with a 7-Up, peanut butter sandwich, and a surprise note from my love that's keeping a smile on my face. I've been approached twice now asking if I'm "that one actress in the 'Corona' telenovela." At the end of a day like this, all I can do is laugh because memories aren't always made because things go right...right?