by Wilfred Bereswill
Sorry for the late post, but I'm still suffering the lag of having my things stolen almost a month ago.
Well, the other day when Joyce filled in unexpectedly, she hit my new beginnings on the head... EMPTY NEST.
As regular readers know, my oldest daughter got married in July. This past week we sent both of our other daughters to college. My middle daughter is at MIZZOU in her senior year in the #1 school of journalism and my baby daughter has her very first day of college today in MIZZOU's school of nursing.
To say the least, the house is quiet. We've known this has been coming for some time, but it has hit home like a smack in the face. When my wife is in another room or running errands, there is no casual conversations going on. If there is, it's me talking to myself or my characters chatting in my head.
I assume like everything else, we will grow used to it, but for the time being, we are working hard to readjust. Neither my wife or I can really remember a time before kids, when it was just the two of us living in Kansas City in 1980. That was a time of escaping from our parents. Now we are trying to recapture a comfortable life.
SO! What do you do about it?
Well, I just booked a week in Riviera Maya at the Secrets Capri all-inclusive resort near Play Del Camen. Hey, I had to give myself something to look forward to. So on August 27th, my wife and I celebrate our 33rd anniversary (acutally our 38th year together since we were highschool sweethearts.) Then on September 25th we leave for the Yucatan Penninsula.
By the way, it pays to be nice. I wrote an e-mail to Secrets e-concierge to compliment them on the way they respond to customer issues on Tripadvisor (a wealth of information if you're traveling) and asked about an anniversary special. This was the response..
Dear Mr. Bereswill,
Thank you for choosing Secrets Capri Riviera Cancun for your holiday celebration. I’m really glad our attention to reviews and emails help make decisions like yours. All I can say is that we are pleased to know you are coming and we will do our best to try and exceed your expectations.
Regarding your anniversary package do not be troubled I have made the notes to your reservation and my self and staff members will help you create memories that will last for years to come.
You will receive and be pampered by our special anniversary package, please when you arrive ask where the experience concierge desk is located and make a stop there so you can arrange for a wonderful champagne breakfast on bed for one day of your stay, also arrange a nice romantic dinner on the beach also included specially for you and last make your spa appointment with them as well. Not to mention the amenities you will receive during your stay. If you need further assistance from me please let me know, it is a pleasure to be able to help you.
Regards,
Jose Luis Alvarez Espino
E-Concierge / Info.
Hotel Secrets Capri Riviera Cancun
Carr. Federal 387 Km 299
Playa del Carmen, 77710
Don't forget to check out my short story, Sinfully Delicious at Amazon. I have to be able to pay for my vacation now.
What would you do if you were suddenly facing the empty nest?
13 comments:
I'm in the same boat, Will, or should I say, nest, and I don't have any of the answers. My family is just my daughter and myself, and she moved nine hours away from home several weeks ago for school.
I'm finding it is a really difficult adjustment but I'm trying to find my way. I guess it's helpful to know that others are going through the same thing:-)
Well my wife is bugging the hell out of the girls via cell phone.
They have made several pleas to me to keep her occupied so she quits calling them.
Oh, I think I'm guilty of the cell phone "bugging," too. Plus, I bug a bit, by texting, too.
My daughter and I have decided that every Sunday we'll "Skype." I've got to tell you it was so nice to actually see my daughter while talking to her last night.
By the way, your vacation sounds great!
Will -
I hope you have a great time in Riviera Maya - be sure to check out the ruins. Chichen Itza and Tulum are right nearby.
You poor thing, all alone in an empty house with nobody bugging you and all the quiet you could possibly want. I feel SOOOO sorry for you!
Seriously, I'm sure it's hard. When my first little guy started kindergarten, I broke out in hives. Itched for weeks. Can't even begin to imagine what'll happen when he goes off to college. Right now, it feels like I can't wait for the peace and quiet, but I'm sure it'll be quite the adjustment when it happens. Hang in there! Getting used to having kids in the first place was hard; you can get used to not having them!
Jennie,
It's an adjustment for sure. Having other "near" adults and adults around to talk to and share things with is way different than having small children.
Gina,
There are several excursions we have our eye on and Tulum and the Cenote tour is right up there. I really want to snorkel or scuba with the whale sharks, but it's the very end of the season.
Okay, Wilfred, don't forget to stick with bottled water.
The ruins at Tulum are sad, but they are close, so I suggest you start with them first. That's how far they were pushed. But if you have the time, the all dayer to either Chichen-Itza or Uxmal, they are not half-day close, long bus ride but work every ache and pain. The perfect trip is the overnighter.
The snorkling is great because of the visibility--not something you expect in Mexico--and I forget the name of the little art colony nearby that has a snorkling area that forbids all sunscreens and lotions. Have a great trip, and remember to keep that passport on your person at all times. Hopefully your hotel has lockboxes.
Patg
Thanks for the advice Pat. I've stopped at Cosumel and Playa on Cruises before, but never spent more than a day at either. Several visits to Cozumel ended at Carlos & Charlies and copiuos quantities of Tequila.
Probably 80% of the week will be within the confines of the resort relaxing and chilling. I'll bring my little netbook to MAYBE do some writing.
I definitely want to replace my digital camera before the trip. It was stolen with my other things. I'll have my new Flip video camera and I ordered a waterproof case for it. Maybe I'll have some non-incriminating movies to post on my next scheduled time.
Pat -
How could you mention the long bus rides without mentioning the bizarre bus restrooms? Maybe there is some variety, but the ones I rode had tiny cylindrical areas carved out of part of the mid-bus stairwell - going into the restroom felt alot like sealing oneself into a tiny space capsule while experiencing the worst air turbulence ever. Actually using the bouncing facility was even more of a challenge, but I will refrain from going into the messy details.
Will -
The cenotes are awesome, too.
Well, Gina, I can't quite picture what you're describing, but once you get used to toilets in China, nothing bothers you.
That's a different matter for my wife.
Will -
I've never had the pleasure of toilets in China, but I have had travel adventures when the sanitary facility question wasn't "how do you flush this thing?" but "how do you use this thing?" [a squat toilet outhouse in Crete comes to mind] What are toilets in China like?
In China, if you're lucky, you get a porcelin hole in the ground over which you hover. I don't think theres a lot of reading going on.
The really luxurious toilets have footprints on either side so you know which way to point.
Okay, so this post has deteriorated to toilets? Well, the most interesting for me was (I think) the most luxurious. We were on Safari in Botswanna. It was an example of luxury tenting. Art on the walls of the tent, special hangers for clothes, furniture, and a whole separate room for the bathroom and a separate area to shower. The bathroom has a real porclain toilet and pedestal sink. The sink had a huge water box outside the tent where the ??? servants? placed hot water. The toilet sat over a specal hole dug for you, with a box of perfumed sand by its side. Separate box for used toilet paper that slid outside. Luxury towels and soaps.
That was an experience and a half.
Will, I'd never suggest leaving your camera in the room, but some of the funniest things my clients ever told me about were when they left a camera in the room and found all sorts of porno photos on them of the maids and porters. Needless to say, that was before the digital days.
Patg
Post a Comment