Arrival in Paradise

View from the room

Tonight I write to you as I watch the sunset over the ocean and listen to the waves break gently on the shore. Birds in palm trees sing their nightly taps and a light ocean vesper soothes the warm air. I spent the day sea kayaking, snorkeling, and reading in a hammock. It sounds a lot like heaven but I’m actually in Tulum, Mexico, a small coastal town on the Caribbean Sea. Kevin’s brother Michael decided to ring in his new decade (the big three-oh) by taking a vacation with his close friends and family. So here we are, in a 12-person villa, eating family-style dinners filled with stories, banter, and laughter on a long reclaimed-wood table on a patio overlooking the ocean made by our personal chef. Our planned adventures for the week include deep-sea fishing and a visit to the Mayan ruins, but who knows what else the week may bring. I am perfectly content to press repeat on today.

Mikey in all his birthday glory

At breakfast, three of Michael’s friends showed up in Mexican-flag Speedos and proceeded to present him with his own pair. It started the day off with a good dose of laughter and light heartedness. We had made-to-order eggs (huevos ranchos, huevos con jamon, huevos con queso . . .), orange juice, toast, granola and yogurt, and a huge platter of fresh watermelon, pineapple, papaya, and cantaloupe. Afterward, Kevin and I read books on the beach and jumped in the pool. Then we kayaked with the group to the coral reef not more than 100 meters offshore. I swam with schools of neon fish and wove around the dancing coral. Nancy (Kevin’s mom) and I used the paddle boat to come in for a lunch of shrimp tacos with mounds of fresh guacamole and pico de gallo with the whole group. Kevin made delicious margaritas that we drank before an afternoon siesta on the beach.

Paradise does wonders for the human spirit.

CBD