Plenty of time on the beach leads me to plenty of contemplation. Not surprisingly, I’m reading another travel memoir, All Over the Map. The author contends that she doesn’t feel comfortable anywhere, she has the desire to be free and to belong, to be independent and to be loved, to be in motion versus being still. I believe that these ideas will be the plight of my existence. I so very strongly enjoy my freedom. I can do whatever I want to do whenever I want to do it. The only person I’m obligated to is myself, and I like it that way. But, of course someday I want to find that companionship and love that some of my friends have found. No one wants to die alone. Right now, I truly am in the midst of the trip of a lifetime. But, knowing me and my mind, it won’t be my last “trip of a lifetime”. Maybe next time I’ll have someone to share my awe with.
This is the first Christmas Eve in my entire life that I was not with my parents. The two previous Christmas days had me on flights around the world, but Christmas Eve has always been my immediate family’s time to celebrate. Usually at this time of year, I am complaining about the weather and wishing I could just hibernate for three months. However, this year, with the sun scorching my nose and the sand tickling my toes, my spirits are high and because of this euphoria, I’m not sulking too much about missing my family and friends.
Hopefully they all know that I love them to bits! Thankfully technology never keeps anyone too far from home these days. Last night I indulged in a Christmas Eve buffet, enjoyed an African band, and sipped on a few cocktails on the beach. Guests of the resort dined under the stars with a buffet that was set up on the beach with tiki torches surrounding the tables. Magical. 
During the show, an African band pounded drums, strummed guitars, and chanted loudly. They also performed various acrobatic acts including spinning large tins on their heads, and one man even ate mashed up glass which is apparently some voodoo magic thing. Yikes! At one point, I was escorted to the stage with three other resort guests. I was first instructed to sit on a crate, next I was told to lay back which landed me on another of the guest’s laps. Once all four of us were at ninety-degree angles, the band members removed the crates from beneath us. We created a human table! Might as well sign myself up for the circus next.
This morning for Christmas I took a leisurely stroll along the coast. My destination was a tower of rocks about a mile down the beach. When I reached my spot, I climbed atop a mound of stones jutting out into the ocean and enjoyed my iPod while watching the waves crash the sharp rocks. I don’t care who you are; these are the little moments in life that really mean something. However, I couldn’t help but think about the movie 127 hours while I was climbing, alone. I forced the image of the man sawing off his own trapped arm out of my mind to get back to the good stuff.
I gazed west across the ocean towards the good ole' U.S. of A and thought about my friends and family and wished them nothing but the best on this lovely day.
It reminded me of the movie Love Actually when Hugh Grant’s character describes all of the pain around the world, but notes that love actually is all around us if you look closely enough. Fathers were lying along the shore with their small children perched on their chests letting the water wash over them. Several couples were posing for photos with the sea as the backdrop. Two friends laughed and chased each other around in the sand. I just walked by and smiled thinking about how thankful I am for my adventurous spirit to be able to have this type of Christmas.
Joy to the World! Much love to all of my people this Christmas! xoxox
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