It was a sunny Wednesday, May 24, morning and I was awakened by a small glint of sunlight. I opened my eyes to see that it was 6 am. At the same time I also came to the realization that my fight to Jamaica was leaving in an hour, and I WAS STILL IN BED!!! (It was apparent that the 4 alarm clocks I had set the night before either did not go off or I slept through them.)
Well, you can imagine my honor but compound to this expecting to meet friends at the MoBay airport, with the plan to share a TimAir Flight to Hedo, that were arriving from a different state on a different airplane. “Long story short”...I eventually contacted a “non-recorded person” at the Air Jamaica Terminal at JFK...left a message for my friends and was able to get a ticket for the next day but I had to get 1st Class going and Coach Class returning (only option available). This wouldn’t be too bad if I didn’t have to buy this at “Full Fare...1 Day in advance”.
Oh well, “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity” -Albert Einstein but then again “Common sense is uncommon” -Robert Louis Stevenson. You can always learn from your mistakes.
The Flight: Well, I got to the airport as scheduled. Although I had awakened “on time” a special thanks goes out to my fiancee, Karen, for giving me 2 wake up calls, while she was working in Canada. Karen is Canadian, a Hedo Vet, and I met her on my first trip to Hedo back in ‘94. When I was at the airport, the ticket agent checked that I was booked straight through to Jamaica and wrote down the Gate Number of my connection in Charlotte, NC.
While on the runway, in Boston, a light came on in the cockpit so we had to go back for the maintenance crew to check it out. [Thank God I had a 2hr overlay before the connecting flight to Jamaica...or is somebody trying to tell me something?]. As far as First Class is concerned...First Class equals Free Drinks (enough said). So...we still get there with about 1hr to wait. I go to the nearest bar to the gate I was informed to go to, and...had a few drinks. Well, after talking to a few interesting people, that were having airline problems, I decide that it was time to go to my gate. I get there and my connecting flight is not on the board. I immediately ran to the closest TV Monitor, searched for my flight and discovered that my flight had been moved to another Terminal, on the other side of the airport. So guess what I did? I RAN!!!!! And I made the connection.
(By the way...This was Trip #12 but you would swear that it was #13th.?)
The Arrival: The arrival went smooth. TimAir was there waiting for me and on the flight to Hedo I met Pam/Steve (OH), who are not the same Pam/Steve from my “May Group” who are also from OH. They were Hedo Virgins and I had the pleasure of preparing them for the trip of their lives.
Even though I am a Vet I felt special and privileged that everyone from TimAir to the Hedo Staff that helped me check in remembered me and called me by name when I arrived.
I had to wait an hour for my room to be ready but the good thing was that I arrived in time for the “Talent Show Rehearsals. So I showed the band, that plays when the house band, “Roots Explosion” is on vacation, how to play my song “the Hedonism Blues”. You may even find a few copies of this song on the Hedo Money Table.
The Trip: As a whole, it was a “good” trip. The Vet’s will understand so let me explain it for the Virgins (said respectfully). Hedo is many things to many people but “Mutual Respect and Understanding” I feel is the main theme. With that in mind, when you meet people and you “click” then you have found a friend for life. And each year you look forward to seeing those same people again...the following year and so on. Unfortunately this year, “on my side”, there were a lot of cancellations. :-( and it just didn’t seem the same without Karen, my fiancee, although I have always gone in May by myself. (If I hear one “aaaaah” I’m gonna .......)
Jamaica Jim/Nina and the rest of the crew from Jamaica Jim's Vernal Reunion Week were mostly there. I enjoyed having the chance to spend time again with Patrick and Lisa(MI) , who celebrated their 1st Wedding Anniversary. I was at their wedding, last year, at Hedo. But a good chunk of the “Hedo Hot Shots” were missing and Dave/Rebecca (FL) and the rest of “the Inner Circle” were totally absent. Granted, “things happen” and we can all adjust to the change.
The good thing about Hedo is “Hey, if I don’t see you next year...I’ll probably see you the following one”. But I have been fortunate to be able to see most of these people/groups regularly since ‘96. And yes Dave, more than once, many of us missed you singing “Brown Eyed Girl”.
This was a weird trip for me. I decided to be “low key” and not assume the responsibilities of “Speaker of the House”. And for those of you who know me...it’s hard for me to be “low key”. But I did it and I was surprised (jokingly) that the world did not end and that people didn’t stop having fun. It was a change but a needed change. I was still exhausted from the events, activities and responsibilities of “the real world”. I wanted to sleep for a few days to catch up but I didn’t. So I walked around basically in a daze because I felt that I should get up and hang out with the people I only see once a year. This is not a complaint...just a statement. It was worth every moment of it and I would do it again!!!
Talking about change, I noticed 2 big changes. #1: There were a lot of new coordinators and #2: There were a lot more girls there this time. I say girls vs. women because it was not uncommon to see groups of 5-6 (18-22 year old-ish) per group on the resort. Of course they were on the prude side. (LOL) I wouldn’t call them “female vinnies” but they did walk around in packs.
But there were highlights...mostly good.
Good:
-It was a pleasure to met Kenny/Ginger/Lorrie and Chris from “Hedo-On-Line (www.hedo-on-line.com). Their personalities and weekly events help to make this a pleasurable trip. Their Lil’ Buddy as well as the Left Nipple Contests went off without a hitch. But the Massage Contest was canceled due to rain and could not be rescheduled due to the time remaining of this group.
During the “Best Breasts Contest” Kenny had the unfortunate duty of being the Judge. Although there was a constant grimace on his face during the contest (or was that a smile Kenny?) and all of the participants seemed to have a good time. Remember, “Mutual Respect and Understanding”.
-Having dinner with Al/Arlene (NY), and Robert/Vicki (TN) to celebrate Robert and Annette (TX) their 15th Wedding Anniversary.
-Seeing Dan/Bonnie (VA).You could see that they were very much in love , especially when they danced.
Meeting People from the Internet: - Diane (NY): A nurse from NY who is good friends with Bunny and checks in on him in NJ. She’s a wonderful person and a new friend.
-Kevin (CT ) Nice guy that was partially deaf but neither he nor we let that get into his way of having fun or getting to know other people.
-Joe/Diane (FL ) Whom I had 1st met during a 4-day trip in Aug. ‘99, to hang out with Eric” the Boston Bad Boy” and his group. I said to them then “Hey, I’m always here Labor Day and Memorial Day weeks. Why don’t you join me?” And they did!!! It was GREAT seeing them again and this time being able to spend the week with them vs. 4 days
-I also bumped into a few people that I haven’t seen in years, like Rob/Kasey (DC) and also well as Dave/Angie(who just moved to Hawaii) and Jen/Shane that I met this past Sept.
Not So Good:
-Someone left a present for us in the Nude Pool...and in Nude Hot Tub later. :- ( And it wasn’t a Snickers Bar. Isn’t this supposed to be an ADULT RESORT?! So I suggested that people take over the Prude Pool/Hot Tub and later that night they did.
As A Side Note:
One day I noticed a wheelchair in front of my neighbor’s door. I wondered…was my neighbor disabled or did he/she get hurt while on the resort? Whenever I left or returned to my room I always saw the wheelchair next to the door, day or night.
One particular day I returned to my room to find my neighbors door open. Inside I saw and met 5 people, including my neighbor, Karen (not my fiancee). I introduced myself and told Karen that if she needed any help…just let me know.
Well, one night, about 9pm, I was returning to my room with a friend by the name of Kurt and I saw Karen entering the room. I asked what her plans were for the evening and she said “Nothing, I’m just going to stay in my room”. And I said to myself “Not tonight”. So, Kurt and I hung out with her in for a while in her room then we collected her smokes and “beverage container” got her into the wheelchair and set off into the night.
We started at the prude pool and watched people play volleyball in the nude, since the nude pool and hot tub was still being cleaned due to the previous night’s deposits. After a while we went to Veronica’s, listened and sang with Dave, the piano player. We then returned to the prude pool, watched a few more volleyball games and then “called it a night”.
All of this was completed in about 3-3.5 hrs.
The reason I share this story is hopefully to make you think, encourage you to get to know your neighbors and encourage you to reach out to those not as “fortunate” as you are when you are there.
Hedo II is not well equipped for those that are handicapped. Regardless, people come to Hedo to enjoy themselves and relax. And if, maybe, you try to get to know those guests that are not as “fortunate” as you are and spend a few minutes / a little time with them, the return may be 10 fold. “Life is not important except for the impact it has on other lives” –Jackie Robinson Now, for something completely different…
The Return: Going home was easier that getting there. I was awake early enough to take my TimAir flight to MoBay and the rest of the trip went smoothly.
Hedo is different things to different people. And whether my trip is “on-stage” or “off-stage”, tired or awake, “Speaker of the House” or “one of the crowd” Hedo will always be 1 thing to me…Home.