I take longer every year to get in a
trip report of our adventures in Jamaica. More like the adventures of just
trying to get to Jamaica. In 2001 the Lewis and Fish couples finally thoroughly
coordinated on the travel arrangements and we were really actually going to fly
to and from Jamaica on the same flights, dates, times, everything! Like we have
been trying (and failing) to do since trip one in 1999. Except then came
September 11. But we decided to go anyway and hadn't we been ordered to by our
president to keep the economy going? I must say seeing that really big United
States flag on the front of Hedo II was quite heartwarming and appreciated.
Jeff Lewis had also managed to totally tear apart his achilles' tendon just a
couple weeks before our departure. His loving wife Donna's first question to
the doctors was NOT "Will He Live?" It was: "Can he still fly to Jamaica???"
He was cleared to go and given a lovely bright Jamaican green cast and the
Fishes were recruited to be his personal hand maiden and Cabana Boy for the
trip---which now had been extended by several days due to no night flights by
U.S. airlines. It was now our mission to scientifically determine Can you be
at Hedo II TOO MANY DAYS? Thank goodness we survived the experiment with the
obvious conclusion: NO PROBLEM!
We were there basically three weeks. Having to haul Jeff's Big Ass all over the
U.S. and Jamaica was exhausting. He is bigger than us, you know. But a big guy
with a big green cast on his leg really gets you the perks---right to the front
of all the airport lines, cabs, etc. However the Fishes got some really
unpleasant glares from people who thought we were line jumpers until we figured
out to carry a crutch each so that we were obviously part of Jeff's entourage.
Donna apparently resembles someone who normally wears terrorist clothing
because she got hauled over at every single airport, searched to pieces and it
did not matter what suitcase she carried. We tried switching bags, no
difference. Once in Jamaica it took a few days to figure out how to get that
Big Ass Jeff around but with a superwide floatie and enough drinks (for us, the
hell with HIM) we got into a routine that worked for the duration. Being in
Jamaica mellows out any situation. There was that one incident, however: Jeff
is beached (as I referred to him), Randy was fetching drinks for all, and Donna
and I went out into the ocean. We suddenly realized Randy was returning with
the drinks and began very quickly paddling back to shore on our floaties. Randy
and Jeff were laughing just a bit too much when we landed because Jeff had said
"This reminds me of feeding time at Sea World." Just because I would
photograph him every time he was crawling around cracking "here's Jeff having
fun in Jamaica." Oh, yeah, and ONCE got on his back yelling "pony rides!"
He's just too sensitive.
It was fun being at Hedo II for three weeks. I just pretended every 6 days that
we had just arrived, we made new friends, the food was good (I have no issue
with food someone else has cooked for me), and it was just great to be there. I
was actually not very upset when it came time to go home. Just started thinking
of next year. Well, now it is next year and we are headed out in early October
again. Only this time the Fishes are going to L.A. and then taking the direct
to Jamaica flight---on which they serve the guests free Red Stripe and rum
drinks. 5 hours on a party plane--who could want anything more!? Except for
being actually at Hedo II. Can't wait. Hope to see familiar faces again.
Randy/Nancy