DAILY STORY IS TODAY #1101!

BERMUDA TRIANGLE

 

As much as Mel and I enjoy, really love our home in Burlington, VT, ski between November and February, hike thru the Green Mountains in spring and summer, we realize (at least I do) that we really need a break, should let our skis rest in the basement while we find out what the warmth of the sun is like instead of wind burn. We can  run through the white sand, frolic in the ocean. I am enthused, am ready to state my case to my Mel.

 

The cool delightful summers here in Vermont, have kept me from buying a new bathing suit for five years. I decide to check it out and retrieve it from the bottom drawer of our double bureau. The tissue paper is still crisp. My bathing suit is faded, out of style and surely will not fit my current dimensions. I might as well put it aside for my Good Will box. Then again, they might not want it–but neither do I.

 

At dinner I bring up the subject of a warm vacation.  Mel seems to listen but I doubt he hears me. Half heartedly he says , 'O.K.' adds 'maybe next week.' 'No, you waffle about everything. I'll call Travel World tomorrow.' His silence gives me a chance to put on my antiquated bathing suit, come downstairs in my warm, comfy robe as Mel is stirring the dying embers in the fireplace. Little sparks hit the mesh screen and go out. Mel can't help but notice the almost naked me when I interrupt his fiddling and let my robe drop to the floor.

 

His surprise makes me laugh. His second glance at my bod makes him laugh. The suit is faded . Slight bulges push my skin against the black elastic. I tell it like it is, 'No sense saving this old thing, Mel. I'm tossing it and we are going on a trip.' I can almost see his brain studying the situation. He lets the last few embers take care of themselves. I can't believe what he says, but I do love hearing it. 'You win, Honey. Where would you like to go? When?'

 

It just so happens I have secretly accumulated travel ads from the Burlington Sunday Travel Guide for a few weeks. I hand the folder to Mel with the ones I think will be perfect for us all clipped together. The devil twinkles in his eyes. 'Put your robe back on, go upstairs and take it and your woebegone bathing suit off too. Then wait for me.'

 

When we cool off, we start making decisions. No cruises. We'd have to fly to New York and sail thru Hatteras. Hatteras can be rough, really rough. He puts all the cruise ads into a pile and tears them up. I feel a bit sad as Tahiti and Fiji really attracted me. Barbados, St. Johns, Trinidad, St. Bart, St. Maarten go in a pile to study again. We agree that when the pile is down to three we will go together to Travel World. In the meantime, I know we have to have passport photos taken, get our birth certificates out of our safety box at the bank. I tell him,  'Mel, I'll watch the paper for luggage sales. You just keep our funds liquid.'

 

Carrie, at Travel World, is ready for us. She is a charmer, well traveled herself, and offers several suggestions. St. Maarten heads her preferences as we would have a Dutch and French choice of dining, shopping, gambling,  great beaches. Trinidad and Tobago she thinks are not what we would enjoy. St. Bart is a tiny French town, high on a mountain. There is just about nothing to do there except rest and watch the sea. 'St. Johns? Well if you like quiet, a most gorgeous beach with the beautiful ocean, excellent meals, and practically no entertainment, no place to go except on long walks, see the goats.'

 

I can see Mel's interest in our traveling fading fast. Carrie comes up with an idea. 'You will absolutely love Barbados and it isn't too far from  Bermuda.' She stops and adds, 'Well, it isn't around the corner. You can't swim there but there is always something going on. The British are a group unto themselves. With your available two weeks, I can give you figures and check on what is available for the dates you have in mind, arrange air travel. Believe me, you will enjoy this trip and will come back for more next year.' Carrie does not wait for our okay, suggests she get everything together and we come back the following day. Mel tells her we can't. We have a skiing date. 'How about next Monday?' Carrie does not look happy. Tough. Mel and I take home several brochures, stop to get our passport photos taken and drive home.

 

I fix a light supper, fried salami and eggs, marinated tomato slices, hot tea and me. We lie in bed and discuss our spring trip. Mel shows little emotion but underneath I smell his changing attitude. Barbados and Bermuda are in the same direction, which will make our costs a little less. 'Let's vote, Mel.' We do and there is a tie. Done!

 

Carrie has everything temporarily done. The price almost knocks my socks off but Mel says we can handle it. Jet Blue and American Airlines from NY travel daily. We can drive to NY and leave our car there but the lot will cost more for two weeks than getting a chopper. Mel has skied with the chopper pilot and we get a good price on that. Our choice, Jet Blue, is late. We wait impatiently with the rest of the disgruntled travelers. Take off is smooth.

 

The flight is almost motionless until we begin to shake. The seat belt light goes on. Stewards and stewardesses walk the narrow aisles, checking everyone's belts, nothing can be on our laps. The floor from the windows to the narrow aisle must be cleared. No explanation comes from the captain. The lady across the aisle from us is praying. I look out my window seat, see only blue skies and white clouds but feel our plane going lower and lower. My watch lets me know we have been in turbulence for 15 god awful minutes before we  we start to rise.

 

The praying lady sits up straight, explains what she thinks she knows, 'We just went thru the Bermuda Triangle so thank me for my prayers. They worked.' Silly, stupid, but I thank her anyhow.

 

From then on it is smooth flying, fantastic meals, sunny, delightful days, win some, lose some at the gambling tables. Mel and I used enough sun-block that we don't burn. The two weeks fly like the wind.
Mel loves my new swim suits, both of them,  more on the floor than on me.

 

He has already made plans for next spring. We are going to hike thru the Green Mountains. We'll see after Christmas.