"The Simpsons Are Going To Japan!"

Well, we didn't actually head to Japan, but life in Minnesota was definitely taking it's toll: Isabella was going stir crazy 'cause we weren't taking her out on her regular strolls, I was sick of slathering up every inch of my body with "New and Improved Non-Cracking Skin Moisturizer", and Ed seemed to be the only one taking advantage of the cold....Ice Racing. (More in another story).

So, we decided to head where the temperatures were at least above 60°F. Cancun, Mexico. Sun, surf, sand...just what a pale, dry, flaky gal needed. This was the 16th year that my parents and various "rock star" guests went to Cancun. Ed, Isabella, and I were joined by my sister, Sue, and her 3 year old, Adaline. We were scheduled to meet up with my mom and dad, who had been down there a week already.

The only thing that struck fear and trepidation in my stomach was our 6 a.m. flight. Not a bad thing when you're traveling alone, but it was my first time as a new parent. Would we get there on time? Would Isabella freak out?

The flight turned out to be a non-event. Bella was sleeping by the time the plane started taking off and Addie was very cool as well.

The only goal we really had for this vacation consisted little more than taking some naps with Isabella and painting some clay pots. And, oh yah, Ed's personal goal was to go on an All Day Bender. Basically his plan was to wake up and head to the bar. Yehaw.

Everyday was beautiful. The Caribbean had a goodly amount of wave action and was warm. Isabella and Addie played together beautifully...by the end of the week Isabella had learned how to say "A-da". (i'm guessing that was Bella-speak for "Addie"). Susie and I managed to squeeze in some early morning walks, and Ed had a ball body surfing while my parents watched on in their bronze glory.

One thing that I feel kinda bad about is that Ed didn't get the opportunity to go on his "bender". Did I fail as an enabler? Did HE just not take the proffered opportunities? Or have the days of drunken debauchery fallen by the wayside as we assume our roles as parents? (you couldn't tell that based upon my New Years Eve behavior).

Another thing that also threw us for a loop is that the last two days of the trip Isabella came down with what we thought at the time was a dangerously high fever (102°F). Ask any seasoned parent and they'll say, "That's nuthin'. Why my kid once had a fever of 200°F and blah, blah, blah.

Well, we freaked out a bit and called to have a doctor come to our room to check Bella out. He said that her tonsils were inflamed and suggested we start her on antibiotics. (as it turns out, she was just starting out with a bad cold...no tonsillitis).

So, the seven days came and went very quickly. Now that I'm back home (in the frigid grasps of a week of record low temps) I think it was a pretty good vacation. In the traditional sense it was almost boring. We didn't get to do EVERYTHING and we did some things that we didn't bargain for, but overall, it felt good. And sometimes that's all that matters.

February, 2003