Cancun, Mexico July 2021

 

People always ask me "what do you all talk about when you're out running or walking for so long?"  The ladies and I talk about anything and everything and after what 2020 showed us, travel was definitely a topic of conversation. 

When we initially thought of taking this trip, the COVID numbers were moving in a favorable direction so there was no hesitation on international travel.  I will not lie, as the days got closer leading to our departure at the end of July, my nerves were shot!  However, I went because I don't want to live a life of regret.  I've been as careful as possible and I'm always home, but it was time to get out and live again!  As it turns out, Cancun was just what I needed; we all needed it!  I enjoy booking trips, searching for resorts, and planning excursions, so once we all agreed and decided on Cancun, it was on!!

Our sister-friend Khandi was turning 50 years old, so in honor of her birthday, we decided on travel T-shirts which turned out to be a very cute idea.  

If you're interested, check out Chamia's IG: shop.beyounique!

                                                

                                                          

The time came for us to travel and it felt amazing to pack my suitcase, pull out my passport, and wake up at the crack of dawn to catch a flight!!  Delta Airlines was awesome - we flew CHS to ATL, ATL to CAN, and thank God for smooth flights because I hate turbulence.  When we arrived in Cancun, we headed to baggage claim, everyone searched for their bags, and once it was all accounted for, we headed for the transport shuttle area since we booked our transportation online.  As I'm speaking to the shuttle service attendant, Tisa realized the suitcase she had, did not belong to her.  Khandi, being the helpful friend that she is, grabbed a blue suitcase, but it was not Tisa's.  All I saw was Tisa and Khandi take off back into the airport.  After what seemed like forever, I went inside to see what was going on, but they seemed to have it under control so I went back outside and we waited.....and waited.   

Lesson #1: grab your own suitcase and use luggage tags to confirm it's yours.

 

We finally arrived at our resort Catalonia Hotel Costa-Mujeres and it was beautiful!  Drinks were served while we were checking in (as promised) and I was so thankful the resort looked just as beautiful as it did online.  Due to COVID, these resorts were practically giving away these rooms, so we opted for a swim-up pool room that came with "privileged" access.  Our rooms were very spacious and everyone got their own bed, which was perfect.  First stop - the beach...and it was a perfect evening!  The white sand in between my toes, the sound and smell of the ocean, and the ladies.  After 2020, this is exactly what we all needed.  

The next morning, we arranged for a shuttle to pick us up from the resort to take us to the Catamaran we rented.  It was about a 40-minute scenic drive to the marina and the sights in Cancun reminded me so much of Colombia.  Once we arrived at the Marina, we checked in, boarded the Catamaran, and took off.   The day was absolutely perfect, the sun was shining with clear blue skies, unlimited drinks which I took full advantage of, good music, and the wide-open sea.  The turquoise water was calm and so beautiful.  It was refreshing to my soul to be in such tranquility again after such a difficult year.  We sailed for 4 hours and visited Isla Mujeres which is a small island off the coast of Cancun.  By the time we got off the Catamaran, I was still swaying LOL!  Like I said, unlimited drinks.

On the third day, we stayed at the resort and did a few excursions they offered.  The Hobie Cat sailboat was fun and what we all opted to try.  This is where I met "Benny."  OMG, he was so handsome and his accent was secretly sexy to listen to. He was charming and very polite to all of us.  He took us out and chatted with us just talking about life and shared some fun facts about Mexico.  Before we knew it, we were back at the beach.  It was a nice, smooth sail that warmed my heart.  The little things we remember...

 If your resort has a spa, I urge you to try it.  You really have no idea what you'd be missing if you don't take the time to pamper yourself.  Since this resort was brand new, everything was modern and just perfect.  All of the ladies decided on a spa day and it was worth every penny, although I thought it was very affordable for what they offered.  The view from the infinity pool was to die for!

On the final day of the trip, we had to get tested for COVID.  The joy of a swab up your nose was not as bad as I thought and yes, we all tested negative so we went parasailing!  No videos or pics.  However, the memories from above will stay with me.  The ocean is absolutely beautiful along with all of its sea life.  We saw some sea turtles swimming and the coral reefs were stunning.  I could never get enough of the Caribbean, it is my absolute favorite place to visit.  Some say all islands are the same, (I know Cancun is not an island) yet every time I travel, I find something so unique and beautiful about that particular destination that stays with me.  

Being a foodie, you would think I would have taken a ton of pictures of my food to share - nope!  But I did  enjoy every meal and drink I was served.  The food was delicious and I tried some new things because of course, I was curious.  No complaints on the resort (other than they need more umbrellas at the beach) or Cancun in general.  The staff was friendly, all of our pre-booked shuttles and excursions were all on time with no issues.  Thank goodness for Trip Advisor!  If you don't use it, start.  It's a huge help because I am big on reviews.

The journey home was long and we were all mentally prepared for a full day of travel and a hell of a layover in ATL.  We could have driven home and beat the flight back, but we made the best of the time while in the airport.  Or course we got more drinks, a seafood dinner, and then of course, we found the cake spot!  Thankfully, no complaints, injures, or issues (other than the suitcase fiasco LOL). Khandi will never live that down.

I'm too afraid of traveling abroad alone which makes me so grateful for my girls who are ready and willing to travel with me.

Find your tribe! 

Book those trips! 

Live in the moment as best as you can!

#jqblogs #jqjourney #jqtravels

Here is a video of our girlstrip: Cancun Girls Trip 2021 

 

Seattle, Washington June 2021

After a long year with no travel, I finally ventured out to the Pacific Northwest to visit my son, Will.  This trip was everything I needed for so many reasons.  The flight to Seattle was roughly 5.5 hours and the views from 30,000 feet above were absolutely breathtaking.  I literally flew over the United States and wondered often "what is down there?"  

When I arrived in Seattle, my son met me at the airport, and oh my goodness, when I heard him call out "mom," I looked up, and there he was.  I just melted in his arms and was so happy to see him and feel his warm embrace.  I knew I missed him, but it hit me at that moment just how much.  We hopped on the train "the link" and headed to his apartment in Capitol Hill.  When we got off the train, we walked a few blocks and I came across this intersection; I thought it was beautiful.  For those of you that didn't know, my son is gay and my love for him remains strong and true.  He is a wonderful son, friend, and human being and that is what is important.  I love me some him!

After settling in at his apartment, we began our journey to the Pike Place Market!  Oh my, the fruits, veggies, and fresh fish stands were amazing!  I wanted to stop and buy a piece of everything, but obviously, I had to resist.  We continued walking through the market and down a million flights of stairs to get to the pier which was my favorite place.  It was so peaceful and relaxing and after a very long day, it was appreciated.

Day 2 began with another trip to Pike Market place.  I swear I could go there every day...and we did!  The line at the original Starbucks was down the street and with a million other Starbucks nearby, we opted for coffee elsewhere and got pastries from Piroshky Piroshky and headed back to the pier to enjoy the peaceful view before our trip to the Seattle Space Needle, Chihuly glass museum, and walk up to Kerry Park.   

                                                       

The Space Needle was fun until I saw the level with glass floors.  I froze, literally!  My body would not allow me to walk on the glass.  It took me about 10 minutes before I could place one foot on the glass while squeezing the life out of my son's arm!  But, I did it and it was such a relief.

The Chihuly glass museum was gorgeous!  The colors were so vibrant in every piece.  Pictures do not do it justice.  If you're ever in Seattle, check it out!

Our next stop was Kerry Park.  As we climbed up to heaven, because it was THE steepest and longest hill I ever walked to date, I was beginning to wonder if it would be worth the view.  My son turned around and said "you have to go through the storm to get to the rainbow!" and his boost of encouragement got me to the top.  As much as I work out, it just showed me how much more I need to push myself.  I wanted to take a picture of the hill, but my body said "NO!"  When we got to Kerry Park it was everything I dreamed of.  Clear blue skies and the most beautiful view of the Seattle Skyline.  In the distance is beautiful Mt. Rainier.

OMG, the next stop was the house from Grey's Anatomy!  It was literally up the street from Kerry Park.  I have never watched the show or have even been remotely interested in it, but between my son and my friends telling me how good of a show it is, I decided to begin watching it before my Seattle trip.  It is a great show and made the house and sights that much more special.

As it turns out, my trip to Seattle was during their heatwave.  I'm spoiled with air conditioning everywhere I go so this took some getting used to.  The last 2 days were intense, but thankfully, we made it through together. 

Day 3 was a 1-hour boat tour around the harbor and a trip to Discovery Park.  The boat tour was nice and relaxing and the breeze felt magical considering it was 10am and felt like 100 degrees out. Once it was over, we hopped on the bus and traveled about 30 minutes to Discovery park.  We hiked up the hills and then down several flights of stairs and trails to get to the beach.  It was beautiful and the scenery was spectacular!  If you're into hiking, this is definitely a park to visit.

Day 4 was even hotter and it was just very uncomfortable outside.  We decided to stay indoors and go to the movies to see the new Fast and Furious movie.  The air conditioning was such a relief!  Plus, it had been so long since I went to see a movie, which is my sons' favorite thing to do.  After the movie, we ventured down to Pike Place Market again and just strolled leisurely to keep from getting too hot.  Lots of stores were either closed or closing early due to the extreme temperatures so it was fairly quiet Sunday afternoon.  We had dinner reservations at Elliot's Oyster House and took an uber because there was no way I was walking in that heat again.  Dinner was very nice and a perfect way to end my trip.  The views were so beautiful, I could've stayed there forever...

In my 4 days in Seattle, we averaged 10 miles per day.  I'm glad I brought my walking shoes with me!  This trip was very special to me and I am so glad I got to spend this time with my son in his new home.  As our kids grow into adults, distance sometimes creeps in, but I want to be sure I make every effort to be there continuously making memories for us to cherish.  Every step taken during this trip was filled with great conversation, good food, drinks, laughter, and so much love.  It was well worth the time away.

I honestly felt like I was back home in NYC while in Seattle.  The diversity and different cultures were awesome! The public transportation, the skyscrapers, and the hustle out there were so inviting and nostalgic.  I truly hope I can take another trip out there again soon.  I posted a video link because I couldn't possibly put this entire trip into words.  Until next time Seattle...

Seattle video June 2021

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One year later

It's amazing how much can change in one year.  Last year this time, my world was changed forever when I lost my mother to pancreatic cancer.  It hurt like hell and in the midst of a pandemic, it only made her transition worse.  No proper burial, no family gathering, no real closure, nothing.  Just me, my thoughts, the few friends that reached out, and the grief that followed.  Because of 2020 and its awful turn of events, this past year has been one of reflection and focus on self because life can be so unpredictable.

Perspective: the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance.

How we view life is totally up to us.  I believe my mother's death brought forth purpose and clarity.  It forced me to stop and tap into who and what was relevant in my life because I have spent so much of my life searching.  Searching for love, friends, acceptance, careers, etc.  I had an epiphany moment; everyone is replaceable, especially those people in our lives that are just taking up space.  I realized I needed to do better with giving too much of myself to things and people that no longer mattered.  The reality of this needed change just seeped in and pushed itself to the forefront of my life, when my mother's came to an end.  Her death was not in vain.

For years, I thought I needed to be in a relationship to make me feel whole, I thought I needed to have a lot of friends and this simply was because I was never truly on my own.  I went from living at home with my parents and siblings, to living with my own family and as life continued, each child grew their wings and moved out on their own, leaving the nest I created for them.  But, that is the cycle of life.  It wasn't a difficult transition because I knew it would happen, it was being "alone" that was a bit daunting.  The word itself can be daunting, but what I've learned this past year about being on my own and the freedom it provides have been liberating!        

Alone + Freedom + Peace =  A magical combination that I have finally embraced!  My only regret is wishing I had made this connection sooner, but as they say, it's never too late.  Seeing how quickly my mother's life came to an end, it jolted me into my reality and how beautiful it truly is.  It's sad that tragedy forces us to focus on perspective, but like I said, my mother's death was not in vain. 

FREEDOM - JQ has arrived!!  In mid 2020, I made a decision to set goals and timelines to accomplish a few things that I thought I would never achieve.  2020 showed me that often times, less is more, so my 2021 goals have not seemed difficult to focus on thus far.  For the first time, in a long time, I feel so accomplished, disciplined, and focused.  I am seeing the progress and the weight that I removed has also helped my grieving process.  I know life will never be the same without my mother, but it doesn't mean life is going to be bad, just different.  Again, this is my perspective and how I am coping with the loss of my mother.  I am still here on this earth for a purpose and I just want to be around people that matter, people that I love, and people that reciprocate that love, peace, and kindness. 

Tomorrow, April 6th, is one year since I lost my mother and most days I am well.  There are those few days that I actually want to grab my phone and dial her, then I realize I can't.  Oh the sting that I feel when that happens.  I wish she could be here enjoying her great grandchildren with me, but that was not part of her journey.  It does make me sad that she is gone, but that sadness and reality of her untimely death snap me back into the fact that I am still here.  I still have the ability to be free, to love, to live, to give, and to hope for an even better tomorrow.  I simply just don't want to waste time anymore; I've done enough of that already.

This is how I live now and I am putting myself first unselfishly.  I have lived for everyone else for so long and it feels damn good to live for me, JQ again!  

Mami, I love and miss you dearly.  You did the best job you could with me and I will carry your sweet spirit in me and pray a part of you can live on through me.   

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