Well this is a first for me - after months of planning and building of adventure excitement - my trip to Belize was wiped out by Hurricane Ike, due to my connecting flight out of Houston. At first it looked only like a one day delay, moving my departure from Saturday to Sunday. Plus the flight previously leaving at the crack of dawn in San Diego on Saturday was now leaving Los Angeles at the same crack. Hence the trains in the subject...see below.
This trip was now turning into one of those songs or a movie title, as the trip to Belize already included 'Leaving on a Jet Plane", to Belize City, then a puddle jumper to San Pedro, and what I was looking forward to most the boat ride to the resort in Ambergris Cay, the only way to get to the resort. So with the impending flight out of Los Angeles, I added a "Midnight train to..." Los Angeles.
Saturday I was on Hurricane Ike watch and since I don't own a television all of my information is coming through the news on the internet. Normally I stay away from this stuff, but here I am glued to the laptop screen like a junkie. Right after I decide how to get Los Angeles without spending an arm and leg, or troubling friends/family for a ride (train) - I see the report out of Los Angeles regarding the fatal train wreck. And so the little voices start..."Is this a sign? "Signs, signs, everywhere are signs...". Am I being tested on how badly I want to take this trip? "Should I stay or should I go?"
Suffice it to say there is also plenty of good old Catholic guilt chatter weighing in and surging moments of compassion and empathy for the people in the path and wake of Ike. And now add to that the death toll of the Los Angeles train wreck. Sending thoughts and prayers to all, always.
And so...Ike has made my decision for me. The airport in Houston is closed until at least Tuesday, the dream trip to Belize is over. Madonna's song "La Isla Bonita" that has been swirling through my head over the past few months, "I fell in love with San Pedro....tropical the island breeze, all of nature wild and free, this is where I long to be..." fades to only a whisper.
