Cayamo 2013

This time last week I was sitting on a small beach around Tortola, in the British Virgin Islands, with a drink called the "Painkiller" in hand. This said drink supposedly originated at a little bar on this beach, and was clearly the popular choice! It is a mixture of rum, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, and a generous amount of grated nutmeg on the top. And it was as delicious as it sounds. By the time I made it to this island, I had already enjoyed time with friends on an even smaller private island that only held about 60 of us, as well as, wandered around old forts and streets of San Juan. All of this was only part of the fun being had on the Cayamo cruise, which is basically a 6-day music festival on a cruise ship! There was plenty of spa time, sun time, boat drinks, and laughter. When my dear friend asked me if I would like to join her, I expected it would be a blast and a long overdue vacation. I was looking forward to the disconnect from all of the everyday distractions that are no longer in the way when you sail out of range of cell towers. And, I expected the renewal that 7-days spent relaxing and having fun can bring. What I didn't expect was the deep renewal that all of the music would throw into the mix. This dawned on me one night spent rocking along with the boat and the waves, while listening to one of my favorite musicians sing one of my favorite sad songs that he does so well. Any music lover knows it is good for the soul, but trapping yourself on a boat filled with it can make your soul expand and heal in ways you might never realize. It was a great trip filled with time to form closer friendships with people that were already in my life, and to meet some great new friends! That week filled with so much warmth might just get me through the rest of this winter!