Just got back last night from ten days in Cape May, New Jersey. It's a beautiful old town at the very tip of the Jersey Shore. Fabulous beach. Lots of old restored Victorian architecture. Strict zoning codes to keep things nice. Lots of bed and breakfasts furnished with beautiful antiques. And the restaurants!! Geez I wish I could still eat! Something like 6 of the top 20 restaurants in New Jersey are in Cape May, and we ate at all of them, sometimes twice.
The weather was excellent when we got there, so we had several perfect beach days before Andy's family arrived. Then several more perfect beach days before my sister and niece arrived. Then two VERY rainy days while my sister and niece were there. They'd never been to Cape May with us before and we'd been trying to get them to come for years. And then it poured rain the whole time! Ratzafratz!
My migraines acted up the first couple days, and the fibro fatigue and aches slowed me down a bit, but Andy was super sweet about everything. He was so considerate and careful, reminding me not to overdo it, making sure I rested, urging me to be careful about what I ate. He just totally gets it about the fibro and the IBS at least 98% of the time. (Nobody's perfect!)
He got SO tan! He doesn't even try, the bum! He sits in his chair under an umbrella and reads or listens to his headphones, then every so often goes in for a swim (he likes to body surf the waves!). He uses sunscreen, especially on his cutiepie bald head, but he still gets this absolutely gorgeous flattering tan by the end of the vacation. It makes him so handsome and distinguished looking.
I gave up on sunbathing a while ago because I got tired of the shedding a week or two after I got home. Not peeling really, because I'm careful not to burn. Just a lot of sloughing off after a shower. So I don't sit in the sun anymore at all. And I use sun screen. I still get some sun just from walking to and from the beach and from the reflection off the sand and water, but nothing like Andy! But this year I overdid it a little two days ago. It was hazy so I tried to get some sun on my back, but of course when it's hazy you can't tell how much sun you're getting. I got more than my fibro is happy with! My back is all tingly, prickly, itchy, burny, way worse than is should be based on the amount of color I got. No fair! But I also made an effort to get some sun on my face the last day, which I never get because I have my nose buried in a book or magazine. And I got just the right amount, a healthy glow and just a little red on my nose.
So much for the suntan report.
Dinners were wonderful. I had my crabcake and my lobster. Also had lots of chicken and fish, all different ways. Had lots of fun dressing up for dinner each night. Shoot, I don't look too bad for an old broad! Now, I've always been self conscious about my looks, so don't think I'm bragging here -- I'm just giving myself a reality check in a healthy way: one night, I looked around the dining room of the restaurant we were at, which was very upscale. There were plenty of well-groomed, well-dressed, well-coiffed women there, both older and younger. In the past I would have been comparing myself unfavorably to all of them and felt ugly and frumpy. Now I can finally see myself the way I really am. And ya know what, girlfriends? Damn, if I wasn't close to being the best looking woman in that damn restaurant!! How's that for healthy self-esteem!! And wow, what a change that is for me.
Well, I may not have been intimidated by those women, but I sure was by my baby sister. I have no idea what I did or said that she didn't like, but ouch! It was not a good visit. She looks absolutely terrific now that she's got her health back. But she sure seemed mad at the world, or maybe just at me. I know big sisters can push their little sisters' buttons real easy, but I sure didn't do it intentionally. Oh, well, I'm sure it will blow over. It happened once before about ten years ago. I sure hope so, cause she's my one and only sweet sis, and I love her, prickles and all.
What else? The trip home yesterday was tiring. The last hour we hit traffic and I was SO ready to get out of the darn car. Did some unpacking and fell asleep almost before my head hit the pillow. It's SO GREAT to be back home, I never want to leave again. (Unfortunately, we've already booked a trip to Michigan to see my mom over Labor Day. I don't wanna go. Wah. I hates fibro.)
I'll post a couple vacation pictures shortly.
Love and kisses!
--------------------
Laura
Keep it simple!
Edited by LauraSue (07/31/04 10:25 AM)
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LauraSue's Excellent Vacation!! And More Pictures!!
