The Conduct of Life: Emerson on Travel

Even though, I love to travel, I like to see old place that are new to me and revisit places that are old to me. I always try to remember Emerson's words about travel in "The Conduct of Life." See below. They really ground me because they basically say that putting so much appreciating and amazement into other countries' places is useless unless you have appreciation for your own country. Though it is often forgotten most of the places we live in the United States today were places lived in for hundreds of years by European settlers and even longer by Native people. We only get a very narrow, thin view of history of America before Europeans arrived and we very rarely get a view of history from French, Spanish or any other European settlers! So it's important to try to learn about these the United States by travelling her. Did you know that Tucson is  one of the longest continuously lived in place in the United States? 

Okay on to Emerson: 

I am not much an advocate for travelling, and I observe that men run away to other countries, because they are not good in their own, and run back to their own, because they pass for nothing in the new places. For the most part, only the light characters travel. Who are you that have no task to keep you at home? I have been quoted as saying captious things about travel; but I mean to do justice. I think, there is a restlessness in our people, which argues want of character. All educated Americans, first or last, go to Europe; -- perhaps, because it is their mental home, as the invalid habits of this country might suggest. An eminent teacher of girls said, "the idea of a girl's education, is, whatever qualifies them for going to Europe." Can we never extract this tape-worm of Europe from the brain of our countrymen? One sees very well what their fate must be. He that does not fill a place at home, cannot abroad. He only goes there to hide his insignificance in a larger crowd. You do not think you will find anything there which you have not seen at home? The stuff of all countries is just the same. Do you suppose, there is any country where they do not scald milkpans, and swaddle the infants, and burn the brushwood, and broil the fish? What is true anywhere is true everywhere. And let him go where he will, he can only find so much beauty or worth as he carries.

Of course, for some men, travel may be useful. Naturalists, discoverers, and sailors are born. Some men are made for couriers, exchangers, envoys, missionaries, bearers of despatches, as others are for farmers and working-men. And if the man is of a light and social turn, and Nature has aimed to make a legged and winged creature, framed for locomotion, we must follow her hint, and furnish him with that breeding which gives currency, as sedulously as with that which gives worth. But let us not be pedantic, but allow to travel its full effect. The boy grown up on the farm, which he has never left, is said in the country to have had _no chance_, and boys and men of that condition look upon work on a railroad, or drudgery in a city, as opportunity. Poor country boys of Vermont and Connecticut formerly owed what knowledge they had, to their peddling trips to the Southern States. California and the Pacific Coast is now the university of this class, as Virginia was in old times. `To have _some chance_' is their word. And the phrase `to know the world,' or to travel, is synonymous with all men's ideas of advantage and superiority. No doubt, to a man of sense, travel offers advantages. As many languages as he has, as many friends, as many arts and trades, so many times is he a man. A foreign country is a point of comparison, wherefrom to judge his own. One use of travel, is, to recommend the books and works of home; [we go to Europe to be Americanized;] and another, to find men. For, as Nature has put fruits apart in latitudes, a new fruit in every degree, so knowledge and fine moral quality she lodges in distant men. And thus, of the six or seven teachers whom each man wants among his contemporaries, it often happens, that one or two of them live on the other side of the world.

Moreover, there is in every constitution a certain solstice, when the stars stand still in our inward firmament, and when there is required some foreign force, some diversion or alterative to prevent stagnation. And, as a medical remedy, travel seems one of the best. Just as a man witnessing the admirable effect of ether to lull pain, and meditating on the contingencies of wounds, cancers, lockjaws, rejoices in Dr. Jackson's benign discovery, so a man who looks at Paris, at Naples, or at London, says, `If I should be driven from my own home, here, at least, my thoughts can be consoled by the most prodigal amusement and occupation which the human race in ages could contrive and accumulate.' [139-142]

Anyway, I think I probably kept too much of his words in there than needed to, but I really do like the words. Don't forget about your own home, don't raise an unknown place on a pedestal. Appreciate both, admire both and know that one is not better than the other. They are just different. 

Of course, I will still travel as I don't think I can get rid of that bug. However, I am thrilled to visit places in my country and in my state. 

Lynse Kae's Bachelorette Party

This weekend I am going to Vegas to have a blast at my friend's bachelorette party. She lives in Vegas so we are spending two nights their and it will a blast. I will try to post pictures and explain how it goes.

Meeting Mr. Sanders

I know that this does not have to do with worldly travel, but I wanted to post it anyway. I also want to say that I wrote this for my English class which was about British Children’s Authors. So I wrote this for educational purposes, I do not own or make any money for this. However, Perhaps it has inspired me to write some children’s books.

Meet Mr. Sanders

Here comes Pooh Bear back up from a morning spent sitting on the bank of a river. He had been thinking about how fireflies were not actually on fire nor did they spend time setting things on fire or putting fires out. This only led him to think of other things that flew.
Owl flew. He did so very well at it. Christopher Robin’s kite flew, and if not held onto, it would fly off without any regard to the people below and never come back. Also, and this was very important bees flew. This made Pooh think of what bees flew to.
They flew to honey. Hunny made Pooh think of lunch. Lunch made Pooh think that he could use some right about then. Pooh was just about to stand home, thinking of the lunch that awaited him at home, but just as he started to he stopped.
He heard something. It sounded like a little hum of something soft ringing. Pooh who was still thinking mostly about his honey was certain this sound was a small cry of: “Help! Help!” Pooh Bear did not know any bells that made the sound of help before. So, he was certain that the sound was not from an object as objects didn’t usually go about speaking.
He tried to think of what sort of creature would make a tinkling sound and a sound of help. Perhaps because Pooh was a bear with very little brain or perhaps because he was still thinking about lunch, Pooh decided that the sound must be coming from a bee. He had never heard a hunny bee or queen bee say help before but they certainly had made a humming noise before. Although, bees typically made a buzzing sort of humming noise and this was making the helping sort. “It must be a helping bee,” Pooh decided.
Before Pooh continue thinking about the helping bee, he heard the cry, “Help! Help!” Again. Then, from around the tree, came a small streak of glitter, like a snow flake falling. After that it flew right passed Pooh’s nose still crying, “Help! Help!” Then, right on passed him until the glitter was floating above the river. After the glitter stopped, Pooh looked back at the tree certain that a thing moving that fast, must be moving that fast, away from something else. Pooh did not see anything, at first, but a moment later an orange Tigger sprang from around the tree and bound to the riverbank. He stopped.
“Tigger?” Pooh followed his friend to the river’s edge. “Why are you chasing that helping bee?”
Tigger looked at Pooh in a curious sort of way and then back towards the helping bee. He looked back at Pooh. “That is no bee.”
“Well no not an ordinary bee, but it is a helping bee. And if you stop chasing it, it might help me to some hunny,” Pooh replied. He smacked his lips together and looked hungrily towards the helping bee.
“A bee?” Tigger asked looking very unsure. He was silent for a moment, then said, “It doesn’t look like a bee.”
“Well not a hunny bee,” Pooh explained. “But helping bees they look like people and wear dresses. See?”
Tigger stared at the bee for quite some time. Then he said softly, “I see.” He looked towards Pooh saying rather grimly. “Tigger’s don’t like hunny and they certainly don’t like helping bees.”
“I know.” Pooh remembered that Tigger’s did not like hunny. He still felt very certain that there was nothing wrong with honey at all, but Tigger was firm about his dislike. Pooh was certain that if he had Tigger moving along that he would be able to talk to the helping bee and then he could have his hunny, but Pooh had never been very good at moving Tigger along. No one was particularly good at moving Tigger along though, not even Rabbit who was constantly trying to remove Tigger from his property.
“If,” Pooh began. “You like. I will take care of the helping bee, because I do like them.”
Tigger stood up straighter looking at the helping bee one last time. Then he nodded to Pooh. “Thanks Buddy-boy. I was on my way to Rabbit’s and now I am late.”
“Rabbit isn’t very fond of tardiness,” Pooh agreed. It never occurring to him that Rabbit probably was not expecting Tigger and his lack of presences was appreciated instead of missed. Pooh watched Tigger as he bound back up the bank of the river and around the same tree as he came.
After Tigger was a long time out of sight Pooh turned back to the bee. The bee was no longer flying over the river it was now flying near the end of Pooh’s nose. “Hello, bee,” Pooh said with a hint of mirth in his voice. This bee was obviously happy with Pooh’s assistance and ready to help Pooh to some hunny.
The bee, in a voice sounding very much like the tinkling of bells said, “I am not a bee.” The bee or the not-bee placed her hands on her hips.
She didn’t much look like a bee but instead looked more like a girl. Pooh had never met any girls, but Christopher Robin had told him that they look just like that. Only for some reason, Pooh thought that they would be bigger. He had just finished telling Tigger that this was an unusual sort of bee and now he was going to have to tell him that she was not in fact any sort of bee.
“I beg your pardon,” Pooh said to apologize. “If you are not a bee, then why were you saying, ‘Help! Help!’”
The not-bee relaxed dropping her hands from her hips. She pretended to sit; only there was no chair under her. “I was looking for a boy. He is supposed to be returning from Neverland, but you must understand that the new children are so much slower than he is. A bunch of slugs. Especially that wicked girl!”
“Was it you or another girl?” Pooh asked. He understood about Neverland and about the slugs but was not sure what she was meant about the girl.
The not-bee took offense to what Pooh said because she said something that he couldn’t quite understand and leaped out of her pretend chair to shake a fist at him. Then, at Pooh’s look of confusion, although he did not realize that he made such a look, she stopped shaking her fist. She took a step back in the air, instead of being right at the end of Pooh’s nose she was in front of Pooh. “Have you never seen a fairy?”
Pooh pondered this for a while before he determined that not only had he never seen a fairy he had never heard of a fairy either. So he asked. “How does one go about identifying a fairy if he happens to have seen one?”
This set the poor not-bee off, but this time she was said a lot that he could not understand. She was also flying around in mostly circles clearly upset.  Pooh watched her as she continued to express her great surprise.
He waited until she stopped flying around and stopped saying things he could not understand. Then she returned to looking at him and saying things he could understand, which was, “I am a fairy.” And, “You live in a fairy world; one of them, there has to be a fairy here somewhere.”
"I know I have never met you before, so I don't think I have met a fairy before." Pooh did not deny that the Hundred Acre Woods was a fairy world because he knew it to be true. Before she said so he didn't know but now he did. After all this was not England nor was it France, or any of the countries; it was something beyond. Pooh understood what she had meant as soon as she said that this world was a fairy world. What he did not know was why, if this was a fairy world, there was no fairy. Expect there was one fairy that Pooh had met and it was convenient because she was there with him right now. “Perhaps you are the world’s fairy.”
“Absolutely not!” The fairy was adamant even stomping a foot in the air and folding her arms over she chest. “I am Tinkerbell and my fairy world is Neverland, as I said before.”
“Oh yes you did say something like that. You were on your way and then you lost something?” Pooh said, trying to think of what exactly she had been saying before she started saying things that Pooh did not understand.
“Oh, Peter!” Tinkerbell jumped in the air as though she had just remembered herself. “Peter is a boy. He’s about so high,” Tinkerbell flew up a little and measured to about the height of Christopher Robin. “I saw him come down here, but I did not see him come out. Have you seen him?”
“No, but the best person to ask about this sort of thing would be Christopher Robin, only he is not supposed to come by until much later. So the next best person to ask is Rabbit. He keeps track of the comings and goings of people here,” Pooh explained. He pointed up the bank and towards the tree that Tigger had disappeared behind. “Perhaps we should go there together, you can ask about your boy and I can see about lunch, seeing as you are not a helping bee, so you cannot help me to some hunny.”
Tinkerbell looked at Pooh curiously. “All right, but before we do, perhaps you should introduce yourself.”
“Oh yes, I had forgotten.” Pooh replied sheepishly. He introduced himself and then they started up the bank. They went on their way to Rabbit’s. As they went along the path Tinkerbell explained to Pooh about the other children and the window. Pooh listened carefully to the story because it a very good story and he thought he might like to retell it some time. As she told the story she kept getting more and more worked up about Wendy and the things she did. Pooh had never met a girl, but he had never realized how monstrous they were. He would have to ask Christopher Robin if the girls he had met were, so ugly as Tinkerbell described.
When they arrived at Rabbit’s he was standing at his gate and muttering to himself that Tigger needed to be more careful. Rabbit’s garden was in complete disarray. There was carrots littered every where and the bird bath was tipped over. The flowers were trampled into the mud. Pooh didn’t take any notice, because Pooh was not one to keep a garden so he was not one to no when one was messed up. He did notice that Rabbit’s hunny pots were scatter on the ground with their contents spilling all over the place. Upon seeing that he said, “Oh.”
“Pooh!!” Rabbit cried with such panic that Tinkerbell stopped talking and looked around in worry. Pooh knew that it was just Rabbit’s way to get spooked when someone came up while he was muttering to himself so he was not worried by his friend’s reaction. “You can’t come in.”
“Well, I was going to join you for lunch, but I see that it has been spoiled.” Pooh gestured to the hunny.
“I have another jar inside,” Rabbit said and then covered his mouth quickly.
Pooh peaked up and carefully opened Rabbit’s gate. He laughed when he said, “Oh good.”
“Pooh Bear!” Tinkerbell called following after him.
“Oh,” Pooh remembered himself. He stopped on the way into Rabbit’s home. “Rabbit this is Tinkerbell. She’s a fairy.”
Rabbit looked to where Pooh gestured. He leaned closer to Tinkerbell and looked at her carefully. “A fairy?”
“Yes. Tinkerbell, this is Rabbit. He’s a Rabbit.” Pooh said, then satisfied with his explanation he started again to Rabbit’s door.
“Pleasure.” Tinkerbell said from behind Rabbit. “Pooh here was telling me that you would know if a boy had been around here lately.”
“A real fairy?!” Rabbit’s voice raised an octave and then he was through his front door before Pooh could reach it. Pooh followed him inside. Rabbit was looking through his bookshelf muttering again, but this time it sounded much more excited and a lot less frustrated.
Pooh helped himself to the kitchen and into Rabbit’s cupboard where he kept the hunny. Well where he usually kept the hunny. “Um, Rabbit you said you had hunny?”
“Yes, yes. It’s under the sink.” Rabbit muffled voice said.
“Oh thank you.” Pooh went to the sink. It was an unusual place to keep hunny, but Rabbit had kept his hunny in unusual places before. Rabbit had said before that he kept them in unusual places so that he had some left after Pooh came to visit. This Pooh took to mean that the hunny was left for him, if he happened to visit Rabbit for lunch two days in a row. Pooh found the jar of hunny and took it to Rabbit’s table. Then he sat down to eat.
“Ah ha! A Fairy.” Rabbit exclaimed. He placed the book on the table next to Pooh’s hunny jar and pointed. “Do you see? Do you see?”
Pooh looked at where Rabbit was pointed. There were a lot of words there, and Pooh didn’t know many of them. There was also a drawing of a fairy, only not exactly like Tinkerbell, this one was more the boy sort, because this fairy had boy sort of clothes. Pooh looked at Rabbit. “I see.”
“Exactly! This is it!” Rabbit exclaimed.
Before Pooh could ask what was it, since he was sure the part that was it, was the part that he could not read. Tinkerbell joined them at the table. Rabbit exclaimed again and then picked up an old, mostly empty jelly jar, and caught Tinkerbell inside closing the lid tight.
“Oh!” Tinkerbell exclaimed. She tried to push on the lid. “Help! Help!” She said again, only this time it was more muffled then when Pooh had heard it before at the river. She couldn’t push the lid off and after a minute of trying she started to shake her fist at Rabbit and say things that Pooh didn’t know again.
“Rabbit, I don’t think Tinkerbell likes that.” Pooh said around a bite of hunny.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full.” Rabbit scolded. He picked up the jar carefully and looked at Tinkerbell closely. “Christopher Robin is going to be so pleased.”
Pooh licked all the hunny from his paw and then looked at Rabbit. “She doesn’t like that.”
“What?” Rabbit looked up at Pooh. He looked surprised like he hadn’t realized that Pooh was in his house eating lunch. Then he recomposed himself and said: “I thought you said you see.”
“I did see, but I didn’t read.” Pooh explained not being embarrassed about that in the least.
Rabbit sighed. “Right you can’t read. I will tell you what it says.” Rabbit put the jelly jar on the table above the book. Tinkerbell was inside and she had stopped speaking. She was now trying to get the jelly that dripped on her wings off her wings. She was also now at the bottom of the jar knee deep in the jelly.
“It says: ‘when the baby first, um…laughed, that it broke up and went skipping away and that’s how fairies first came.’” Rabbit pointed at the book but he didn’t point to a particular word when he read it. That was what Christopher Robin did and when he did that Pooh could see which words were the words he said, but Rabbit didn’t do that. So Pooh couldn’t tell exactly which words said that. “Then it says in this part that: ‘there should be a fairy for every boy and girl.’ Well now do you see?”
Pooh looked at the book again and then at Rabbit. Then he looked at the book. He thought that what the book said was very interesting, but he didn’t understand exactly why Rabbit had put Tinkerbell in the jar. After a moment Rabbit sighed again. “She is Christopher Robin’s fairy Pooh. Don’t you see now?”
“The book says that?” Pooh asked. He had a funny feeling about this. He was not quite why.
“Well, no, but have you ever seen a fairy? No. This is the first fairy we have seen and so this one must be Christopher Robins. Don’t you see boys are supposed to have a fairy of their own,” Rabbit explained. He was talking very fast and he seemed very excited about the fact that Tinkerbell was Christopher Robin’s fairy.
“Pooh, I have a boy,” Tinkerbell explained her voice was muffled by the jar. So that was why it took Pooh a moment before he remembered why he had a funny feeling before.
“Actually Rabbit, this fairy is looking for a boy…”
“For Christopher Robin no doubt. Do not worry Tinkerbell we will get you to Christopher Robin this afternoon.”
“I think she said his name was Peter or was it Wend…”
“Definitely not!” Tinkerbell cried before Pooh could finish.
“Then it was Peter.” Pooh looked at Rabbit. “That’s why we came to visit you. Do you know if there has been a boy around? A boy named Peter. He flies.” Pooh remembered that part of the story.
Rabbit looked at Pooh with a curious expression. “Pooh, are you saying that this fairy, told you this?”
“Yes.” Pooh looked at Rabbit back but he was not as curious. He just wanted to help this conversation along then he could get back to eating without the fear of talking with his mouth full. “She’s been telling you this too.”
“I don’t hear anything but bells,” Rabbit replied in a very disappointed tone.
“I hear the bells tinkling too, but that’s just how she speaks.” Pooh explained. He really didn’t know the mechanics of it, but Kanga always spoke in such a high toned voice and Piglet was always stuttering so he didn’t know how this was any different.
“Very well.” Rabbit said lifting the jar and removing the lid. Then he helped Tinkerbell out. “Tell her I’m sorry.”
“I heard him.” Tinkerbell said shucking the jelly in her shoe off onto Rabbit’s book. So Pooh said nothing and he finished his hunny.

2

After lunch, Rabbit, Pooh and Tinkerbell went back to Rabbit’s garden and Pooh explained to Rabbit as Tinkerbell explained to Pooh, again about what she was doing there, and what Peter looked like. Rabbit said that he had not see a boy like that, but he would ask his relations, because he had so many of them and if Peter was around one of them would have seen him.
So Rabbit went off to talk to his relations saying that he would meet them by the river shortly.
Tinkerbell was using the river to remove the sticky remains of the jelly. Pooh sat and thought.
Rabbit had told him that every boy had a fairy, so Christopher Robin must have a fairy too; only none of them had ever seen a fairy before that day. Tinkerbell was not Christopher Robin’s fairy, but a boy name Peter’s. So it had to be a different fairy that was Christopher Robin’s. This was a fairy world, like Tinkerbell had stated, and she had also been surprised to find that even though it was a fairy world that there was no fairy. So, want did that all mean. Pooh sat down on the ground and thought about this for some time.
He was distracted when a brood of cygnet followed their father into the river. One of the baby swans stopped at the edge and sat by Tinklebell. They were talking, but Pooh was too far to hear what they were saying. A few minutes passed before Tinkerbell came back around and said to Pooh.
“Tinkerbell, I think I need to ask you something. About boys and fairies.”
“I think you do, too.” Tinkerbell agreed. She sat down on a wild flower and looked at Pooh softly.
“Do boys have boy fairies and girls have girl fairies?” Pooh began because he thought this would help him decide what sort of question he needed to ask.
“Usually, but not always, most fairy worlds have more than one fairy you know?” Tinkerbell explained. “That is why this place is so peculiar. Not one single fairy, yet you have a boy that visits quite often. The swan told me.”
Pooh nodded. “That would be Christopher Robin. He comes often.”
“Well, every child may have a fairy, but mostly they do not meet. There is a story that a long time ago that there was no fairy worlds and no ordinary world. They were all just one world. But then, the first child said: ‘I don’t believe in fairies’ and meant it. Then, the world’s started to split apart. So now there is one ordinary world and many fairy worlds, but not many people or fairies travel to and fro like I do or like Christopher Robin does. Even Peter would be no good at it if I was not around to help him.”
“Does he get lost often?” Pooh asked.
“Oh no, that’s not what I meant by help. You see Neverland can only be reached if one flies and if one knows how to get there. I know how to do both. Peter often forgets one or the other. So I have to make sure he doesn’t. I just say Peter don’t you remember you can fly or Peter don’t you remember where to go. Then he remembers, if he doesn’t remember as soon as he sees me.” Tinkerbell explained.
“So maybe Christopher Robin’s fairy is like your Peter?” Pooh asked.
“No, I doubt that. I believe that this fairy is probably around, because if a fairy forgot where his home was then he would just make a new home and the old home would just be ordinary, which this is not.” Tinkerbell was very good at explaining things Pooh realized and he knew now exactly what he needed to do. Tinkerbell smiled.
Before Pooh could declare his new knowledge, Rabbit met them at the river like he had said. He sat down in the grass next to Pooh. He was out of breath so both of Pooh and Tinkerbell waited for him. Then Rabbit stated: “Pan was here, but he was dispelled out of the Hundred Arce Woods, around the time you came to my house Pooh. He was sent off by Owl who said that he had a lovely conversation with the boy until Owl began to tell him a story about an adventure he had in some place called Wild Woods. Apparently, the boy thought it sounded like a great place to visit and flew straight up towards the sky and straight on…until morning.”
“That’s what Owl said?” Pooh asked since Rabbit couldn’t hear what Tinkerbell was saying, and Pooh couldn’t really understand what she was saying at that moment either. All he knew was now, she was really angry and flying in circles.
“That’s what my cousin said who saw the whole thing and heard Peter say, ‘until morning,’ so he thought it was worth repeating. And so did I,” Rabbit replied as he watched Tinkerbell. “I can understand that.” Rabbit blushed. “You better not talk to Owl. He won’t tell you the direction. He’ll just keep talking. You better just go on. Straight on to morning like I said.”
Pooh frowned unsure why Rabbit could understand that but he could not, but what he could understand Rabbit could not. Tinkerbell waved at them as she flew just the way Rabbit said, or at least that’s what Pooh thought. He wasn’t very good at directions himself.
Rabbit smiled when she was too far away to see and then stood up. “Well I feel good about helping, but I better get back to my garden.”
“Bye Rabbit.” Pooh said having forgotten all about his talk with Tinkerbell before Rabbit arrived.

3

Pooh continued to forget for the rest of the day and then he only remembered as he was relaying the adventure to Christopher Robin. Then he said, “Oh.”
“Oh?” Christopher Robin looked up from his place laying among the tall grass in the meadow. He had a large straw hat on today and some overalls. He had brought Pooh a hat too and Pooh was wearing his, but it kept getting in his eyes and Pooh had to pull it up over his ears. He didn’t say that he didn’t like it because Christopher Robin had said that it was to help keep the light out of his eyes. “Is that how the story ends.”
“Well, I told you the end already, at first, but then you said I should start at the beginning so I went back.” Pooh explained.
“Right.” Christopher Robin continued to look at Pooh. “So what was the oh.”
“The oh, was that I remembered I had forgot something important after Tinkerbell left.” Pooh explained.
“I thought you might.” Christopher Robin replied. He sat up and this made Pooh happy because he could look at Christopher Robin better. “What was it?”
“You have a fairy too Christopher Robin and he somewhere here, right in this Hundred Arce Woods. Only none of us have ever seen him, so he must be stuck some place,” Pooh explained.
Christopher Robin smiled at Pooh. “You’re a good bear Pooh,” Christopher Robin said, “But he is not stuck.”
Upon hearing that he was a good bear Pooh was very happy so he was a little confused about the other thing that Christopher Robin had said. When he realized that Christopher Robin was talking about his fairy Pooh asked, “Do you know where he is?”
“Yes.” Christopher Robin stood up and he helped Pooh up. Then he took Pooh by the hand and lead Pooh all the way through the meadow then past the river and back to Pooh’s house. Pooh looked at his house and then he looked at Christopher Robin. “He lives here.”
“Here?” Pooh asked, because he was certain that he would have seen a fairy before yesterday if the fairy lived here with him.
Christopher Robin walked to Pooh’s door and then had to reach up, but not too high, but higher than Pooh’s door but under the sign above Pooh’s door that said: Mr. Sanders. Christopher Robin tapped his finger on the spot. It was not but a second that the spot Christopher Robin touched was opened up. It was just like a little door, and now that Pooh was looking, he could see that it was a little door, like his own door only little.
Then out of the door, a fairy came, Pooh knew what fairies looked like now. This looked just like the sort. The fairy looked like a boy only smaller with wings, but he was a more grown up sort of boy than Christopher Robin, but not as big as an adult. He wasn’t dress like Tinkerbell. He was dressed more like Christopher Robin. He wore shorts like Christopher Robin wore when he wanted to go wading in the river and he wore a long sleeved shirt but the sleeves were rolled up. He also wore a green cap.
“Come out.” Christopher Robin said then he stepped back. He turned to Pooh. “Pooh bear. I want you to meet James Thomas Sanders. James, this is Winnie-the-Pooh.”

LOG OF THE CRESTA BLANCA Continued…

 

9/23/83 (Friday)

Last night was beautifully calm and peaceful---a welcome change from Wednesday night. After a delicious breakfast of pancakes, prepared by the Captain, we took the dink over to the Peter Island Yacht Club, which is owned by Amway Corporation. It is a beautiful place with a swimming pool, tennis courts, and a bar along a lovely sparkling-white sandy beach. Would we pass a bar without having a drink??? Of course not!!! Arch was put in charge of buying drinks---since he had the money---all $12 of it. The Bartender informed us that five drinks would cost $13.50, but Arch did not let that deter him. He negotiated a deal with the barkeep, so everyone had a drink. (Actually, the Bartender decided that $12 was better than nothing.)

Now for the highlight of the day. The Captain took a bath (APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE!!!). We can’t determine if we shamed him into it or if it got to the point that he couldn’t stand himself. Nevertheless, the FOUR crew members we ecstatic.

Following a lunch of tuna salad sandwiches prepared by Sharon and Arch, we made passage across Sir Francis Drake Channel around Beef Island to Marina Cay. After securing the anchor, everyone bathed, including the Captain AGAIN (we must have really gotten to him). Afterwards, we motored in the dink over to the Marina Cay Yachtsman’s Bar and Restaurant, but it was closed so we took the dink over to the reef and after a thorough look-see returned to the boat. The major disappointment of this little expedition was that we had dressed for dinner*. (Dressed* – means clean shorts and shirt!)

We decided on chicken for dinner and Bill got busy making a delicious marinade. Sharon and Florence made potatoes and Arch was responsible for cutting up the Gouda cheese. He had a bit of a tough time---supposedly because we didn’t have a light on---or even set-up in the cockpit. He claimed he did lots of things well in the dark, but Gouda wasn’t one of them! Immediately thereafter, Captain Bill (hey, what happened with Captain Bleigh???) provided a light for the cockpit. To compliment the lovely chicken and mashed potatoes, we also had fresh pineapple prepared by Florence. To be truthful, the pineapple was more than slightly fermented, and if you could have heard Bill and Arch sing, you would think they had imbibed too much.

Our evening was topped of by witnessing the moon rising over Virgin Gorda and casting a beautiful shimmering (Ed/Note: Sharon, I know you wrote glimmering---my eyes now recall “shimmering”) light on the water---how beautiful!

9/24/83 (SATURDAY)

Marina Cay proved to be an excellent spot to anchor for the night. The Captain prepared a delicious breakfast of French Toast, which everyone thoroughly enjoyed. After relaxing on board (reading---listening to tapes) for the morning, we took the dink to a lovely beach area on Marina Cay. Florence, Arch and Sharon were dropped off at the dock by the beach and enjoyed a delightful swim and some snorkeling. Bill and Carrie took the dink over to a nearby reef and snorkeled. When they returned to the dock, everyone explored the Yachtman’s Bar and Restaurant along with the cottages and cabanas on the Cay. There, we discovered a watch dog in the body of a beautiful sable-point Siamese cat. She was certainly starving for attention and very loving. By this time, everyone was ready for lunch, and even Captain Bill agreed to eat HOT DOGS! After lunch the Captain and Arch took time off to meditate (sleep) and the girls relaxed in the cockpit with their books. Before long, Sharon decided she should meditate too (Zzzzzzzzz).

Following meditation, Arch and Bill felt a neighborly urge---and curiosity, they boarded our dink and visited the “Tumbleweed” (which was moored approximately 25 yards away from Cresta Blanca). There they met the owner, Fritz Seyfarth---who has lived in the Virgin Islands since 1966. After a very enlightening visit, Fritz was invited to join us aboard Cresta Blanca for cocktail hour. We learned that Fritz is an author, Petroleum Engineer (a former Aggie) and a most interesting and delightful person. Fritz brought along two copies of his book, “Tales of the Caribbean, A Feast of Islands”. He had autographed each copy and inclued a personal note in each; “May you always have dry bilges and a wet whistle”. We had a delightful visit, and among other stories Fritz told, the following was one of our favorites…There was a group of Texas Aggies on a yacht anchored at the Bitter End. This is one of the places in the BVI that you can unload your garbage. Well, the story goes that the “garbage vessel” was passing by and a sign on it read “Garbage – $1.50 Per Bag”. You guessed it---the Aggies bought four bags! Carrie, being from Texas, as is Fritz could really appreciate this tale.  Fritz declined our invitation to have dinner with us, but promised to return in the AM with another book---for Florence. The Captain was again the “Grommet Chef” for our evening meal and Sharon and Arch assisted. We had pork chops cooked in applesauce, with fresh pineapple chunks, a little Vermouth and rum. MMMmmmm---delicious. Our veggies were steamed carrots and whipped potatoes. Florence and Carrie were the clean-up crew.

Since we had not heard any news or weather for the day, Arch provided us with the following news bulletin (from the galley, with his hands being used as a megaphone).  “The Jews are crying at the Wailing Wall. The Government was over-thrown in Cuba and all the Cubans in Miami are returning to Cuba. The little black box from Korean Airlines Flight 7 has not been recovered”. You really had to be there for the full impact of the news report.

The moon was hidden by the overcast skies tonight, and when it did peek, through, it shown through a haze. Nonetheless, we could still catch the lovely glimmer on the water.

LOG OF THE CRESTA BLANCA

 

CREW:             BILL AND CARRIE SAEGART

       FLORENCE JOHN

      ARCH BASSETT

            SHARON WINGATE

PAT HORN

         DAVID SAEGART

                      DAVE AND DORIS GREER

9/21/83 (Wednesday)

Our day began at 5:00 AM. Early arrival of the Red Top Limo Service caught us unawares, but alas, Bill, Carrie, Arch and Sharon piled in for an uneventful trip to the Miami Airport. After checking our baggage we proceeded to the Miami International Hotel (right there in the Airport) where we were to meet our fifth crew member, Florence, who had flown in the night before from Tucson, AZ. We phoned Florence in her room---she was all set to go, so joined us promptly in the Hotel lobby. Bill checked Florence’s baggage in with the aid of a Sky Cap we hooked at top speed over to BVI Airlines for the next leg of our journey. Once there, we discovered that our 12:07 flight did not operate during this time of year and for that matter hadn’t done so for three months. (It is rather disconcerting to find out how many secrets the airlines keep from Travel Agents.) After a three-hour delay and a “delightful” lunch at the San Juan Airport the five of us---along with one other passenger boarded an 8-passenger plane to Beef Island. We were met at the Beef Island Airport by a CSY representative and were whisked away to the CSY Marina. (By the way, what language were the rep and his friend speaking??!) We arrived about 4:15 PM---too late for a briefing (which would allow us to take the boat out of the Yacht Harbor) so we were moored out in the cove at the Marina for overnight. After “Happy Hour”, Bill grilled hamburgers while Sharon prepared all the trimmings. After our evening chit-chat session, we all retired early---after a very long day.

 

9/22/83 (Thursday)

WHEW!!! What a night last night was! The wind was blowing from the NE and the swells were running from the SE. But did Arch let that bother him? Oh, NO! The more we rocked, the louder he snored. Carrie retreated to the cockpit to sleep (about 2:00 AM), but had to return to the cabin below because she was too cool. Sharon made it out to the cockpit next (about 3:00 AM) closely followed by Carrie (again) and Arch. This was our first discussion regarding mutiny---3:03 AM. However, as all crew were not present, we could not take a vote. Lucky for you Captain Bleigh!!! After a short while Carrie again returned to her cabin and Arch and Sharon decided to sleep on the cushions in the cockpit. Oh well, so much for THAT night.

After a wonderful breakfast of fried potatoes, sunny-side-up eggs and super coffee prepared by Captain Blegih (also known as Bill), we gathered extra provisions at the CSY Marian and were briefed on the operations of the boat and general rules and regulations. Thus began our day of adventure. Our first epic voyage was to take us across Sir Francis Drake Channel to Dead Chest Cay for snorkeling. As we got under way, Bill, Carrie and Arch were responsible for hoisting the sails while Sharon kept the boat heading directly into the wind. Florence was support for both operations. Out of NOWHERE came a sailboat---the Calami---tacking across from out starboard side. We were on a collision course. Of course, Sharon screamed “WHATDOIDO”!!! WHATDOIDO??? At this point the crew on the Calami sprung into action---bearing off and Arch took the helm of the Cresta Blanca. We later decided the Calami was playing “chicken” with us, apparently not realizing that our helmsman was inexperienced. After the sails were raised, Arch completed the voyage with no problems. When we anchored, we all boarded the dink for a chance to explore the reef in the cove. Florence and Sharon did not snorkel, but Carrie, Bill and Arch saw beautiful live Coral and a variety of fish---including the beautiful blue electric fish and parrot fish. After snorkeling came lunch---and guess what we had???---HOT DOGS! (The first of probably many times!) We next decided to motor over to Peter Island Cove and anchor for the night. While Carrie, Florence and Sharon bathed in the sea water with Prell, another sailboat pulled into the cove. The Captain approached us in his dink to inquire about anchorlines. During the course of the conversation, we discovered his name was Don Griffin and he was from High Point, NC. Also, he had attended Winthrop College in Rock Hill, SC, Sharon’s alma mater---small world, huh? Later, Arch bathed. Hmmmmm---that still leave one more (guess who!!!!).

Again, our Captain prepared a delicious dinner of charbroiled steaks and the ladies prepared salad and potatoes to go with them. Following dinner, the Captain awarded the first medal of the trip to Sharon for the “Valiant Service in the Face of Grave Danger”.

Originally written by: Bill Saegart

The Day Where the Lights were much too Bright!

Saturday, was the day after the wedding. I woke up around 8:30. The plan was that we would get up early, go to the Hot Springs outside of the city, and then go to the Pyramids, before going to visit Rae and Bill at their home. All of the family and most of the close friends were going to meet there so that Bill and Rae could show us Aurora, the art studios.

So I crawled out of bed and went downstairs to get breakfast. By this time I was sick of eggs so I had Tostada Francis (French Toast). It was very delicious!

I was nearly finished eating when Jim and Karen came downstairs. We went over the previous night and complained that the other three weren’t up yet!

Caitlin and Bre came down next. Caitlin was fine, but Briana came down with dark sunglasses on and she said, “It’s so bright in here.” It actually wasn’t very bright in there. The poor thing. We all laughed at her.

Melissa came downstairs next and asked us what the plan was. Oh Mom.

After everyone had breakfast, we gathered up our bathing suits and Luis called two taxis for us. It was then that we found out that the pyramids were on the opposite side of the city than the springs. So sad.

The hot springs had some pros and cons. The pros were that the place was beautiful, and the hot water really soothed my muscles! Too much dancing! The cons was that it was crowded in the pools, the pools were modern and not much different then the pools in our backyards at home, and there were way too many young children! Then there was ‘the cave’ a doom of rocks on top of a pool at the hot springs. The enclosed area made for extra warm hot springs, but the acoustics in the cave were poor.

When we first arrived it took us a while to figure out where the changing rooms were and where the locker rooms were. We spent a long time walking around. Caitlin and Bre did not appreciate this. Eventually we were successful!

After about two hours we had enough! I probably would have stayed longer, but I thought there was still a chance that we could see the pyramids.

Pictures at the Hot Springs. Oh Hangovers! 

After the hot springs we went back to San Miguel. We did a little recouping at lunch and we got ready to go to Rae and Bill's. My sister and mom were taking an extra long time to get ready so the rest of us left without them! Karen, Jim and I had taken the cab to Rae's house to drop of Carrie the night before. So Karen and I remembered that the gate was black, but I also remembered something about a red color, which turned out to be the color of the house. It was very easy to get to her house. We took the same street that the plaza is on and walked in the opposite direction. It is only a few blocks away. It took longer, because we didn't want to walk past the house.

When we arrived there were some people already there, but not too many so we gave ourselves a tour. The house is very cute, they also have a maid and gardener come during the week, lucky!

While there so many people asked how Briana was feeling, because of the prior night. Not good of course! I made her drink half of a monster in hopes that it would help. I had fresca minus the tequila! I wanted to look like I was drinking, but I didn't want to drink. The house was starting to get crowded so we sat in the backyard. It was so pretty and nice out that I wanted to be out there anyway. With all of the people coming into the house it was starting to get hot.

Below are two pictures of the yard.

After about thirty minutes, I started wondering out loud if Caitlin and Melissa were lost. They knew less about where the house was than we had. Directions aren't Melissa's strong suite! So we took turns checking the street for them. Eventually, Carrie wrangled them up. Then it wasn't long before the rest of the guests arrived. There was a moment when a cab was going to be called for some of the people that have trouble walking, but a few of the visitors had cars and were happy to bring those people.

 

Aurora was not far from the house maybe another few blocks. Carrie told me that the Aurora Factories, used to be the place that people made Muslim blankets and shawls, but the business fell when China started mass producing them for much cheaper. So now that factories were an art gallery. They still had some of the old weaving looms from before though.

 

I really liked all of the art. I was one of the first to arrive so I got to look at a bunch of the galleries as well as Rae and Bill's. I wish I had enough patience to be a great artist. I sometimes get an interest to paint or draw, but it doesn't last too long. About as long as it takes me to draw one piece, that isn't nearly enough practice to be great at it! 

 

Karen took a picture of me in a red phone booth! And she really liked a few of the paintings, but Jim said they didn't have any green, so they didn't buy any. 

 

After a while, I took Briana to sit outside at this little cafe, because it was hot in the galleries and I was a little depressed that I couldn't afford any of the paintings! We chatted a bit. Then, we decided we wanted some ice cream, but we didn't have any cash and they didn't take cards. So we went inside, to get that and Caitlin came back outside with us. We attempted to order our food in Spanish. Caitlin and I got smoothies and Briana got chocolate ice cream. I think it was the only part of the day that she wasn't extremely exhausted from the night before. 

 

Right when we brought the smoothies and ice cream, we found out that we were going to a ranch/hotel outside the city called Avers for dinner. Well shoot. Most of the people got put in a van for the ride there, but we took two taxis, we shared them with Bill, Lucas and Darren.

 

Here is some pictures at Aurora the first is a picture of clouds that Karen said she thought were really pretty. I took a picture of them, because she will probably want to remember them later. 

The Birds was very pretty. It reminded Caitlin and I a little of New Hampshire. Basically anything that is green with big trees and a lake or pond will remind me a little of New Hampshire. We were of a mixed group. Some of us didn't want too stay long because they were exhausted, some wanted to spend their last night eating jicama tacos, the rest of us didn't really care what we did. I was one of the latter. 

 

There was about 50 people all at table on a doc near the pond. The seven of us, including Carrie, were mostly on one end. Darren and Lucas, are taxi buddies, were also sitting near us. William's cousin was sitting beside Melissa. I'm not sure all of the people sitting next to Karen and Carrie however. I had two glasses of wine and ate ten quesadilla tapas! 

 

The night was fun. We ended up staying the entire dinner, even though the power went off, and it rained for a bit. Jim, Darren and Lucas were having an interesting discussion about physics and art! I tried to follow, but I was also listening to my Mom and Bill's cousin talk about what time we needed to get to the airport and about my Dad's health!

 

After dinner, we all returned to San Miguel in our cabs! We still had two bottles of wine from earlier in the trip and because it was our last night we decided to drink them. We were going to sit on the roof but it was too cold. So we sat in the common area. That was fun too. It was a good to talk and sit with everyone. We recanted the night before, and had a nice time. When the wine was gone Caitlin and Melissa went out to get those jicama tacos. 

 

I was full from the quesadillas and wine so I went and packed up what I could, and I got ready for bed. I was sad that we were leaving the next day, but the vacation was great, filled with adventure, humor, chaos and family! 

 

I don't think I will recant the trip back to Phoenix. However, Briana, Karen, Jim and Carrie stayed in San Miguel and extra day. I will try to interview them about what happened so that I can write a post about that.

 

Other than that, I think that the next post I will copy my grandfather's log. I also received a journal from his father, my great grandfather Ernest, of his trip through South America. I think I will see about adding those logs as well. In Ernest's journals I saw a few lists of his tour around South America. I think one day I would like to follow in that path on my our tour! 

 

My next trip is to New York and New Hampshire for an Emery Family Reunion, not the official one in Canada, just the immediate family one. I want to blog that, but it could prove to be tricky! After that I am going on a Mexican Cruise with three of my girlfriends. I don't know about the wifi, but I will keep a hard log of that to post after.

Friday Night - The Wedding

First, let me tell you about what happened before the wedding! It is normal for it to be very stressful when getting ready for a wedding. Let me tell you, after this, I probably won't be stressed out again, until my own wedding!

I took a shower first and then my mom. We were waiting for our hair to dry a little before we tried to style it. So I painted my toe nails, horribly! As I was plugging in the hair dryer, I noticed that the television went off. I asked my mom if she did it and she said nope that she thought I had. Then, it occurred to my mom. The power was out!! At first, we just sat there looking at each other. What a time for the power to go out! It better come on soon.

Before, I went downstairs to investigate, Caitlin yells from the bathroom. She asked us what we had done. The water was off too! She was in the middle of her shower and soapy! So, I went to investigate. Sure enough the rest of the B&B's power was out, but Luis our B&B manager, and by night star Peruvian drummer had stepped out for a bit. I knew the woman that cooked breakfast were around, I could hear them, but I didn't see them. I went upstairs after a while to let everyone know that the power was off in the entire place. After which my mom went to investigate. We found out later that it was a scheduled out for that part of the city for maintenance. A little warning next time!

Caitlin was still waiting in the shower. So I told her to use the water bottles by the sink in the bathroom. The water bottles were free, and at least she wouldn't be soapy. At first she resisted, hoping that the water would come back on. However, when my mom came up to tell us that the power wasn't on, but there was water in an empty room downstairs, Caitlin warmed up to the idea. I think she used a hand towel with the water from the bottles, because I used it later that night to wash my feet and it was still wet. I told her that it was her first sponge bath.

She came up with an idea while my mom was downstairs, in the other room. That we get dress and do all of our make up. Then we take what we absolutely need to do our hair to the venue and get ready there. It was a great idea. We would just go early! Although, it took a while to convince Mom to do so. We eventually left, with one straight iron, a blow dryer, mousse, hair spray, two brushes and a curling iron. I was really embarrassed because my hair was already starting to dry, and it was very ratty when I left the B&B. However, I think most of the people looking at me were wondering why I was dressed up so much so early in the afternoon (about 2).

We took a cab to the venue. There was no way that we could walk in our shoes because the streets are cobbled and it was more than a long walk. We'd basically walked there the day before when we went to the park and then to the Art Institute, so we knew it was too far in heels.

At the venue the bride was still getting ready, so the three of us used the bathrooms downstairs, the girls and the guys, to get ready. The guys bathroom didn't have a mirror, so Caitlin blew here her hair dry. My Mom used the mirror to finish her hair. She probably could have gone the night without styling her hair because it already looked good, but she has to be a mirror hog! I started my hair looking at what mirror I could. I eventually switched places with Caitlin and she with my mom. I used the towel dispenser as a mirror! She used the mirror to curl her hair.

At one point Briana had finished taking pictures of the groom's family and the bride's family wasn't ready. So she came and was able to help me with my hair. So in the end I didn't need a mirror. What an experience!

Anyway, after we were finished we brought all the hair gear up to where Rae was getting ready. They had opened a bottle of champagne which was great. I really needed a drink. So I had a half of a glass. Sadly, guest started to arrive early and Rae didn't want to be rude by taking family pictures with everyone waiting on them. So she said we could do them later, although it didn't happen in the end.

When she was finished we went back down to the main venue area. Rae had to go down a special set of staircases, but the rest of us took the normal way. There were so many people by that point. I think there were a few hundred there, and there were more coming in. The bar was already open, so Jim and I had a glass of white wine; Mom, Karen, and Caitlin had red. Then we mingled with everyone.

The great part was after the previous two nights we knew some of the people there! So we were able to talk to some people we knew and meet new people.

I also spent some of this time taking pictures of Briana, while she was taking pictures. I thought if she was taking the photos then there would be no photos of her! So I made it my mission to take pictures of her at the wedding. Because she was taking pictures I decided that taking pictures of her taking pictures would best reflect her experience.

After about twenty to forty minutes of mingling Karen let us know that the wedding planner wanted us to sit down--in hopes, that if the family took their seats that the ceremony would start. It didn't work at first (some of us even managed to get another class of red wine) but eventually it did. During the ceremony Karen, Jim and I took turns taking pictures with Carrie's camera. I was worried my hands were shaking too much at first. However, I think her camera takes better photos of people when they're moving than mine, because I got some great pictures in the end.

The ceremony was great. WILD Uncle Bill was tastefully funny and Rae was striking. The minister spoke in Spanish and English. This was good because many of the people there were from San Miguel and native Spanish speakers. It was also good for me to hear it in Spanish because I am trying to learn the language. I try to expose myself in many ways Although, I find it very difficult; I think sometimes the thought makes it even more difficult though!

The ceremony took place in on a sunlit platform inside of a pool. It was very cool. The flower girls, Williams' grandnieces, threw their flowers in the water! So pretty!

After the ceremony everyone went to this outdoor stadium thing. For a while everyone took turns getting delicious tacos, drinking and talking. I was in line for tacos three times, but I only ate four tacos, one time I was in line getting food for Carrie.

By that time Briana was able to relax more, so she had a glass of wine. Which, was the start of The Night that Caitlin and her Accomplices got Briana Drunk aka The Best Night Ever! Sometime between the tacos and before the puppets (More later) Karen found a drink that everyone liked. I thought it was like a Margarita. It was one part tequila, two parts fresca (sprite) and lime. I think by the end of the night the total was two for me, and about two dozen for Karen, Melissa, Caitlin and Briana. I only had two and then I switched to Victoria, a dark beer I like.

Right, so after most of the people were done eating tacos, although they stand was running all night, two giant fifteen foot puppets came on to this stage. One was in a wedding dress and the other in a tux. There was a person in each one, but they only controlled the legs. The rest of the puppets just moved on it's own. I have a few pictures of them because they are hard to explain.

I had never seen that at a wedding before, but Rae told me it was traditional. A good thing we noticed about them was that they kept people dancing on the dance floor! Now for an Emery dancing at a wedding is not a problem. If we are terrible at dancing, like I am, we will still dance! However, at many Emery weddings it doesn't take long to realize that we are sometimes the only people that like to dance. This was not the case for this wedding. Everyone was dancing.

Between dancing of course we were also talking with people and meeting new people. I meant one guy that was originally from Mexico, but is now from New York. He asked me where I was from and I said Arizona. He said, "Ew that's all desert not pretty." I didn't know what to say to that. At one point of the night he asked to take a picture of Caitlin and I because we were pretty. How encouraging!

Jim and Nigel exchanged email addresses because Katie's camera broke earlier in their trip while she was taking a picture of a photo call The Finale. They had were having trouble exchanging emails so I made Briana help her Dad. Mission Accomplished!

There was also a photo booth inside where people could put on different costumes and take pictures. We took around six. I made everyone do a picture where we were turned around and wearing glasses and masks over the back of our heads. I think Rae should use that one for the family wedding photo!

During the dancing people were able to give a toast to the bride and groom. For a while it was mostly William's family talking. They out numbered us. Besides we left our toast-giver in Phoenix! Eventually however, Melissa and Karen coerced Caitlin to give a speech. She didn't know what to say at first, but Darren helped her out by giving her some lines to string her along. I think that helped her organize her thoughts!

The speech turned out well. Caitlin made some jokes about William and his family. She then wished them happiness. She didn't let the speech linger when she couldn't think of something else to say which left no awkward pauses!

After the speeches, the was cake, chocolate covered strawberries and fireworks! Amazing!

Then we were told that Rae and Bill wanted us to get people to start heading to VCs. That was easy enough. We rounded up a few people. Then, I put Karen, Melissa, Briana and Jim in the first cab. Apparently, they had a very loud car right that included many lols, lmaos and rofls. Did you know that Melissa and Briana are the same person? Not twins, oh no. They are the same person.

Caitlin, Carrie and I took the second cab to VC. A very quiet peaceful ride. I think we were talking about how drunk the people in the first cab were. I paid for both cabs. Sadly, though I only had a 100 pesos a 20 and a 50. I gave Karen my 50. The taxis were 30 and our guy didn't have change. It was a hassle trying to explain to Karen that I needed my change back. What was even more of a hassle was that Jim was shaking these heart maracas in front of the cab driver's windshield like he was preforming a ceremony to rid the cab of spirits! Huzzah for wizard Jim!

Finally, the cab was paid and we went inside. Caitlin and I went to get shots of tequila. I didn't want one, but she convinced me to get six for the table which we split. 

While there we met Trent, who is originally from Las Vegas and is sort of a PR guy for the VC. He spent most of the night dancing with various women in the club. He danced with Caitlin, Briana and I at different times of the night. He did a salsa dance. I spent most of that dance thanking Jen Jones' brother for dancing with me during Desiree's birthday. If it wasn't for that night I wouldn't have a clue on what to do, but because of that night I was able to get through the dance with only messing up once or twice. I even managed to loosen up and get in to the two step part! Also, just so I never forget I did this salsa dance to the song YMCA! I think that's badass! Caitlin is a much better dancer than I am so I bet she picked up the steps quickly, if she didn't already know them. 

When the shots came, I ended up not taking mine. I just wasn't in the mood for tequila. I was having too much fun watching other people get drunk! Carrie, Karen, Caitlin and Briana all had the first shot. Caitlin taught them out to lick, shoot, and suck. This is why Caitlin's name is in the title of the night while the rest of us are only accomplices.

Then we danced more. Lots more. Briana couldn't stop dancing! Dancing all over the place. On the stage, with the band, on the dance floor with strange hippy like woman, I'm not sure they were part of the wedding group, with Lucas, Katie and anyone else that was willing to dance with her. I taught her the fireman, but she didn't dance like that! She mostly danced about waving her arms around. She was very good actually at dancing, but you could tell she was very silly. She also danced with her Dad which was very sweet. She is the better dancer! I also, was trying to keep an eye on Caitlin who was being very nice to Lucas. He wanted to dance with her all night, up close, so I had to intervene more than a few times. He must think I have terrible manners and do not take hints very well.

It wasn't long before I took my shoes off to dance. It was risky because people did step on you, and the floor sometimes had weird metal things, maybe for plugs or stuff, that I stepped on, but it was worth it. Besides once the shoes were off putting them back on was pointless. They were already dirty and why make my shoes dirty! I made Briana take her shoes off too because she started dancing and stumbling too much! She protested when I took them off but once they were off she was back dancing around.

During the night, William played his harmonica which was very good! Karen took a video, but the sound didn't come out as well as it was live. There were also more speeches, and Caitlin and Briana took their second shot. This time it was Briana that was egging Caitlin on! The grasshopper learns well!

I left a little early with Karen, Jim and Carrie. I was having fun, but I knew we had plans in the morning so I wanted to get to bed. I didn't feel like I missed much. I found out however that Briana caught the bouquet! Uh-oh! She is my younger cousin by six years and she said that she isn't getting married until she's twenty-nine. I hope that doesn't mean I will be over thirty-five when I'm married. Does it count if I wasn't there to try to catch the bouquet? After that she danced the rest of the night with the bouquet. In the morning, I heard many people say that they were sure that she hit a few people with it while she was dancing. How sweet of her!

I think that was it!