GOSSIP FROM THE GIRLFRIEND GATHERINGS

Learning from YOU to empower ME !

SisterGirlfriend Adventures in Punta Cana

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“It’s OK, SisterGirlfriend.  No one here really knows you.”

 

This statement was the official motto for the 4th Annual SisterGirlfriend Meetup in July 2017 in Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic where ten women joined to enjoy some free-spirited fun on the Caribbean beach in the sun.

Most of the women that attended were well-seasoned, global escorted-tour travelers but had not tried the lazing on the Caribbean resort vacation experience.  For me, I had traveled to Punta Cana back in 2003 and was curious to see how it had evolved since that time.  So, there was a thread of excitement among us about traveling to the Dominican Republic.

The Resort Experience

Our resort, Majestic Elegance, had that WOW factor that we desired for our sun and beach vacation.    It had an impressive lobby, eight restaurants, and multiple luxurious concierge areas with a full-service deli to munch from while you checked email.  There were beautifully well-flowered grounds with swaying palm trees and a magnificent ocean view.

Upon arrival, our group was whisked away to a private check-in area after we relinquished our bags.   We lounged in this private area eating great food and sipping marvelous drinks while the reception staff checked us into our rooms.

Soon, we met the personal butler for our group, Eriksson.  He gave us a tour of the property and escorted each one of us to our rooms arranging for our bags to be delivered.   Eriksson provided fantastic service for us.   He made dinner reservations for our group; he lit incense in our rooms, sent extras to our rooms, and handled everything we needed.

Accommodations

Most of us had swim-up rooms with patios.   It was wonderful.    I’ll let the pictures speak about those.

The Food 

Here is the most important thing I can say about the food. I ate cake every day.   At the seafood restaurant on the beach, they made an incredible, different, cake every day for lunch.   Judy and I ate it daily.   We also ate Caribbean lobster, steaks, Japanese food, Italian food…anything and everything.   You did not get bored with the food as it was a variety and well-seasoned.   Another favorite was a drink called “The Majestic” which was like a melted dreamsicle with rum.   The second favorite was Mimosas which is how we started our day every morning at our group breakfast.

SisterGirlfriends Keeping Busy

So, how did ten women keep busy for seven days on a beach resort?   Let me count the ways for you.

Activities on the Resort

  • Aqua Aerobics in the Resort Pool
  • Salsa, Merengue, and Bachata dance classes
  • Daily Pool Party in our private pool near our rooms
  • Conversational Spanish class
  • Local Shopping
  • Sand-watching/Relaxing/ChitChatting under a Cabana on the beach
  • Afternoon SisterGirlfriend “Chat” Sessions in the resort open lounge area

There were many other activities that we did not experience because we simply ran out of time.

Excursions (Viator)

We did add a mix of adventure in our trip with a couple of great excursions.

  • Punta Cana Party Catamaran Cruise (Thomstours S.R.L) – This tour was a blast. We sailed out on a catamaran for a dip in the ocean, to swim with the stingrays and docile sharks, while dancing to tropical music.
  • Higuey Cultural Tour from Punta Cana (by Sol Cana Tours) – This tour was very informative as we learned about the culture and economics of the Dominican Republic. We visited one of the oldest Catholic churches in the Americas.  Even though the church was moved to another site in more modern times, the original one, which was built in the 1500s is still open for worship.   The altar still has the original mahogany wood and tiles.  Antonio was an excellent tour guide, and his passion for informing tourists about his country was evident on this tour.

There were many other activities that we did not experience because we simply ran out of time.

Nightly Entertainment

What I loved about this resort was there was a different flavor of after-dinner nightly entertainment.  There was live music on the plaza and a live show in the large open theatre on the property.   Each night there was a different theme for the show in the theatre.   There was a rock show, a Michael Jackson show, a Circus show, a rendition of Broadway musical show and a karaoke show.   I volunteered Judy as our lead singer for karaoke because she is an excellent singer.   I told the others she had sung to her husband-to-be while walking down the aisle at her wedding and they were thoroughly impressed.  We became excited about the performance, selected our song, and practiced our steps.  Judy led our group in “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” while four of us backed her up as the Lady Temps.    The audience loved it and gave us high-fives.   The next day Judy was approached by a professional singer who was vacationing there and asked if she ever considered a singing career.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall, we absolutely LOVED our Punta Cana experience.   I HIGHLY recommend the Majestic Elegance Resort to anyone who plans to visit there.   It has been almost a month, and we are still reveling in our stay there.   I try hard not to compare my vacation experiences, but I have to state that this was the BEST SisterGirlfriend MeetUp yet.

Happy 4th of July, America!

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While we are celebrating our nation’s 241st birthday with our families in our traditional ways, let us not forget the principles that our founding fathers adopted when they grasped freedom from the tyranny of the greatest power on earth in 1776.  Now, during our present time, our democracy is being challenged from within itself.  We must hold fast to those principles and to the bravery they exhibited all those years ago.

Love Story Starter #2

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Here is the story starter sentence:

The line on her ring finger betrayed her and she feared he would leave. He smiled and slid onto the stool next to her.

Here is LOVE STORY STARTER #2

The line on her ring finger betrayed her, and she feared he would leave. He smiled and slid onto the stool next to her.  Delilah was a little surprised, but perhaps she should not have been.  It was the age of the 50% divorce rate, and the ring finger line was now just as normal as apple pie.  Everyone said being divorced was no longer a label to feel disgraced about so she was determined to find a way to not feel like such a failure.   Ready, willing, and liberated. Tonight may be the first attempt in that direction.

Delilah glanced at his left hand and noticed there was a ring. She was surprised again because she knew he had no reason to wear it anymore.   Even though this night was about her and the pursuit of her desires, she paused for a moment to consider if she had made a wise choice in traveling down memory lane.

“You came,”  Delilah said.  She made direct eye contact with him.

“Yeah, I had to,”  Wilt said.

He looked around the bar and motioned to the bartender. The bartender came over and Wilt ordered a scotch.   He turned to her again with that half-smile that had captured Delilah’s heart more than ten years ago.

“It’s been a while,”  Wilt said.

“Yes, a very long while,” Delilah said.

“So, how have you been?”  He asked.

“Better.  Now.   You?”

Delilah watched as Wilt glanced down at his ring finger before he answered.

“Life had been good up until last year.”   He said.

“I know,”  Delilah said.  “I heard about Beverly.”

Delilah watched as Wilt twisted his band around his ring finger.

“Yeah, it was rough,”   Wilt said.

“It didn’t have to be,”   Delilah said.   She reached over and covered his hands.

The bartender arrived with Wilt’s scotch.   Delilah picked up her Long Island Iced Tea and proposed a toast.

“Here’s to reunions,” she said.

They tapped their glasses together and sipped their own drinks. Wilt put his glass down on the bar and made direct eye contact with Delilah.

“So, tell me, Delilah, why am I here?”  Wilt asked.

Delilah picked up her drink again and drained it.   She motioned to the bartender to bring her another one.

“Simple.  I want you. Again.”  Delilah said.

She reached into her purse, grabbed her room key, and slid it next to his drink on the bar.

Wilt looked at the key and picked up his drink.

“Really?” he asked.  “After what happened between us?”

Delilah laughed as she took the drink the bartender offered.

“Because of what happened between us.”

“Yeah.” Wilt replied as he pushed the room key back towards Delilah.  “That was something.”

Love Story Starter #1

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Here is the story starter sentence:

She felt as though she had just been given a death sentence as he slipped the ring on her finger.

Here is LOVE STORY STARTER #1

Pastor Henderson’s voice came toward me like water rushing through a tunnel.    I gulped down the knot of dread in my throat when Max lifted my hand.  He started repeating the words after Pastor Henderson.  I felt as though I had just been given a death sentence as he slipped the ring on my finger.    I closed my eyes for a moment to allow another face, another smile into my thoughts but Max squeezed my hand and snapped me back.  I knew I had to give my full attention to Pastor Henderson now.   I focused long enough to get through my wedding vows without a stumble.  Later, I posed in front of the altar for a photo shoot with my best friend and maid of honor.

“Are you okay?” Sandra asked

“Yes.” I said, holding onto my smile for the photographer’s camera.

“I wish you hadn’t done this.”   Sandra said.

Her words pushed me out of the pose, and I gave the photographer the time-out signal.  I turned to Sandra taking her hand and led her away into the dressing room locking the door behind us.   I walked across the room to the full-length mirror on the wall and stood in front of it to see if I still appeared the happy bride.   From the mirror, I saw the disappointment in Sandra’s eyes as she watched me.

“Look, you of all people know why I did this.”  I said.

“No, I don’t.”  Sandra said.

“I can’t do it alone.”

“You have resources and support.”

“I don’t want to do it alone.”

“You could have raised your child without this farce.”  Sandra said.  “I’m doing it.”

“But, I’m not you.”  I said.   “I don’t want to raise mine alone.”

“His father was willing to make a family.”

“Yes, but I didn’t want to marry him.” I said.  “He was just a fling.”

“Isn’t that what Max is really?  A fling?  An escape from the one you want but can’t have?”  Sandra walked around and stood next to the mirror facing me.  “You know you don’t love him.”

I looked directly at her face and saw her tight lips.   I knew I could never make her understand.  I just don’t have her strength.

“Look, Max has been a good friend over the years.  He will be a good husband, and he adores my son.   That’s all that matters.”

“That’s what you say, now.”

“That’s what I know now.”

“Ok, I give up.” Sandra said.   She turned and walked toward the door yanking it open.   I walked passed her, and we both stepped out into the hallway.

“Here comes your husband now.” Sandra said.   I saw Max and the photographer coming our way.

Soon we were finally done with all of the posing and posturings.    We rushed to the reception. We walked into the captain’s ballroom to the applause of our guests, and all I could hope for was to keep my smile in place.   After standing in the reception line, dancing with Max and my Dad, my feet ached. I needed a breather.   A restroom break was the perfect excuse.  Even in my wedding dress, I was able to sneak outside and up to the promenade deck.   The health club/spa was dark, but the door to the lobby area was open and offered the refuge I needed.   I sat on the bench farthest away from the door so that I wouldn’t be seen by anyone taking a late night walk.

Sandra was right but so was Max.   There was no reason for me to raise Joey alone.   Max and I had been friends for a long time.  This friendship was a good start.   Wasn’t it?   I’ll learn to love him in time.  Won’t I?

The moonlight gleamed over the calm of the ocean beyond the ship. I wanted that peaceful feeling to embrace me now.

“Hey”.

I jumped at the sound of that voice and turned toward the door.

“Sorry.  I didn’t mean to scare you.”   A tall silhouette said and slipped in the doorway.

“Troy?”   I said.

“Yes”.

“You’re here?”

“Yes.” The tall silhouette said as he walked toward me opening his arms.

I stood up and glided right into his embrace.  Now I was calm again.