My Nicaragua Journal
This year I was able to go on 2 buying trips to NY for Corporate Skirts. This allowed me to spend time with Q in DC and L in NY, once in February over Fashion Weekend and once in September. I found the road trips exhilarating in my BMW 645ci on I95. It became a time to clear the head and plan for the future. C flew to the Magic fashion show in Los Vegas twice this year for Corporate Skirts. She liked the gambling glitz more than I did. And by doing shows on both coasts we were able to deal with a larger pick of venders. We were able to buy merchandise never before seen in Wilmington NC, giving Corporate Skirts a real fashion forward edge. Unfortunately our store's demographics was in a recession and sales were slow in building. To make extra money I wrote fashion makeovers articles for a local magazine. Seems I have a good eye for smoothing down the bulk plaguing different body types, and it was enjoyable writing about it. It was like helping caterpillars turn into butterflies.
Before
After
As mentioned above, my buying trips meant I was able to visit long time friends Q and L. By this time Q had graduated TarHeel blue and had done time in Honduras with the Peace Corps. He was now living in DC working for a Latino not-for-profit organization and bar-tending at night. His spanish had reached street value. Fluently aware. And his roaring 20s were in full swing. Visiting him was never boring. He's a magnificent cook and great company.
"I'm going surfing in Nicaragua in March. You want to go?" Q asked me on one of these buying trips.
"I can't because I'm going to Chicago to see Shaun. Can you go in May?" By now I was visiting Chicago twice a year to see my son. I loved Chicago. Shaun and I would walk around the city chatting, shopping, and eating. During the evenings he'd play his band's newest music or I'd go to one of his shows. Once we even went to a Cubs game.
"No, can't." Q replied, "I have a prior obligation that month. Too bad I can't afford two trips. I'm hooking Nicaragua in with my commitment to Honduras." Since the Peace Corps Q had been supporting a family living in a very small village nestled in the center of Honduras. Every year he went out to build something for them.
"Tell you what, while you're surfing Nicaragua scope it out for me. I'll go in May by myself if you think it'd be safe." I asked of him.
"Can do." he said. For the evening DC entertainment, Q and I strolled to his local bar where I'd get introduced to his latest friends. We'd spend the hours reminiscing and catching up on things.
Early the next morning Q toured me around the DC area on his scooter. Then we had breakfast at his favorite cafe'. After our "see ya's" I headed back onto I95 north to L's place. There I settled in for the NY fashion filled weekend. For the next two days I traveled the train to Grand Central and walked the Jarvis Center's Coterie show for hours doing business. L met me when the show was over and we cruised the NY streets looking at creative genres of art, be it books, music, paintings, or whatever the mood dictated. We ended the evening with dinner and drinks at his favorite watering hole. Monday morning L went to his job at Merck Pharmaceuticals where he was a chemist, while I headed home regenerated. I had put in some quality time with friends in two lively cities, and was now ready for the struggles associated with running my up-and-coming small business at home.
In May of 2009 I did travel to Nicaragua for what would be my last out of the country surf trip to date.
Nicaragua
Q was true to his word and spied out one good Nicaragua surf spot he figured I'd enjoy; Colorado. He got me so excited about it I went on the internet and made all my reservations. For the first time I was going to do a third-world surf trip by myself. I packed up two of my kneeboards and flew to Managua. Upon arrival I took a taxi through Rivas and on to Playa Gigante. There I settled in for a ten day stay at the Hotel Brio.
The first day Colorado was breaking a solid 6ft+. Since the divorce I hadn't traveled much and had grown accustomed to my local breaks. It'd been awhile since I surfed fast breaking crowded barrels. On day one I got my ass handed to me by the waves. After that session I rented a mountain bike and rode some trails around the little fishing village scoping out the place. There were no other places to surf within close walking distance so I went back to Colorado the next morning for round 2. After another bitch-slapping round I ventured about two miles north to a large point break I heard about and watched a couple of surfers get some really fun big rights. It was then that I decided I'd rent a boat and hit some point breaks. For the remainder of the trip, that was what I did.
I surfed good size Hongo Reef, Miramar, big Popoyo and Poneloya Beach, just to name a few places. Then I'd walk to Colorado and surf while the sun set. I had gained back my confidence and was now having a good time there. In the evenings I'd journal. This was the first trip I filled a journal up. I wrote like I was writing a long 10 day letter to C, it was complete with drawings, maps, and the story of when the village monkey played me like a tree. The local fishermen had a good laugh when the monkey tried to eat my hair. By the end of the trip I had an epiphany that writing was my dream. And that deep down I knew I had a one-hit wonder in my soul. The Real Life of a Kneeboarding Gidget. (I figured if the movie was made Scarlett Johansson could play me :) But in 2009 my life was moving in a different direction with Corporate Skirts, so my book would have to wait. In the mean time, I'd devour every aspect of the life I was living. By the end of my trip in May I voted Nicaragua my favorite place to go, (actually it started back in 1977 when Crag Peterson told me about the place and showed me pictures), and deep in my heart I pondered the year I would return to write my book.
All-and-all 2009 ended on a pretty good note. I was getting closer to my dearest friends, I had great destinations for brain clearing road trips, I was visiting my kids regularly, and I was in love. I had a business that was growing slowly but steadily, and I was healthy enough to still hang in some pretty big surf. The only drawback I was having was the draining of capitol. I was going broke fast.
Chicago
(C & I are somewhere Waldo)
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