Isla Mujeres

Author © Scott D. Zachary

       Bobbie and I had decided years before that whenever we traveled for a week or more on vacation, it would only be to go on a Christian mission. Our missions had been far better—in every way—than any self-indulgent vacation could ever be. They were much more fulfilling, and when it comes to adventure, our missions to Nicaragua and Honduras were beyond comparison. When I throw in the fact that our missions had each benefitted thousands of sincere, hardworking poor people in those countries, who could blame us.

       In January 2019—after nine overseas missions for me and six for Bobbie—we decided to make an exception for our second fifth anniversary. No, that wasn’t a typo. It really would be mine and Bobbie’s second fifth wedding anniversary on October 25, 2019. When we celebrate our eighth anniversary, that will be our first eighth. Yes, we were married for seven years in our first marriage. We needed a little practice before we got it right.

       With nine months to go, we booked our flights to Cancun, and we reserved an all-inclusive Platinum Suite at the Privilege Aluxes resort on the island of Isla Mujeres, Mexico. Bobbie’s boss, Mark, had highly recommended it. In fact, he and his wife had vacationed there for nineteen years in a row.

       Still ambivalent, I debated back and forth about spending so much money purely for ourselves. In May, I jotted on a sticky note telling myself to cancel our trip to Mexico. I never did act on it, though. I tossed that sticky note in the trash in August. After reading the following review that I posted to TripAdvisor, you might decipher why I am glad that I didn’t cancel our Mexican vacation:

I’ve stayed at five-star resorts all around the world. Privilege Aluxes on the island of Isla Mujeres, Mexico, tops them all in every manner. The entire staff made us feel like royalty. We felt as though there was nothing in the world they would rather do than serve us happiness, and they succeeded beyond our hearts’ delight!

Jesús, who checked us in, graciously made us feel like we owned the place. Rosa, the sweet lady who thoroughly cleaned our rooms, made us feel like we were at home. Rossana, the keen-to-please manager of the massage spa, introduced us to two angels: Amy and Jennifer. I consider myself a connoisseur of massages, and Amy took me all the way to heaven! My wife said the same of Jennifer.

Our fifth-floor, two-story condominium included a private infinity pool and a four-poster canopy bed for sunning and relaxing on the rooftop. Top that! Okay, our view of the Caribbean was spectacular in all directions. When we walked into our Platinum Suite, we were greeted by the most beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers and an iced-down bottle of champagne. Rather than spell it all out, I would describe our accommodations with one word: palatial.

The facilities at Privilege Aluxes are a dreamland, exquisitely landscaped with palm trees, philodendrons, crotons, and flowering shrubs. The only difficulty we had was deciding whether we would relax on their beautiful beachfront or at the fabulously designed pool. All the bartenders and waiters at the beach and pool were Johnny-on-the-spot with a big happy smile!

There are over 200 restaurants on the island, and my wife’s boss recommended one of them. We were so extremely pleased with the four restaurants at Privilege Aluxes that we never got around to trying her boss’s favorite. My wife and I were celebrating our fifth anniversary at the resort’s five-star Satay Restaurant. The head waiters, Misael and Wendy, went all-out to make our celebration perfect. They dressed our table with rose petals, and Madai served us a special dessert decorated with “Feliz Aniversario!”

I could write a book about our fabulous adventure at Privilege Aluxes, and it would all be superlative! The price for our six-night, all-inclusive vacation was very reasonable.

¡Muchas gracias por todo!

Scott & Bobbie Zachary

       We had a blast! However, none of that spells out why I’m so elated that we went to Isla Mujeres. I’ll give you an overture. That Thursday morning after the rain shower, Bobbie and I were walking past the massage spa on our way to the resort’s beach buffet. Rossana, the massage spa’s manager, stopped us and introduced herself. I told her that we weren’t interested in having a massage. I didn’t tell her that it was because their prices were nearly double the price of the one-hour massage that I’d had the day before on the beach. I also didn’t tell her that I had another one-hour massage booked on the beach for the next day.

       “May I show you the room where you and your wife would receive your massages if you decide to do so?” asked Rossana.

       “Sure.” I didn’t see what that would hurt.

       Rossana led us into a room where there were two parallel beds. “You can have drinks during your massage,” she touted.

       “I don’t drink,” I said and fumbled through all my pockets looking for my ten-year Alcoholics Anonymous token. My cargo shorts had eight pockets, and I found it in the last pocket. I proudly showed it to her, saying, “I quit drinking ten years ago. The ‘X’ in the middle of the token is the Roman numeral for ten, which stands for ten years of sobriety.”

       “Congratulations!” After having watched me frustratedly rummage through all my pockets, Rossana suggested, “You should get a bezel made for that so you can wear it on a necklace. That way, you won’t lose it.”

       “I had no intention of getting a massage, Rossana, however your suggestion of having a bezel made for my AA token is such a good idea that I’m going to reward your ingenuity by booking a massage for Bobbie and me this afternoon.”

       We took a nap after lunch and returned to the massage spa. Before our massage, Bobbie and I spent a few minutes in the steam bath and the dry sauna, and then we showered. Rossana introduced us to our massage therapists, Amy and Jennifer. Wow, the next hour was pure heaven!

       After our massage, I was following Bobbie as we walked past the desk toward the showers when Rossana asked, “How was it?”

       I responded with the following in Spanish. “I couldn’t imagine anything better; however, the Bible says in First Corinthians, chapter 2, verse 9: ‘No mortal has seen, nor heard, nor imagined the wonders that God has prepared for those who love the Lord.’ ”

       Bobbie and I showered, dressed, and walked out to the desk. Rossana asked me, “So, you’re a Christian?”

       “Yes, ma’am. I am a Christian.”

       Rossana spilled her heart out to me over the next twenty minutes or so, sharing how she and her husband, Luis, had fought for years, and suddenly, he had begun to change dramatically for the better. Luis had even started coming to church with her. Rossana also told us about her brother, José, who was a pastor for a church in the Yucatan Peninsula. I asked Rossana for Pastor José’s email address so I could see about sending him some children’s Bible storybooks. Rossana told us that her brother’s church was in a very, very poor area, and anything we could do to help him and his congregation would be fantastic.

       On our way to take a casual stroll before dining at the resort’s Satay Restaurant that evening, I gave my bilingual Bible to Rossana to give to her husband, Luis. I wrote a note to Luis in the front of the Bible, sharing with him my favorite Bible scriptures and encouraging him to “Vaya con Dios” (Go with God).

       Three jewelers had set up a jewelry display along the expansive hotel sidewalk. Bobbie browsed and chose an inexpensive matching set of earrings, necklace, bracelet, and anklet made of polished lava rock and smokey quartz. I glanced over their two long tables of wares looking for a bezel. I found none. One of the jewelers, a young Mexican named Ivan, asked if he could show me anything.

       “I’ve already got the only jewelry I want.” Holding my wedding ring finger up for his inspection, “My stainless-steel wedding band inscribed with the Lord’s prayer in Spanish.”

       “Very nice.”

       “Cost me a whole buck—one dollar, that is. If you had a bezel for my ten-year Alcoholics Anonymous token, I’d be very interested, but I don’t see anything like that here.”

       One of the other jewelers, Gibron, overheard my comment and said, “We can make a bezel for you.”

       “We only have two hours to spare before we celebrate our wedding anniversary at the Satay.”

       “If you allow me to take a picture of your coin, I will send it to my jeweler, and he will deliver your brand-new silver bezel and necklace within two hours.”

       “I’d want solid jump rings.”

       “Your necklace will have them.”

       “How much?”

       “Twenty-eight hundred Pesos.”

       I calculated the exchange and said, “Deal.” I handed over my precious memento to Gibron.

       Ivan shook my hand. “Congratulations on your ten years of sobriety, my brother. I have three years clean and sober.” We hugged. Ivan began to share the remarkable story of his recovery sustained by his assured faith, and I unfolded mine. We danced in our reciprocal delight.

       Over dinner, Bobbie said, “You and Ivan were like two little kids who meet at the playground and become instant best friends.”

       I smiled grandly. “We are!”

       Bobbie focused on the shiny new bezel crowning my treasured ten-year AA token. “Your new friends did a great job on your bezel.”

       Looking down, I lifted my prize off the center of my chest and examined it closely, intensifying my gleaming smile. “As you well know, Honey Bunny, there are few people with whom I stay in contact for many years. I have a strong intuition that Ivan and I will be friends for billions of years and beyond.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

       While Bobbie and I were lounging by the hotel’s pool that Wednesday, Bobbie ordered a Mango Tango made with Captain Morgan Rum. The gracious waiter, Serge, turned to me. “Would you also like a Mango Tango, sir?”

       “Not me. I quit drinking over ten years ago.”

       “I can bring you a virgin Mango Tango.”

       “Okay.” Holding up my dukes, “What’s the Spanish word for ‘fight’?”

       “Romper.”

       “I’ll take a virgin Mango Tango, but if there is any alcohol in it, we’re going to ‘romper,’  buddy.” Shadowboxing, “Understand me?”

       Serge smiled. “Yes, sir! I understand clearly. I promise there will be no alcohol in your virgin.”

       I proceeded to have four virgins that afternoon and three more over mine and Bobbie’s spectacular anniversary dinner on Friday evening. I’m abundantly pleased with myself. I was surrounded by alcohol throughout our six-day getaway, and I wasn’t tempted in the slightest to partake. We had an iced-down bottle of champagne greet us as we entered our Platinum Suite. The kitchen counter in our condo was adorned with half-pint bottles of complimentary vodka, tequila, Jim Beam, and Bacardi rum. Our refrigerator was fully stocked with several brands of beer, including my old back-stabbing buddy, Corona. And, I was asked if I’d like a drink countless times. I triumphed over them all. But I wasn’t trying, though. I didn’t need to. I have ingrained the poisonous nature of alcohol in my marrow and stamped its delusional, destructive reality on my constitution.

       Before I go on to tell you about the primary reason why I am glad that we went to Mexico, I must tell you about the most peculiar aspect of our vacation: the cemetery outside our bedroom window! Yes, when we walked into the bedroom of our suite, I opened the curtain wide, and there it was: a grand cemetery! You might think that would be a little off-putting, but it added a whole nother dimension to our festivities. Especially since I welcome death. That might sound odd, but I do. My faith in God’s redemption has become so strong that I’m eager to experience the wonders that He has prepared for His children. Anyway, the colorful ornate cemetery reminded me of the above-ground ones in New Orleans with stylish architecture and decorations galore. It was a quaint reminder of my mortality and my immortality.

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       And finally, the real reason why I’m thrilled that Bobbie and I went to Isla Mujeres, Mexico, for our second fifth anniversary: Buctzotz. That’s not a typo, either. I chuckle every time I try to say “Buctzotz.” After we returned home, I corresponded with Rossana’s brother, Pastor José, in Buctzotz, Mexico, on the Yucatan Peninsula to find out how many people are in his congregation. He responded via email, saying: 35 damas, 25 varones, 25 jóvenes y 30 niños. (We communicated in Spanish because he doesn’t speak English.)

       Bobbie and I shipped the following to Pastor José from www.christianbook.com on November 11, 2019:

·  50 hardcover children’s Bible storybooks for the children (Biblia para Principiantes)

·  50 NVI leather-bound Adventure Bibles for the teenagers (Biblia Aventura)

·     15 giant letter NVI Bibles for those with poor eyesight

·        70 softcover NVI Bibles

·        20 bookmark magnifiers

After receiving the Bibles and Bible storybooks, Pastor José took a picture of ten children holding their Adventure Bibles and emailed it to us along with his profuse gratitude. Those precious children look as though they’ve never posed for a photo. It’s priceless! Seeing them holding their Bibles warms my heart.