Spring is here and it is time to take stock of our health. During Christmas and New Year, most of us make resolutions or think of things to do in the next 365 days. We are all in search of good health and happiness. And I am no different. Everything I do is in some ways related to my search for that elusive nirvana.
Like most people, I found last winter to be severe. An empty nest at home does not help. And my frequent trips to Calgary to see my terminally ill mother added extra pressure on my mental and physical well being. Now I understand and appreciate why some people go south to warm weather for three to six months. It is good for sanity. Currently, I am in no situation to take that amount of time off. So I tried to take frequent breaks during the winter months.
I had a good holiday with my family in Disneyland. I also went to Antigua with my son Hussein to check out his university (American University of Antigua College of Medicine), play some golf with him and relax on the beach. They have 365 beaches – one for each day of the year! Since our house is an equal opportunity residence, it was fair to visit my daughter, Alia, at the University of Victoria and take her to Seattle for the long weekend in Easter. This is good for keeping the sibling rivalry at bay – so to speak.
My wife was not to be left out. So I took her to Las Vegas for our 25th wedding anniversary on April Fools Day. After 25 years, she still thinks our marriage is real! It is hard to convince people that we got married on April Fool’s day. On April first, as part of our celebration, we attended a show in Las Vegas (Cirque du Soleil’s Zumanity). We were called on to the stage as we were the only couple in the packed theatre who was married on April Fool’s day and was still together after 25 years! That was our 15 minutes of fame.
Antigua (pronounced an-TEE-gah) is a beautiful island in the West Indies. It has a circumference of 87 kilometers. It has a population of about 70,000. According to Wikipedia, it is the largest of the Leeward Islands, and the most developed and prosperous due to its upscale tourism industry, offshore banking, internet gambling services and education services, including two medical schools.
The capital city is St. John with a population of 30,000. The island has an international airport (VC Bird International Airport) which is serviced by many major airlines including Air Canada. It has deep harbour to accommodate large cruise ships. It has 365 beautiful beaches (one for each day of the year) and tropical marine weather to go with it. The island is internationally famous for yachting and sailing. It has two 18-hole golf courses and they charge US$40 for green fees and US$30 for power cart. The Antiguan currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar. Suggested exchange rate is EC $2.60 to U.S. $1.00
Antigua is a beautiful island where you can find excellent bars, music, beaches and food with peace and tranquility. It is a slow paced island requiring patience for pleasure and happiness. I am glad I went there. Now I have to work on getting 20 lbs. off my bulging belly so I can find my golf balls! You get the point. Cheers.
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