Welcome to my first short story, blog-style. With the next few posts I will be sharing some of the experiences from our recent trip to Catalina Island. Remember, most characters are based on real people but I have changed their names to protect the innocent.
Every few days I will post new chapters. So, please stay tuned to JQ Time: A Blonde’s Perspective and see what unfolds!
Catalina Island Adventures
Chapter 1: Our Anniversary
My boyfriend, Rafael Rodriguez, is a diehard romantic. I gotta admit, there are parts of me that love this, especially the part that loves being spoiled. I like to think it’s not a big part of my personality but it is certainly there. So, I am pretty excited when Rafael surprises me with the gift of an island getaway for our first year anniversary.
No, we haven’t been married for one year. He simply asked me to be his girlfriend a year ago.
“Babe, you’ve got to stop telling people that we’re taking this trip to celebrate our anniversary,” I say. “They’re going to think we’re weird.”
And this is true. People look at us funny when we say that we are going to an island to celebrate one year of dating, not marriage.
“This is how a lot of people celebrate their marriage anniversaries,” I tell Rafael. He doesn’t seem to care.
I guess I shouldn’t be embarrassed that my boyfriend is excited to celebrate our happiness together. How horrible, right? What some people may not know is that we don’t need a reason to celebrate; we play all the time. Still, an anniversary is a great excuse to go all out.
Chapter 2: Island Preparation
Our trip to Catalina Island turns out to be a landmark trip for me. I have finally decided to treat myself to some real, grown-up luggage. I’ve been using a giant, black duffle bag for a couple of years and it has got to go. It doesn’t even have wheels on it.
We leave tomorrow so I better go shopping now. Oh darn, an excuse to go to the mall. I hate those.
We had shopped at Ross in Sand City with Juliette, Rafael’s sister, when she needed luggage for her trip to Italy. I remember being quite impressed with their selection, so I make my way to Ross.
After separating their large selection of luggage into categories of “nice” and “not-so-nice,” I choose the biggest, nice one. Sadly, I haven’t mastered traveling light yet. The Samsonite suitcase is a goldish color that resembles my hair color. This means it will always match me, which isn’t necessarily a criterion for all my purchases, but, well, OK it is.
I see no shame in being color coordinated at all times, or at least whenever possible.
The Samsonite bag is able to turn 360 degrees on its wheels, and it’s expandable, able to fit several pairs of shoes, my hair rollers, and numerous outfits in a bag that I can actually manage all by myself. Or, so I thought while purchasing it. I wonder what Rafael will think when he sees it.
“That is a big bag!” Rafael says as I push the suitcase around on my kitchen floor.
I spin it fast, first to the right and then to the left, showing him its superior structure. This baby is top of the line.
“Do you really need to pack that much stuff?” he asks, looking concerned.
He’s right. The suitcase is too big. If I don’t pack it all the way, it will still be light and easy for me to manage by myself. I can pack light. I know I can do it. I never even wear half of the clothes I pack anyway. It’s wasted energy.
Of course I wind up packing 15 bikinis, ten or twenty outfits, and six pairs of shoes, along with my big set of hair rollers (just in case we have a big, fancy night out and I need curls), sunscreen and books, and unsurprisingly it is a little too heavy for me to lift. Damn. I should get a smaller bag so that I don’t allow myself to pack so much.
How can I be a strong, independent woman if I need a man to carry my suitcase? Oh well. At least I can push it around on its wheels without any assistance.
While packing I realize that I need to buy a new bikini and bikini coverup, because what’s a romantic island getaway without a new bikini, and maybe a few other things from Victoria’s Secret?
Also, I turned thirty this year and am therefore at an age of sophistication and class, needing a new style of bikini. I need something more structured that says “I am a woman” and not “I am a teenager or barely 21” as all the stringy, strappy, fluorescent colored bikinis say.
I rush to Victoria’s Secret in hopes of making it there before they close and I succeed.
“Hi Jessica!" shouts Vanessa, a Victoria's Secret sales clerk, from across the store. "All swim wear is 25 percent off!"
We happen to know her each other because we met once at a party about five years ago. Well, that, and I shop here on a pretty regular basis. They have the best athletic wear and bras, hands down. This store is like therapy for me. Who can be sad around lace panties in hundreds of different colors?
“Thanks Vanessa!” I respond while looking at the bikinis. Their selection has diminished a bit in the last week and a half. Usually I’m not a huge fan of purple, but it was the only color they had left in the sophisticated yet sexy style of bikini.
I buy the chic, purple bikini and a low cut, black coverup. The I-am-a-woman-now style of bikini is well equipped with some heavy duty push-up action. The girls look great in my new look!
With my new grown-up luggage and elegant bikini, I think I’m pretty much ready for our trip. Rafael is handling all the other traveling details and to show him my appreciation I buy a fancy, new digital camera for him. I am wrapping the gift and putting a bow on it when Rafael comes over to my house. As I’m not very good at keeping surprises, I let him open it right away.
“You got me a camera?!” Rafael asks with complete surprise while ripping the red wrapping paper off.
At this moment I realize that I need to buy the poor guy more gifts. He shouldn’t be utterly shocked that I bought him something nice. Rafael is big on gifts, whereas I like doing things for people. Take Rafael’s laundry for example. I sort, wash, and fold all of Rafael’s laundry, but you can’t quite put a bow on that. I get it; gifts are fun.
“I knew you wanted a camera and thought it was good timing, right before our trip,” I respond. “Do you like it?”
“I love it, Babe!” he answers. “It’s perfect!”
I knew he’d say that about anything I got him. The guy loves gifts and got outrageously excited over a snowman night-light that my mother gave him. Nevertheless, I knew that he wanted the camera and it warms my heart a little to see him so happy.
Luggage, camera, action! We are ready for Catalina Island.
Please STAY TUNED TO JQ TIME: A BLONDE'S PERSPECTIVE to find out what happens on the island.............
New Chapters Coming Soon to a Blog Near You:
Catalina Island Adventures Part II
Chapters: A Private Yacht and On The Island
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