I spent time in my favorite place in the world during the winter holidays: western Puerto Rico, my home away from home.

I had a difficult time getting there with flight delays and rebooking, but I got there, albeit 8 hours late.

Unfortunately, no one cares any more about protecting others from Covid with no masking or distancing. Though I always wore a mask, it was not enough to protect me. Two days after arrival, I developed symptoms of Covid-19 and tested positive.

If there is an upside, my symptoms were very mild with only a runny nose, achy-all-over feeling, and fatigue. But no fever, coughing, or worse.

I credit being so well-vaccinated, including the bivalent booster, that I did not need medical treatment and my symptoms abated in just three days. The last day of symptoms was Christmas day, so I wasn’t able to join friends for a holiday dinner and stayed “home” and binge-watched Netflix.

On recovering, I began to explore. My first…

… exploration was going on a 5km hike around Punta Guaniquilla nature reserve. I was led on this hike by a good friend who knows the area. Visual clues for the right trail were sparse, but my friend knew just where to go. We crossed bogs, traversed water, explored a cave, walked by the shores of the Caribbean Sea (my friends took a dip; I wasn’t ready to do that.) It was a long day, but got me out of my funk of being isolated.

We went to a local winter league baseball game, which was interesting. We also visited the town square all lit up for the holidays. Such a warm and festive atmosphere made me feel happy.

I also visited two Atlantic Ocean beach areas that I had not previously visited during my some 35 visits to the island. There I admired the power of the ocean on the rock formations at the shoreline. It was quite impressive and reminded me how strong the ocean really is. I also saw huge pelicans hunting for fish.

I took time to go on wildlife photo hunts on some remote trails that I discovered last year. I saw egrets, osprey, and stilts (a shore bird), as well as got attacked by a devilish iguana.

Here’s the story — I saw a rather large iguana in the bush. I squatted down to take pictures of it. As I stood up and walked backwards, I fell. I thought I tripped over a log — but it was an even larger iguana! When I looked up, I saw a fierce big monster staring at me. I got up real quick and beat boots outta there!

Later my friends told me that iguanas are vegetarian, but I did not want to find out!

I enjoyed meals and activities with these friends who are like family. We cooked together, laughed, and shared stories. I am blessed to have many good friends who embrace me and include me as one of their own family.

I visited four beaches, including my favorite beach where I scattered my husband’s ashes last year. I enjoyed swimming in the warm Caribbean. News to note — if you are a morning person like me and get to a beach by 8am, you have the entire beach to yourself for hours. Peaceful, calm, and serene. I loved it. If it rains, rain comes in the afternoon, so the morning is bright, beautiful, sunny, and warm.

My last beach visit was on the date of my husband’s death two years ago. I brought flowers that he liked from a friend’s yard. I spelled out a memory with shells on the beach. Ti amo — I love you — a memory I will always hold in my heart.

I took the flowers with me into the ocean and released them. I watched them float gently out to sea, as I watched how my husband’s ashes floated to sea last year.

I leaned back into the water and floated, once again, to be with my beloved husband’s spirit once more.

My last full day was a major Puerto Rican Holiday — Three Kings Day. I spent the day with very close friends whose home I stay in when I visit and enjoyed a wonderful meal. We talked, shared, and just loved one another. My friends there are truly special to me.

Alas, it was time to return home to Maryland. I had uneventful flights with long layovers. Stayed home all last week just to make sure I didn’t get Covid again.

I ended 2022 where I began — in my beloved Puerto Rico. In early 2022, I was a sad sack. In late 2022, I felt that I was in a much better place, both emotionally and physically.

Life is short: love where your spirit is renewed.