The God Awful Bus Ride To Bal Harbour

Cocaine Princess here.

According to the news it's been 241 days since we hit a humidex on Saturday of +38. Some of you are probably rolling your eyes especially those who live in a year round tropical climate but we are thankful for the muggy weather. We had our first official heat alert advising people to stay indoors. After the winter we faced you think anyone listened? Of course not! But I did, I chose to stay indoors by shopping at the mall making the credit card companies leap for joy each time I made a purchase.

During the evening I was outside enjoying the incredible heat. 'A' decided to have another go at the B-B-Q to make up for the disastrous May 2-4 weekend. And how can I forget? The hideous creature is back home and no longer is it barking at all hours. At first I thought it must have lost its' voice but no, obedience school obviously paid off. Now all that's left is a makeover because it's still incredibly hideous looking. While 'A' was grilling, I was on the phone with Valentina. She asked, 'why is 'A' going to the Eagles concert? Madonna I understand but the Eagles?' 'She's a fan of their music,' I replied. 'Your mom didn't listen to them, did she?' 'Not that I recall,' I answered. 'Maybe she likes their music because her biological mommy and daddy like them,' she stated. I began to laugh while looking at 'A.' 'Is the hurricane talking about me?' A asked while flipping the burgers. 'The hurricane?!' Valentina exclaimed. 'Tell your switched-at-birth-sister I heard that! What is she doing, her sudoku puzzles?' 'We're having a B-B-Q,' I replied. 'Do you ever think about your long lost sister?' 'Valentina I don't have a long lost sister. The only sister I have is here with me now and she's asking whether I want cheddar or mozzarella on my burger,' I said back. 'I know daddy confirmed she wasn't switched at birth but he could be lying. So don't be surprised if in a couple of years a woman comes around claiming to be your real sister.' 'Where is daddy today?' I questioned. 'At home. He's with Gilligan,' she answered. 'And you're not listening in on their meeting? I'm shocked.' I commented. 'They're not really having a meeting and I was listening. Gilligan dropped by to give daddy some papers to sign while talking about the usual stuff, you know.' 'I do,' I said back.

Saturday night I was back in my own bedroom, not that I sleep much but it was a real relief to be able to just close my eyes without the creature's bark driving me up the wall. Usually when I can't sleep I'll get out of bed and start writing or watch some TV but I didn't feel like doing either. Instead I turned on the radio while staring out of the window looking up at all the stars twinkling bright. A song played on the radio I hadn't heard in a long time, Rapture by the group iio. (pronounced eye-oh) Depending on what type of music you listen to, Rapture when it was released was a monstrous world wide dance hit. The year it came out I was in Miami and the song was busting out of every club night after night and during the day stores would be playing it.

Have you ever listened to a song where the lyrics capture and release every single feeling you've been unable to feel before? It doesn't always have to be a song. It could even be a place that makes you feel that way, or it could be the very sight of a person, a picture, something someone says or does, even a particular scent where there are no words because it's more of a feeling, like you're walking into the inside of your heart. And as you are there's that moment where literally your breath is swept away and you feel you're going to collapse because you're just in awe. At some point we've all experienced the feeling and if you haven't, trust me you will. Rapture is my one and only Miami song. The lyrics are absolutely sensual and right to the point. And those who have heard the song let me clear something up now, no I didn't meet or fall in love with someone while the song was playing. I first heard it on the radio and loved it right away.
The year it came out was also the year of my God awful and horrible bus ride to Bal Harbour. Let me tell you all about it.

Miami was my mom's sweet escape. She couldn't get enough of the city and wanted me to love it as much as she did. Mom had a slight accent when she spoke. After living in Canada for so many years it kind of faded. But put her in an environment of Spanish speaking individuals like in Miami where almost every two seconds a Spanish word is heard she'd slip right back into her accent. I especially loved when she'd pronounce Florida as Flor-reeda and Miami, Me-ahmi. Other times she'd speak English and halfway through she'd break into speaking Spanish very rapidly where even I would get dizzy. Because I was home schooled it was easy to get on a plane without having to worry about missing classes or catching up on assignments. We would head to the airport on a Tuesday afternoon and get on a flight to the Sunshine State. Some mornings when I woke I would see our suitcases packed in the foyer and on top of mine would be an orange. It was my mom's cute way of letting me know we were leaving for Miami in a few hours. There was another cute thing she would do to let me know we would be going, which was my favorite. At night time while tucking me in bed, gently with her hand she'd knock over my heart and say,

Mom

'Knock, knock.
Me

Who's there?
Mom

Love is at the door.
Me

Love is at the door, who?

MomMiami's love is at the door, will you let it in?'

I always gave her the same answer. 'I don't get it mommy.' And each time she would always give me the same reply, 'you'll understand when you're older.' Maybe mother's do know everything. I would spend the rest of the night with butterflies in my stomach in excitement because it didn't take long for mom's love of Miami to be passed onto me.

I honestly have lost count the number of times I have been there. Sometimes mom and I would stay in Miami for a few days while other times we would stay longer. The year of the bus ride we had been traveling around extensively. It was right after New Years' and we left for Cartagena and stayed there for three weeks, then hopped on over to Aruba for two weeks and then flew up to Miami where the next five weeks home was a suite at the Loews.

One afternoon we were getting ready to have lunch at the Bistro at Bal Harbour Mall and of course to do some shopping. I was sitting on the edge of the bed putting on my earrings when my mom said something she'd never said before, 'instead of taking a driver today let's take the city bus to Bal Harbour.' 'Okay,' I replied sarcastically. 'No I really mean it. Come on what do you say mi amor?' I studied my mom's face. She always had a good poker face so I thought she was bluffing. She wasn't. 'Why?' I asked. 'Because it might be fun. You've never ridden on one before,' she said back.

I like to think of myself as an open minded individual who'll try anything at least once so I agreed. We spoke to the concierge. He told us where the bus stop was, what bus to take (if I remember I think it was the 'S' bus) and said it was scheduled to arrive within the next ten minutes.

We headed to the bus stop where it was just the two of us. I'm standing there in the scorching Miami sun and blotting my face, I was melting in the heat. 'Mom please let's go back to the hotel and get a driver to take us.' 'Looking at her watch she replied, 'the bus will be here any minute.'

Over twenty minutes had passed and no bus. Several buses passed but none were the 'S' bus. 'Mom we could have been to Bal Harbour by now,' I said. 'Look, I see another bus coming. If that isn't the 'S' bus we'll go back to the hotel and get a driver,' she promised. Inside I was hoping it wasn't but the bus started to slow down and it was the 'S' bus. I don't think the concierge knew how to tell time because the bus didn't come until after twenty five minutes. The bus driver opened its' door. 'What if the bus is all full and there's no seats left?' I asked. 'We won't know until we step aboard,' she answered while nudging me up the steps......

To Be Continued.

XOXOXOXO,
Cocaine Princess