I recall that I was closer to Matt when he was younger. He was my son and we were the best of friends. His mother and I separated when he was only three and it was just the two of us from then on, but now that he’s twelve and approaching his teenage years, I feel we are becoming more apart. We had a talk about families and I said that a son should maintain good relations with his father. He simply replied, “Why are you not close to grandpa and grandma then?” I was dumbfounded and speechless because he was right. That very next day, I planned a family reunion of which I plan to invite as many as I can. We were just an hour’s drive away from Los Cabos, so I figured it would be the best place. My first visit there was only one afternoon of which we ate at this great place where they serve Mexican dishes.
I checked out some hotels in Los Cabos Mexico and I was fortunate enough to find one which gave special discounts and freebies for large groups. I invited all members of our families and was fortunate enough to convince all of them to come. It was just a short drive so we were there in no time at all.
The Los Cabos hotel was generous enough to give us a free welcome breakfast buffet which was not included in the package. Our five day reservation didn’t include meals but the hotel was kind enough to treat us with a free buffet when we arrived. Since I had limited funds because it was a quick decision, we only stayed in a mid-classed hotel, but what they lacked in size and facilities they surely made up for quality service and food. Our first day was mostly of eating and loitering around the areas near the hotel and a quick dip in their small pool. We didn’t go to the sea yet.
Next day, we woke up early and decided to walk around other parts of Los Cabos. We rented some fishing boats and headed off to sea. I was with my dad and my son. As I see them together, with smiles on their faces trying to pretend to know how to fish, I saw myself when I was just a boy with my dad when we were fishing. It was only in the later years that we became apart due to some disputes and differences. The waters were calm that day and it was just us three and the sound of the waters and the wind. It was just a calm and quiet experience but certainly one which will be unforgotten. It gave new life and refreshed my thoughts on a lot of things.
After lunch, we all gathered at the beach and played volleyball. Los Cabos wasn’t really crowded then so we had all the space we needed to play. The hotel staff was kind enough to help us put up our make shift net and the game was on. We chose sides and almost everyone joined. It was quite tiring but well worth it. We had so much fun though my dad kept on bragging that if he was only younger he’d beat all of us to pulp. His claim of being a great player when he was in college was quickly agreed upon by my mother. It was one story after another and we all laughed how excited he was telling us about them.
When nighttime came, we all ate at this nearby restaurant which served local Mexican dishes. After dinner, since we were in Mexico, some tequila shots for the elders were in order. We stayed late that night, just sitting at the beach front of the Los Cabos hotel we were at. We exchange stories, plans and jokes all night. It was all family and it was a great time to interact. I was actually thinking that it would be a time to discuss differences and settle them, but it never happened. Instead, we just had a good time and somehow felt the special bond which we used to have with one another long ago and I think everyone felt that we needed to recover and retain that attachment.
We went to Los Cabos thinking it would be a way to solve our family problems, but upon getting there, there seemed to be no problem to solve after all. It was several months ago, and now our families are closer than ever, and I think we owe it to that simple but memorable vacation.
