I could barely see the road. The wind was blowing the loose snow across the pavement, creating a white, moving "cloud" as far as I could see. Patches of ice and loose snow littered the road and every now and then the backend of my truck would slip sideways, reminding me of the caution required on this trek.

December had forced itself onto Northern Illinois this year like a ferocious three-headed dragon: snow, ice, and wind. It seemed that I had to remove snow from our driveway almost everyday. And the parking lot at one of our shops could double as an Olympic hockey rink. I was already sick of this weather and winter had officially started only two days ago.

I was on my way to Freeport, in the northwestern part of Illinois. About three years ago, we opened our second Midas shop in Freeport and several times a week either I or Leslie made the two hour journey to the shop to show an owner "presence." Performance wise, the shop had been doing well. That is, until about eight months ago. Sales have been plummeting, and we aren’t sure why. I am spending more time at that shop to try and determine if it’s because of pricing, the economy, lack of advertising, customer service, etc. Sales are abysmal and we need to determine a course of action.

So, two days before Christmas I am thrashing through the ice and snow on a two lane road on my way to Freeport. The going is slow and I’m in and out of four wheel drive as needed, with the "4 HI" light illuminated more often than not. The heater is working feverishly, blowing hot air on the windshield in a futile attempt to keep the ice from building up more than it already has. The wiper fluid is frozen and Mariah is desperately trying to send me off the road into the snow filled ditch.

I tried to think of the last time I had seen clean pavement, let alone green grass and tree leaves. Looking out the window at the white covered landscape, warm weather, sunshine, and short pants were a distant memory. Robert Frost came to mind: "Miles to go before I sleep."

I resolved myself to that being the epitaph of the day and quite possibly for the next several months.

So what do I do?

The only thing I could do, of course. I hit the power switch on the stereo and plopped in a CD -- the CD Ruth made for us on our last Bonaire trip, this past September.

Instantly, the cabin of my truck was filled with a mixture of cabana and Latin music. I don’t understand any of it because the words are in Spanish, but that doesn’t distract from the music’s energy.

By the time the second number starts, I find my head bobbing back and forth to the rhythm of the tune. My hips and midsection have forgotten that I am a terrible dancer. They are moving back and forth doing their own version of a salsa, keeping pace with the staccato of the horn section. I notice my hand, once lying on the center console minding its own business, now pounding out a beat with the slap of the drums. I feel the edges of my mouth curl up into a smile. And even though the words are foreign, that doesn’t stop me from humming along as the singer belts out the song.

Whenever I play this CD, I inadvertently transform into my own altered version of a Pavlov dog. But instead of salivating when a bell is rung, my mind is thrust back to our last Bonaire trip, and all the images that it entails.

The music takes me back to the veranda of unit B6 at the Sanddollar. Leslie and I are munching on some of Joe’s pizza from Pasa Bon as we watch the sun go to sleep behind Kleine Bonaire. I hand Leslie another ice cold Bright, and she asks where I want to dive tomorrow. I say it doesn’t matter... because it really doesn’t.

Or maybe we have just waked to the cackle of a little green parrot and his buddy, resting on a palm tree just outside our window -- our own private wake up call, bringing us gingerly out of peaceful slumber. Some of the most peaceful slumber imaginable.

As I drive towards Freeport, doing my crappy in-truck salsa, my mood improves. I no longer see the snow nor do I hear the wind. I have been transported to a land where the sun is always warm and I can wear shorts all the time. I am afraid to click my heels together, for unlike Dorothy, I do not want to go home.

I drive on listening to the music and enjoying the images and memories of Bonaire. The CD plays twice before I pull into the parking lot of the Freeport Midas. Before going in the shop, I idle my truck and sit a minute, watching the snow blow across the adjacent cornfield. After a few minutes I come to a conclusion.

I am tired of these Bonaire memories. I am tired of reliving these same images over and over. I have experienced them far, far too many times!

I conclude that it is time for new memories.

It is time to plan another trip.

Dave - love your comments. You have what I call BDD (Bonaire Deficit Disorder), also known as PBD for Pre-Donaire Depression or Post-Bonaire Depression (or something like that). The ONLY known cure is something known as Tincture of TOB (Tincture of Time on Bonaire). I am a doc and can write you a prescription - want one ???

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quote:

It is time to plan another trip.

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"My hips and midsection have forgotten that I am a terrible dancer."

I'll have to borrow that one a time or two!
Thank you for the lunchtime read Dave.
Very enjoyable

Here is the Prescription as promised.

Now the trick is getting your medical and prescription insurance to cover this !!! Good luck.

I have tickets.

They always start this way. First; the trickle of new postings on Bonaire Talk, reminiscing and reliving memories of “trips gone by,” and then, it escalates like a giant snow ball rolling down a mountain, it seems to develop a life of it’s own… It continues with the onset of a new case of (PBD) Post Bonaire Depression, an affliction all to familiar to most of us, but then the (PBDr) Pre Bonaire Dreaming starts, and the realization that another trip looms in the not to distant future.

Next, the tempo increases as you enter the (BPP) Bonaire Planning Phase; the scheduling, intently scouring the calendar for just the right time, striking a balance between responsible and “as soon as possible.” This can be a feverish time of checking air fares, e-mails, equipment servicing, and other high level preparations.

And then begins the (PBA) Pre Bonaire Anticipation. Once the trip is book, PBA sets in hard. This phase can be the most debilitating. Symptoms like daydreaming at work, the countdowns, responding to every BT post with, “We are leaving in x number days!” the over planning, and the injecting Bonaire into almost any conversation. “Did you hear about that terrible train wreck in Canada?” “No, that’s awful! Did you know I was going to Bonaire?”

As your departure week arrives, you find yourself walking around with a smile pasted on your face that would make the Joker jealous. You’re as excited as a kid with a 5 pound bag of M&M’s and not able to concentrate on any subject not related to Bonaire. This phase doesn’t end until you are hit in the face with that first blast of hot Bonairian air as you pass through the aircraft door at Flamingo. I like to refer to that moment as (BAC) Bonaire Arrival Climax. And yes, it was good for me too.

So the mere fact that Brother Dave mentioned the possibility of another Bonaire trip, tells me it is only a matter of time.

Fantastic Geoff !!!!!!!

Geoff, your post has TM3LA. (Too Many 3-Letter Acronyms)

Wow, the writing talent definitely runs in the family.

Great stuff guys!

Huh. And here I am listening to "Sleigh Ride" and "Carol of the Bells"...

Brother Dave, I still don't have a copy of that CD...

Dave, leave your baby brother alone!!!

Geoff, ya done good buddy!

Hm. Thinking about, daydreaming about Bonaire is one of my favorite winter pastimes.

thank GOODDNESS Jerry..not having tickets stresses me out beaucoup..

Dave, Geoff, nicely done...I was there for a moment myself.

BAC...LOVE IT....LOL!

Geoff, you are so right on it's scary.

Oh my I LOVE the prescription!!!!

Dan, not sure how many scripts come on a pad but me thinks you'll need lots and lots LOL!
Thanks for the smile, my friend!

Dave, thanks, as always for your stories. And brother Geoff, you too!!

Thanks this is a prescription that we really need.

Hopefully we can get back in 2009, I think we are currently the longest time we have been away from Bonaire since 1999.

Im not saying a word about going to Bonaire Saturday. The police just arrested a snowman on my street last night. His pants were down, as there was a snow blower coming up the street.

Jim, Jim, Jim.....

Are you going to Bonaire on Saturday? I'm surprised you didn't mention it earlier.....

LMAO Merry Christmas Dave. Thanks for the above thoughts. I can hear the merange as I type.

omg, jim is going to bonaire? I'm with Dave, you really should have said something earlier so we could wish you a safe and happy trip!

I tried to, but nobody ever listens to me around here.

dave nice writing
will be going to bonaire 3-13 thru 3-28 staying with a friend
es