Have you looked at yourself and screamed? Well, do I have a story for you.

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August 1992, Thom and I decided to take a quick trip to Club Med Cancun. Thom and I left New York on Sunday, and stayed over night in Houston. That was because I wanted to spend a good part of Monday at Club Med. I didn't want to miss a minute on the beach. We got to Cancun about 10:30am and went straight to the Club Med property. The beach at Club Med is the best one in Canucn. It is at the end of the curve of the beach and many of the other hotels go on around the curve. Club Med must have been one of the first hotels built in Cancun, before it was the place to go. The ocean gently kisses the shore at that point, while just a few hotels down the beach have the red caution flag out, because the surf gets rougher. Club Med is know as the "I'll meet you at the beach and bar" kind of resort. There is so much to do, and the programs are filled with excitement and fun. But the room are BASIC. When we got to our room, well, it was standard. On the left there was an open area for the sink and beyond that was a toilet and shower-no door. On the right, was shelves, a safe and 4 hangers -- no door. Further in the room, on the left, was 2 twin beds divided by a small night table. On the right side was another twin bed against the wall that had a large mirror on it. The last part of the room was 2 steps down and had a sliding glass door that opened to a tinny balcony. From the balcony you could see the beautiful ocean, if you bent 15 degrees, turned your head 4 degrees and didn't sneeze. LOL. Well, we hit the beach as soon as we put our stuff in the shelves, in the safe and on the 4 hangers. My thing to do is just sit in a lounge chair, as close to the water and dream about being in Bermuda. Thom's thing is to take a walk and see the other hotels. We both had bottles of water and we were ready to be beached. About an hour later, 2 ladies tapped me on the shoulder and said they thought I better get under a tree, as I was getting red. With their help I moved my chair back and told them thanks. But I didn't dare tell them I was a travel agent and should have been following my own advice and brought sun tan lotion. After a long while Thom came back and he was looking very tan, and very tired. We returned to our basic room and wanted to take a much needed nap. Thom was looking at me, but he figured he better keep his mouth closed. (27 years of marriage, you know). We soon found out that the air conditioner was not working and they didn't have any fans or other rooms. We had to take towels to bed because we were really sweating. Thom hit the bed and was asleep before I had a chance to complain. (He also knew, I would be complaining in short time.) I tried the bed next to him, too hot. No breeze there. I tried the one on the right wall, nope to hot there too. I opened the sliding door, only heat came through. I put papers near the air condition hoping for a down draft. The room was getting darker and I was twisting and turning. Like a Chuck Berry song. I was using the towel like I just got out of the shower. I finally fell asleep. Thom got up to get ready for dinner, and turned on the light. I opened my eyes and screamed. Across from me, was puffy eyed, red face person with a towel around their head. Thom ran into the room to see what was happening, and dropped on the floor laughing. I was looking at myself in the mirror on wall next to the bed. I was wrapped in the towel, my face and my eyes were swollen for the heat and the sun. I couldn't leave the room for dinner. And never got to the beach again. I did get out of the room again, to take the taxi back to the airport on Thursday. Oh, by the way, Thom had a good time. So did Laura! It was his dream vacation. He got to walk, snorkel and tan. I got to peel and learn how to sleep on a small bed looking at myself.