Shannon Yvonne Moreau

or, In Case You Were Wondering What I Was Doing Trying to Drive to the D H Lawrence Ranch in the Snow

“I really want to do this, but if I do, am I making a declaration to the universe that I want to be alone the rest of my life?”

“No,” said my therapist. “I think it’s courageous.”

Courageous. I liked that.

So I booked two nights at a spa resort in Taos for my birthday.

Alone.

It was fabulous. Even though not everything went as planned. Here are a few highlights.

On Taos Plaza, went to the Hotel La Fonda de Taos to see the D.H. Lawrence Forbidden Art exhibit.

Wandered into a cool bookstore that went on for days and snagged a first edition of Little Green by Walter Mosley, one of my favorite books that I’ve read this year.

Sat in front of the fire place drinking tea and looking out the patio door of my hotel room.

Drove to the D.H. Lawrence Ranch. Didn’t go quite as planned.

Got a massage at the spa, followed by my second trip the resort’s salt water pool and hot tub.

Planned to go sit at the hotel bar wearing a cute dress, like Bernadine did in Waiting to Exhale, and order a Margarita. Then I would go back to my room, change into comfy, warm clothes, and go hit a club on the plaza for a late night of live music and dancing.

Instead, I went to the hotel bar wearing my cute dress, and had two Margaritas. Then I went back to my hotel room, curled up in front of the fire place, and passed out.

I really needed a vacation.