Third Time's A Charm?

Today I sent in the rental contract and the deposit for the honeymoon. The third scheduled honeymoon. Technically it might actually be the fourth, but we'll call it the third. The first plan was to go to St. Lucia. It was booked for about 7 months or so before we decided to scale back and go instead to Jamaica. We changed the resort reservations, changed flights, and started looking at what the Sandals in Ocho Rios had to offer for a couple of daredevil honeymooners like us. We were excited about the zipline tour through the rain forest. We bought aquasocks to climb the waterfalls. We got new golf balls and a travel bag for my clubs. And then ... The Incident happened.
At first, Dr. Positivity seemed to think we might be able to go on our honeymoon, just 5 weeks later. As the weeks progressed, it become more clear that the healing wasn't happening - and neither was the honeymoon.
My surgery was scheduled for October 5. I had a bone graft, a plate and 5 screws put in my foot. We talked to Dr. Positivity and agreed sometime around Thanksgiving might be more realistic to take the trip. Surely I would be walking by then. So we got back on the phone with Sandals and the airlines. I dreamed of cute flip flops and sand in my toes. And as the days got shorter and cooler, and suddenly the holidays were just ahead on the calendar, we admitted what we had been trying to avoid - there was no way we were taking this trip.
Rather than keep moving the dates, we killed the idea of the islands and Sandals altogether. Thankfully, one of us was smart enough to get travel insurance. We filed the claim and banked the settlement for the next attempt at a honeymoon... when I would actually - finally - be able to travel.
For a while we didn't even discuss it anymore, it was I guess just too disappointing. Once the conversation started again, nothing sounded right. I really, really want a honeymoon, not just another vacation. I wanted to do something we'd never, ever do any other time. Our getting married is extremely special - our honeymoon had to be, too.
So a couple of weeks ago Gary called me and asked me what I thought of something he came across. Had the cash been in my account at the time, I would have booked the trip before we even hung up. So after many phone calls and emails to make sure no matter what happens we can enjoy our once-in-a-lifetime trip whether I'm scooting or walking or rolling - our honeymoon is booked. Flights, rental house and tickets to the main event. And so - drumroll please - we are going to the 2010 Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival! And for two people who love food and wine and like to pretend we're VIPs, this couldn't be any more perfect. 50 of the world's best chefs. 150 vintners. The culinary experience of a lifetime...
And the house? 100 yards from Lover's Point Beach in Pacific Grove. Entertainment system that goes throughout the whole house. Spa for 2 with chromotherapy. Heated floors. And most importantly - us. Together. Alone. And regardless of what happens with The Foot in the next 2 1/2 months, we can still go, and still enjoy the honeymoon we really, really need at this point - and completely, truly deserve.