La Isla Bonita was the seventh track on the True Blue album. I listened to this song the entire time Thaddeus, and I was in Cancun, Mexico. – “Beautiful faces, no cares in this world Where a girl loves a boy, and a boy loves a boy.”
Thaddeus and I continued to stay in touch after he left North Carolina. During the fall of 1986, we decided to meet in Cancun, Mexico. When I first laid eyes on Thaddeus in Mexico, I knew I was still in love with him. I could tell that he had changed physically; he wasn’t as muscular as I had remembered, but it was so good to see him that it didn’t matter.
We checked into our hotel room together. Things were a little awkward at first, but soon we were feeling comfortable with one another, and we talked about everything that was going on in our lives.
Thaddeus had left the organization, “The Way” admitting that it was one of the worst experiences of his life. He had gotten a new job with Northwest Airlines, as a flight attendant, and was flying all over the world. He loved to travel and enjoyed his career. He told me that had just recently broken up with his latest boyfriend, and as he shared the details, I suddenly got a sinking feeling in my stomach. At the time I didn’t like hearing him speak about his love for someone else.
The next day Thaddeus and I rented a Volkswagen Bug and drove down the coast of Mexico. We explored some Mayan ruins, did some snorkeling, lay in the sun, and drank Coronas by the shore. I remember it being a bright, sunny day, and the hot, humid air swirling around the inside of the car as we drove down the highway. The car had no air conditioning. I could remember feeling that the world was okay again, even though Thaddeus and I weren’t together anymore. I loved being with him. I loved being near him.
The next day we took a ferry over to Isla Mujeres and spent the day touring that beautiful island. It was an extraordinary time together.
Once our vacation was over Thaddeus returned to his new home in Minneapolis, and I returned to North Carolina. (I would see Thaddeus three more times after this trip.)
At this point in my life, I was going out with someone else, a modern dance student from the North Carolina School of the Arts. The two of us had a lot of fun together, he taught me a lot about Modern Dance and introduced me to several great dancers at his school. Dance continued to be a huge part of my life. The dance floor was my home away from home.
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Last night I dreamt of San Pedro
Just like I’d never gone, I knew the song
A young girl with eyes like the desert
It all seems like yesterday, not far away
Tropical the island breeze
All of nature wild and free
This is where I long to be
La isla bonita
And when the samba played
The sun would set so high
Ring through my ears and sting my eyes
Your Spanish lullaby
I fell in love with San Pedro
Warm wind carried on the sea, he called to me
Te dijo te amo
I prayed that the days would last
They went so fast
Tropical the island breeze
All of nature wild and free
This is where I long to be
La isla bonita
And when the samba played
The sun would set so high
Ring through my ears and sting my eyes
Your Spanish lullaby
I want to be where the sun warms the sky
When it’s time for siesta you can watch them go by
Beautiful faces, no cares in this world
Where a girl loves a boy, and a boy loves a girl
Last night I dreamt of San Pedro
It all seems like yesterday, not far away
Tropical the island breeze
All of nature wild and free
This is where I long to be
La isla bonita
And when the samba played
The sun would set so high
Ring through my ears and sting my eyes
Your Spanish lullaby
Tropical the island breeze
All of nature wild and free
This is where I long to be
La isla bonita
And when the samba played
The sun would set so high
Ring through my ears and sting my eyes
Your Spanish lullaby
La la la la la la la
Te dijo te amo
La la la la la la la
El dijo que te ama
