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.
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 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 felt comfortable with one another and 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 as a flight attendant with Northwest Airlines and was flying internationally. He loved to travel and enjoyed his career. He told me that he 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 disliked 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 Mayan ruins, snorkeled, lay in the sun, and drank Coronas by the shore. I remember it being a bright, sunny day. The hot, humid air swirled around the inside of the car as we drove down the Mexican highway. The car had no air conditioning, but it didn’t matter. 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.
“Beautiful faces, no cares in this world Where a girl loves a boy, and a boy loves a boy.”
The next day, we took a ferry and toured the beautiful island of Isla Mujeres. We had a great 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. We had a lot of fun together; he taught me about Modern Dance and introduced me to several great dancers at his school. Dance continued to be a massive part of my life.
The dance floor was my home away from home.
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LA ISLA BONITA
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