Free Cabo Vacation For Military Family!

      WOW! I can't believe this is actually happening! A family whose dad just returned from Iraq has been given a free trip to Cabo- all expenses paid, courtesy of a very generous resort down here in gorgeous Cabo San Lucas called the Villa Del Palmar Beach Resort and Spa, owned by The Villa Group.

     I know the family well, the Motas. Their 7 year old son Gabriel was in my class last year at Santa Margarita Elementary (Oceanside Unified School District). I teach the kids of deployed Marines on Camp Pendeleton, and having taught on base for 8 years, I can tell you that these military families are some of the best people I have ever met. They have been through a lot since 9-11, enduring the absences of deployed loved ones.

     As you may know, I also fish and travel a lot. I knew these great resort owners down here in Cabo. I told them about my working alongside military families, and they seemed very interested... I told them that I get a lot out of helping these people, and they still seemed very interested... and then I told them, half jokingly, why not fly down one of these families and give them a treat- an all expenses paid vacation to one of your resorts.

     Of course I wasn't expecting a positive response. Well guess what? The Villa Group said yes- (Dreams do come true!) and now the Mota family is down here in Cabo, for free! I'm just here to take pictures and help them around town, show them the sights, and guide their fishing trip. It's a brutal assignment, but I think I can handle it!

     Here's the skinny on the family: Staff Sergaent Nick Mota, his wife Amber who works as a yard duty at my elementary school, Santa Margarita (Oceanside Unified School District, 30 minutes North of San Diego), Gabe, and his big sister, 11 year old Sarah,  just celebrated dad's most recent return from Iraq. I don't know how many times he's been there, but I assume it's 2 or 3- they're on that series of deployments, it seems. So what better way to spend some quality time reuniting than to do it here in LOVELY CABO! This here is a view from their room:

     I knew that it might happen for several weeks but it seemed too good to be true so I didn't tell anyone except Amber and Staff Sgt. Mota. Once the plane tickets arrived, they told the kids, and we just got here this morning. Suffice it to say that the whole family is wildly excited and appreciative. They will be enjoying being treated as VIP's here- they've got the run of the place- and they'll be taking jaunts into exotic downtown Cabo, as well as relaxing by the pool, snorkeling, deep sea fishing, seeing shows here at the resort, and much more.

     I'll keep you all posted, and until next post, take care!

Jon Schwartz