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 Tales of Retirement in Paradise 
Tales of Retirement in Paradise Revisited - Introduction
 Polly G. Vicars
With a modicum of modesty, a soupcon of pride, and a heap of hutzpa, I have decided to publish a serialized and updated version of my first book "Tales of Retirement in Paradise," on BanderasNews. So add to the modesty, pride and hutzpa, a whole lot of trepidation and here is the first installment, unedited from the original written in August 1995.
"A joy that's shared is a joy made double."
- English Proverb
My joy was so great when I quit smoking twenty years ago, I stopped strangers on the street to tell them, at length, of my elation. Since retiring to Puerto Vallarta, those same feelings of euphoria engulf me and the compulsion to share them with everyone is even stronger! Thus, this book.
It all began after a day on the sea with our Spanish maestro and his family. Exhilarated, filled with love and joy, I was compelled to record my feelings in an article entitled "Adventure in Paradise."
When Husband read my account he suggested I send it to Lynne Bairstow de Perez, editor of "Vallarta Today," Puerto Vallarta's only daily English language newspaper. She liked it, she published it, and the positive response was surprising.
Event after event propelled me to continue writing about our life in México. Lynne published my tales, and I received more heartening reviews from friends and strangers. In writing about our experiences, coincidentally, I answered many reader's questions about life in México.
With the encouragement of Editor Lynne and my greatest fan, Husband, I sent out a few articles to magazines. Elderhostel featured my account of our whitewater rafting trip through the Grand Canyon, "Below the High Water Mark", Transitions Abroad published "Living in México," and MexClub has accepted two other articles.
During this time I wrote most of the copy for the International Friendship Club's (IFC) very successful cookbook, "Vistas, Vittles, Vignettes de Vallarta." It was an instant success and has become a perennial best seller, bringing in a steady income to that philanthropic organization.
Besides the IFC, Husband and I are deeply involved in the AMF (America México Foundation, Inc.) We wanted the Foundation to have a project similar to the IFC's, one that would provide income on an ongoing basis. Encouraged by the continuing positive response my writing was receiving, I decided to put together a book about our life in Vallarta and give the revenue to the AMF.
I reworked my articles, wrote some new ones, and created this book. Sharyla Gold, through her expert editing, shored up my dangling participles (and all my other errors.) Husband and I paid for the publishing and are donating all the proceeds to the AMF to help finance the many scholarships they award each year to Puerto Vallarta girls and boys.
So when you bought your copy of "Tales of Retirement in Paradise," you did not just buy what I hope will be an interesting and fun book, you actually bought the school uniform or the algebra book or the university tuition for a young Juan or Juanita who, without your help could not be in school at all.
Muchas gracias and ya'll come, you hear!
Polly G. Vicars
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, México
August, 1995
 Polly G. Vicars and her husband of 57 years, Hubert (a.k.a. "Husband") retired to Puerto Vallarta in 1988 and soon became active members of several charitable organizations. Polly is the author of "Tales of Retirement in Paradise: Life in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico" [a sell-out!] and "More Tales of Retirement in Puerto Vallarta and Around the World." Proceeds from the sale of her books go to the America-Mexico Foundation, a scholarship foundation that is their passion.
Click HERE for more articles by Polly Vicars. |
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