Happy Fishes

I am a Happy Fish.

Truely, swimming in Caneel Bay this week, scraping barnacles off the bottom of our Park boat, I recognized that I didn't taste the salt in the water. I wasn't putting my face down to see what creatures might be waiting to bite my toes. I'm finally so comfortable and at peace with my place in the world and feel incrediably blessed and happy. Can't get a hitch? One will come eventually. Internet doesn't work? No worries, I'll check email tomorrow. PB and J again? Bring it on.



With 11 days of family and friend visitors coming to an end, I had a day to sit and reflect on how amazing this island really is. It's always been amazing in my own eyes, but we as humans seek to share what we see with others so we can validate our own experiences.



We.......swam with a sea turtle, became conch-fritter-connoisuers, visited the BVI, went on culinary adventures :), threw a jammin dinner party, found bioluminesence, pet a donkey, snorkeled the "Indians", participated in an entire tent tearing down and setting up team (I have a new tent with a zipper!), danced like wild vildehyas (Joy, how to spell that?), drank entirely way too much rum punch, ate breakfast on the beach, ate a sundae as big as our heads, and saw more stars than I could ever imagine counting.



Because I could do all of these things with unbelievably generous friends and family, my experience has become fuller and richer and I'm so lucky to know such amazing people. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

With such fancy new digs, a cooler full of food (DAD: how did you know I love Nutella??! Thank you!) and visions of returning to a DC bursting with cherry blossoms, I am indeed, a very happy fish.



A notice to all: I am completely stocked with peanut butter.

This blog's song is for Grandma. Allison Hinds is known as the SoCa Queen (Southern Caribbean) and my favorite song by her is "Faluma". So Grams, that goes out to you because you, too are a SoCa Queen!

Next Up: Puerto Rrrrrrriico! Ya ready, Hot Pants?

Much love to all, I'll be back so soon ;)

A Guest Feature-- Segment by Joy

It's not every trip you can say you've stayed in an exclusive villa, rouged-it in a tent, ran into a scorpion, petted an adorable donkey that we just bumped into, hitch-hiked my away around an island and vacationed at what is considered by some as one of the top ten beautiful beaches in the world. I will say I've 'majobled' myself to many islands and this has been the most breathtaking that I've seen. I'd say this has to with the island being extremely underdeveloped, as two thirds of the island is national park. The many beaches are quiet, with trails leading down from the woods. I almost felt like I was in an episode of Lost-- I didn't think these type of islands still existed. I suppose that's also why everything is outrageously expensive- I'm still not over a carton of milk costing $5.99.

In any event, I won't get boggled down in details, because this is my one and only blog and my Guest Feature, guest entry... So what to tell of our experience...

I am quite impressed by Jill's resourcefulness and camping attitude and personality. Yes, the island is equisitely gorgeous, but there is no luxury in her accomodations. The frigid cold shower on the chain was quite the wake-up call. She warned me and told me you get adjusted, but there is nothing remotely enjoyable about cleaning, and I'm not sure I believe in her getting used to frigid cold philosophy... I loved the tent apartment, minus the killer Scorpion (ok, maybe exaggerating on the killer part) and the stiff back. Jill's newfound amigos, Skye (quinissential name for the type of islanders and visitors that frequent this island) and Eric (Ejj) and Kevin (Moon- yes Moon because he's out there, like it...) were all very fun and sweet and made my trip that much more interesting. Thank you ejj for the deliciously packed lunch, beautiful hand-made necklace and the delicious Antiguan coffee. The people I met who lived on St. John, mostly limited to our hitchhiking buddies are all slightly quirky, but also really friendly and warm.

Jill's family is wonderful! Perhaps when they read this blog, they can think about making me an honorary family member. They were so gracious, warm and fun!!! They rented a villa for the week so our first two nights were spent in their gorgeous week home enjoying the overlook. My full-day with her family consisted of time visiting beaches, snorkeling around a wildly huge turtle, a delicious lunch and a fun night out on the town. Yes, family, my name IS Happy!

It is really hard to sum up this trip, but hope these highlights share some of our experiences. Jill's doing amazing in her two-month home we all look forward for you to return back to your real one. Lots of love and island wishes to Jilly.

I will dedicate this segment's song, "Coconut (put the lime in the coconut) to Ejj and Jilly for their island supper--

~Joy