STJ...It's about the people

[patr]

I will echo Ruth and Ron, they always have time to chat, no matter if you run into them in the shop , the park , post office or any other random place.

Also have to say ditto to Capt Phil and Tarn. Super nice folks. We also enjoy Mike and Eileen, the owners of Sailview.

Rich from Lime Inn is another great island guy. Last year we were there so much, he started comping us drinks!

Mark M. - realtor and villa manager, very nice and eager to share his thoughts regarding island living.

[Bug]

Wow, you guys and gals pretty much named them all but least we forget Lindy. It wasn't STJ until you got to see Lindy

I know he's not there in person any longer but I'm sure his spirit is still crusin' around Cruz Bay. I will always lay a pack of cigs on the park bench in honor of him.

XOXO
Bug

[JT]

Pete, Great post! I have always felt that the spirit of Love City was what made it special. The way folks would rally with benefits for someone who was down on their luck, be it health issues, or maybe a a need for a ticket stateside to be with a sick mom. The whole KIDS thing out of Skinny's. Many of the long time servers are such unique personalities. Some have moved on. Most of mine are from the "Far Side",meaning Coral Bay.I'd add few more I don't think have been mentioned, and could mention many more if it wasn't for the grey matter:

Doug Sicca, R.I.P. He seasoned the burgers with essence of the tradewinds, and spiked the drinks with tall tales.
Moe
Mean Jean
Lorretta
"Dozier" Tom
Pirate Bill
Henry
Peter Muilenberg
Sleepy Tom
Billy Dove of book-it-vi and Chilly Billy's
Shipwreck's Donna Sanford, voted "Best Pour"
Capt. George Markwwood
"Santa" George of Keep Me Posted
Ms.Vie
Victor
Vicki H's "Mullet Man", i.e. Ken the Architect
Larry, formerly of Skinny's and Aqua Bistro
Kenny, Jeannie and Emily from Island Blues
Russell, former Shipwreck Chef
Lysa mentioned Barr, but also Christopher, her longtime significant other.
Karen and Kay from windspree

There's oh so many others.

[LysaC]

i forgot to give props to miss vie and her daughter.

also forgot to give mega props to the new owners of the donkey diner. this is a great couple! between eating at dd so much and being around coral bay, we saw them everyday and chatted each time. good people!

[mbw1024]

who is this Ruth you all speak of?

Anyone know who this guy is? First time on island we ran in to him several times and last time we saw him again at the Beach Bar and were surprised he remembered us. He told us his name is Kenny and that he's from New Jersey but who knows!

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qm ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_SlEH6DLCO2I/Rb9po ... 1.JPG"></a>

[RickG]

It really is the people that bring us back. Seeing Ruth & Ron waving to us from the balcony as we got off the ferry the last trip had us in tears, like a homecoming.

In no particular order:

Dana from Carlina Corral
Casper at Jakes
Karaoke Debbie
Kirk!
Gretchen from CBR, who I usually ambush at Pine Peace Market, she has no idea who I am.
Cheech, Kevin & Meghan from Tap Room/St. John Brewers

adding to the chorus:

John & Susan Brandi
Pia & Les
Donna at Shipwreck
Todd & Chad at Woody's
Vie
Sloop Jones

Plus all the people who's names we don't know that we say hi to every trip. "Where ya been, did ya move to Coral Bay?" they ask us.

Cheers, RickG

[Pete (Mr. Marcia)]

Two, other former Stone Terrace people I should have mentioned...Carla and Erin. Carla moved off island, don't know where Erin is.

So many of the people we spent time talking to were at the Stone Terrace...Dave, Allen, Carla, Erin...no wonder we miss that place so much.

[designbyroe]

Great idea for a post!!!

I also lived on island and some of the people I came to love no longer are around

Kenny and Kelly and even Van at Quiet Mon.....they had my back and they are just such joys to be around

Ruth and Ron and everyone at St. John Spice.......such a welcome you get when you see them

MaLinda and Jaime and Tom and Oliver from Tradewinds.....I just love them

All the Schnells.....Debbie, Donald, Abby and her bros.
I love CJ, Abby's hubby and his parents Jerry and Tish from Soggy Dollar

Sheffy......Delit Grotto...best hugs
Herman..who makes the wood pieces I just love talking with him
Lonnie and Albert Willis....
Mr. Benjamin........he is such a joy to be around
Moe and everyone at Skinny's
Prince and Rose at Sweet Plaintains
Cid and her group at Connections
Michelle and Boo at Beach bar....know Michells is gone

Russ and Jeff when they are on island....
Celia and everyone at Tamarind Court

I know I am missing so many people that are such a joy and such a gift.....a true blessing to have met them in my lifetime

My fav will always be Bully and Ivan....

[Captain John]

who is this Ruth you all speak of?

Anyone know who this guy is? First time on island we ran in to him several times and last time we saw him again at the Beach Bar and were surprised he remembered us. He told us his name is Kenny and that he's from New Jersey but who knows!

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qm ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_SlEH6DLCO2I/Rb9po ... 1.JPG"></a>

That's Kenny Rawlings, he works in the construction trade. He is also an unbelievable percussionist. He came here years ago from northern NJ. His biggest contribution to the St. John community is that he is a drug counselor. He does this all on his own no fee's no govt. help. I asked him once why he did this. His answer was these people need help and know one is helping. He's just a great man..

[Bug]

Anyone know who this guy is? First time on island we ran in to him several times and last time we saw him again at the Beach Bar and were surprised he remembered us. He told us his name is Kenny and that he's from New Jersey but who knows!

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qm ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_SlEH6DLCO2I/Rb9po ... 1.JPG"></a>

MaryBeth:

I actually met Kenny my first time in STJ also. I've seen him every trip since and he always remembers me as the "skeeter girl". He told me that he is a social worker of sorts, that works with the locals who have addiction problems. I know that he has children who range in age from 30's to a new baby who is probably around 3 or 4 now. I have 12 years difference between my children, can you imagine 30 year???

He taught me a very valuable lesson on my first trip. I was covered with bites (and I do mean covered) and he was having breakfast next to us. He looked right at me and asked me what kind of soap I used. I thought this was quite the weird question from a stranger. I proudly told him I used Raspberry body wash. He laughed and said "no wonder all the skeeters are eating you, they think your fruit." The light bulb went on. Ahhh,Duhhhh!! I went right to the Dolphin and bought some manly soap!! Thus "skeeter girl".

XOXO
Bug

[mbw1024]

Thanks for the info on Kenny. We enjoy talking to him when we are there. We call him exit 9 Kenny cuz that's where he told us he was from

[designbyroe]

I love Kenny.........I remember he and Bully worked together and he and Richard and Bully would be at the sites and I would go and say hi.
When we buried Bully in 2005,after that I did not get back til 2008 since my mom was ill with cancer.
When I saw him for the first time in March 2008 at Quiet Mon it was like old times.....just started talking like not a day had passed.......
That is just the way St. John is........you can leave and when you return you are remembered just like it was yesterday

[Marcia (Mrs. Pete)]

One other person Pete and I truly enjoyed talking to (on a couple of occasions) is Cliff. He built the bar at the Beach Bar. Very, very kind and interesting fellow.

[brenda]

In addition to the obvious wonderful people mentioned such as Ruth and Ron, Pia and Les, Kirk, and John Brandi, We would like to add Mr and Mrs Captain Jay. We met them right before they moved and love their company.

There are also many locals who probably wouldn't remember our names, but we remember them. We met Tyler from Cafe Roma/Gecko Gazebo last trip and thought he was a hoot. Demetrius from The Banana Deck, Boo, and the staff at Everyting at Gallow's Point come to mind. I could go on.....

[Cruzan Chris]

Pete ,you hit the topic right on target..Island Girl & I have
been going to St.John for over a decade now and always miss the people we have met and the friends we have made while we were there. They are the reason we always want to go back !!
Our list would have to start like this :

(St.Thomas first)J.C.Penny our cab driver...very warm & friendly...always insists we call him when we arrive or when we leave the Islands...

Stephen & Dwayne at Cool Breeze...always made sure we had a rental car even in high season..

BoB & Marlene at Star Villas...our first stay was with them
(rented from them 5 times)very nice people...

Oscar & his Daughters from the old and new Starfish Markets...would always stop what he was doing to say hello to me & then search the store for Island Girl to give her a "Welcome Back"hug (and to offer her a job at his store)...

Ras Paul,Jupiter,Grasshopper & Mr.Snooze from Inner Visions...(Island Girls Guys)from Freds Place...

(MY BROTHA)Paulie & (SISTA)Donna from Jay's Place...
(WE LOVE YOU GUYS & MISS YOU VERY MUCH)who we try to call often...(The CREW )from Jay's, Clayton the DARE Cop, Terry,
Mike,Prince, Joe & many others we have met through the years at that little yellow shack...

(SISTA)ANETHA...who had a booth in the park(Braided Island Girls hair)and drove for the Westin...it didn't matter if she had a full truck with guests , if she saw us in the village , she would stop in the middle of the street , jump out & give us a big hug....(Warm Smile)...

Ron & Ruth from St.John Spice(No doubt GREAT people)always friendly and have a nice place to shop...(Obsessed with your SPICE CAM)...

Todd & Chad from Woody's....see them every year ,good friends(still hard to tell you guys apart !!)....

VIE from the East End....very nice lady, great food,& a Very beautiful beach....

SLIMMAN & his Sister....good conversations , always says hello to us.....

Mary Pat at Connections...nice and very helpful...

Curtis...a local I gave a ride down Pocket Money Hill while I was waiting for Island Girl to come out of Connections and who we met as our GREETER from CVR to Cruz Views a year later....

Anne Marie the Minister...who we have met on Trunk Bay a few times and even witnessed weddings for her.....

All of the FELLOW FORUMITES ...that we have Bumped into no matter where we were at or what we were doing , all over the Island.....

Many other locals whose names were forgotten over the years...but we will never forget you all for making our stay on Island a most pleasant one.....

Last but not Least....LINDY...(WE WILL ALWAYS MISS YOU)...

ST.JOHN ALWAYS IN OUR HEARTS !!!

Cruzan Chris & Island Girl