Happiness Is ... The End

[pswlrw]

It’s Friday and the California kids are leaving today. Monique and I have our last coffee together on the deck, playing our new favorites songs and enjoying the view. Tom, Pete and Lisa get up and we all have a few more laughs together. A little background … Pete and Lisa lost their home in the California fires this year. They lost everything but their dogs and their cars. It has obviously been a trying time for and we were afraid they wouldn’t be able to make the trip. Well, they just bought a new house the week before they came and they were able to make the trip and St. John worked its magic healing on them. My brother came and picked them up at 10 to bring them to the airport. It was a tough goodbye. We are hopeful that we’ll all be together again next year.





Tom and I lounged in the pool for a bit while the “kids” slept. I had a moment. Lounging on a raft, sun shining, palm trees swaying and Kenny on the Ipod singing “No Where to Go and No Where to Be” and it was true! Ahhhh.



The two of us pack up a cooler and head to … wait for it … Trunk! In all my trips, this is the first time I have gone anywhere without a jeep full of people. Wow – this is easy!! We find a spot under a seagrape, get some painkillers from the Trunk Bay ladies and sit back and relax. Wow!



We head back to the villa and get ready to meet my brother and his fiancé for dinner at Paradiso. I love the look of this room. All stone and candle light. Had a lovely time and some last laughs before saying good bye to my brother.



The rest of us head over for one last evening at Woodys!! We made paper plate messages for the Cali kids and other cousins from past trips for the Woody’s website and we made it on there!! Yeah!!



We head back to the villa for one last soak in the hot tub.

We all get up and out the next morning, return the rental cars to St. John Car Rental and head over to the Walk of Woe ferry. I get to say goodbye to Ruth (thanks for taking the picture Ruth!) and get on the CA ferry. Gotta say, I love this ferry v. the Red Hook ferry. A beautiful ride to start the process of returning to reality.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Crying can feel really good!

French fries taste amazing in the Caribbean.

I am blessed that so many of my dearest friends are also my family.

Painkillers are aptly named.

Sandy Spit did not lose its magic when it lost its palm tree.

Singing together makes everyone happy.

I had another amazing trip this year, the magic of St. John helping me reconnect with people I love – those I don’t see often and those I see every day.

[bevm]

I'm so glad you all had a wonderful trip Paula. It was so nice to meet you!!

[pswlrw]

You too Bev! Hopefully we will be on island together again.

[bevm]

I hope so too. All I can say is you had the most blissful look on your face when we met. Maybe we all look like that to each other because we love where are and who we're with so much??

[pswlrw]

I think you're right. Happiness is ... St. John.

[piscesgirl0314]

Your entire trip report was wonderful...reading the last report brought tears to my eyes...thanks for sharing with us...

[Connie]

Great trip report. Loved it.

Glad you had a great time and hope you can many many more trips like just had.

[Jo Ann - VA]

I have throughly enjoyed your trip reports! Thanks for doing them. Isn't it funny how everyone seems to find peace and serenity at St John?

[Ksea]

Thanks for sharing your trip. All installments were really great and I loved the pictures!

[liamsaunt]

Thanks for the great report, Paula. That's a lovely ending picture of Trunk Bay.

[chrisn]

Very nicely done. Great ending. Thanks for sharing.

[cptnkirk]

Great reports and pics well done

[teefal]

Loved hearing about the connection time with your daughter.