Happy Anniversary to us

lprof · Post by **lprof** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 9:34 pm

Knolmom wrote: The last two years have not been good, with medical issues for both Rich and I. But broken down and beaten up as we are right now, we could wait no longer and we just had to book a trip to help with the healing. A phenominal opportunity for a last minute deal at Villa Ellison will have us in Paradise before you know it. We're pushing up our Anniversary Celebration from May to "come soon". Too soon to even set up a ticker.

Knolmom, wishing you a peaceful, healing time on the island and a smooth journey. Enjoy that 10th anniversary and Congratulations!

(You may have heard... cold in Gainesville!)

brenda · Post by **brenda** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 10:45 pm

Great story, Pip. Loved it

.

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 12:09 am

Thanks Pip! I'm with Mary Beth & Barb Y... a little misty here! We found St. John in a very similar way and I started saving to go back that very day!

Pete (Mr. Marcia) · Post by **Pete (Mr. Marcia)** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 3:04 am

For a whinny son of a bitch, that sure was a nice story...thanks

cptnkirk · Post by **cptnkirk** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 4:52 am

Great story Pip

We cruised about the same time and skipped St John in favor of shopping STT and Coki Beach. Worked out ok though, spent the next six or seven years discovering the Carribean and then found St John. It's been our little piece of Nirvana ever since.

pipanale · Post by **pipanale** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 9:49 am

Funny addendum to the story.

We're about to undergo a major remodel of the basement (it should make for good tales), but part of the prep is packing up said basement. We dug out a box last night called "combined work box". It had our work desk knick nacks in it.

Since I never plan to go back to a real office to work and the Mrs isn't working, we decided to go through it. We found a bunch of pictures, little things one keeps on one's desk and then a wrapped package of something.

I opened it...and out tumbled 2 rocks and a hot sauce bottle.

The rocks were from that trip to Cinnamon Bay and the bottle held sand from said beach.

10 years to the day.

Those 2 rocks are going in my box of office things to be unpacked into my new home office.

Dawg Lover · Post by **Dawg Lover** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 10:54 am

Great story! Thanks for sharing!

Bigcheeze · Post by **Bigcheeze** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 11:00 am

GREAT story and it's almost exactly how it happened to us...Cruise ship...rent a jeep...drive around...drinking and driving is ok..but must wear seat belts...beautiful beach after beautiful beach...a certain vibe that was hard to explain 14 years ago.

Now we're about to spend Easter Break # 8(in a row) with 13 yr old DS, 9yr DS, parents and another couple and their 2 boys(their 5 trip now).

We have the Name picked out for our Charter Business:

CAT N TONIC

Dave

Coden · Post by **Coden** » Sun Jan 10, 2010 8:26 am

Pretty much our story as well...in 2002 we discovered St. John from a catamaran snorkeling excursion to Honeymoon Beach and once there said... We will be back!

Thanks for the memories and Happy Anniversary!

cocosmom · Post by **cocosmom** » Sun Jan 10, 2010 9:12 am

I am a math teacher so my story will be short & concrete;
Hubby won a trip to the now Westin 20 years ago. We all said WHERE are we going as we got on the little ferry at Red Hook with all the school kids going home. The hotel was nice, crappy beach did nothing for us. The next day we rented a jeep and WOW!!!!! Every corner the girls yelled stop and ran out to the different beaches. It was a short stay but it hooked us for life! Loved your story.

jimg20 · Post by **jimg20** » Sun Jan 10, 2010 2:28 pm

Knolmom wrote:The last two years have not been good, with medical issues for both Rich and I. But broken down and beaten up as we are right now, we could wait no longer and we just had to book a trip to help with the healing.

Koolmom, it's a magic kind of medicine no doctor could prescribe. JB

Pip, the best gifts are often those that are unexpected. They bless us for the rest of our lives.

Our story is similar but different. We had been going to PR where my company was sending me for projects in the mid '90s. We did all we wanted to do and asked our travel agent for some suggestions. Lisa asked if we had ever been to St Thomas. She was telling us about STT and said, "if you go, you have to take the ferry over to St John."

We did go to STT and quickly "called in quit."

The next day we took the RH ferry over to Cruz Bay. We hopped on a taxi and went to Trunk Bay. We sat on the right side of the beach with an older couple who told us that they were American expats who simply packed up and moved to STJ. They became our role models right there.

We heard the annoncements telling people to get a taxi so they could make their deadline for the cruise ship. We knew at that monent that we could not take a vacation with those kinds of deadlines. We find it difficult enough to hit a two-hour window at the Beach Bar Sunday evenings.

We returned to STT several more times and always made the ferry ride over to STJ.

In 2007 while on STT we discovered this Forum. Soon after we learned about RickG's nearly inexhustable knowledge and experience.

We learned what a gifted writer and photographer VickiH is.

We also learned what a great friend Ruth is to all of us. We saw what talented dancers Pip and Kellyanna are.

We learned how to find a good villa, a good hamburger, and a great beach. Most importantly, we learned where to find good friends and a good time.

Thank you everyone.

JIM

mindehankins · Post by **mindehankins** » Sun Jan 10, 2010 4:39 pm

Knolmom wrote:The last two years have not been good, with medical issues for both Rich and I. But broken down and beaten up as we are right now, we could wait no longer and we just had to book a trip to help with the healing. A phenominal opportunity for a last minute deal at Villa Ellison will have us in Paradise before you know it. We're pushing up our Anniversary Celebration from May to "come soon". Too soon to even set up a ticker.

Awwwwww.... I so hear ya. We found St. John when my husband, out of sheer desperation, offered to take us on a trip "anywhere that will make you feel better, baby." I'd had a stroke and our home burglarized in the space of a month, and had developed a deep depression. I'd always wanted to go to St. John, and we did. And it worked it's magic. St. John is where my soul shines, and planning our next trip keeps it shining!
Pip, this was a great story! One of your best! Happy St. John anniversary!

islandmom · Post by **islandmom** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:13 pm

Oh, fiddle! I was keeping it together pretty well until I read Minde's post...now I seem to have this giant lump in my throat. Beautiful posts...thanks to all.

Minde, I'm glad your found healing in STJ and hope you find the same, Knolmom.

mahojim · Post by **mahojim** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 3:28 pm

WHOA...
Lots of emotion flying around here!
I'm with you as far as JJ's. Slammin' Bloody mary's, great food & atmosphere.
Had the (mis?)fortune of sleeping on one of the park benches one night after LOADS of rum. And tequila I think...but that's another story.
Yours is wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing, happy anniversary, and always
Smiles-
MJ

NCSue · Post by **NCSue** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 11:06 am

MBW - SOBBING. I'm glad I wasn't the only one crying! We go in July - our first trip back in almost 4 years! CANNOT wait. We go with my brother, his wife, their two kids, and her niece and hubby. A LARGE group of 11 will invade in July. We made the mistake of taking our kids on our 2nd trip down - now they're hooked as well. And for the record - I LOVE those little chickens at JJs!

usvi-on-line