We just signed another year lease, gone is the lie of being down here for just a year and then moving to southern California, a truth no one but us really believed anyway. Shit, people were more likely to not believe we were moving at all than support the notion that once we got here we were going to leave after just 12 short months. Well, you all were right.
There have been so many changes in our lives. Jason and I are closer than ever, the kind of close that only happens when you move somewhere that you only know ONE person, and that person lives with you. Never before moving here had we ever had a yelling argument, well, never a sober one for sure. Now, thanks to our new found passion and closeness, we are not afraid to let each other know exactly how we feel, I mean really, what am I gonna do? Leave? With this new found talent we have also found that we are much more grateful for each other, proud of each other, and constantly pat one another on the back about how fucking fabulous we are for having the moxie to do this. We also have so many plans for our future, plans that are big and beautiful and exciting. Usually it is hard for me to write about the respect I have or Jason, what we have done here is really become a team.
Jason and I laugh a lot here, well, we do have a 3 year old, who, well, to put it lightly is FIERCE. We have grown accustomed to exchanging several stories about the "CRAZIES" of the island, and yes, there is multiple stories a day. Just yesterday Jason told me about "The Russians" being a big concern to one of our guys, while I know that "The Chinese" are a huge concern to another, basically, Vladimar Putin may have gotten ahold of your egg rolls and possibly your iphones, that is the warning I am taking from it all. Frankly, the crazies here are easier to understand to me than the sheep in the suburbs, screaming at one another to get in the right lane, giving each other the bird, all the while having that Jesus fish on the back of their minivans. Oh, and just so ya know, I see based on that family schematic on the back of your ride that you have 2 kids that you are going to have questions about why they don't show you respect, no, no, I deserved that bird.
My sister seems to think that I am a better driver here on the island. I believe that I am better because I have to be. There is no way I could survive coming around a mountain, talking on the phone, texting, checking my emails, doing my makeup, eating, drinking a latte, while steering with my knee, so basically, I just don't. I did because I could, now I don't because I can't. Darwin would be so proud.
I have definitely gotten over my phobia of large insects. Maybe not gotten over it, but I am well on my way. 3 scorpions, 2 large spiders, and a partridge in a pear tree later, I go into kill mode, but I no longer FREAK OUT COMPLETELY. I've had to kill a palm sized spider on my own, I am pretty sure I can take a human life now if pushed hard enough, or if the fucker looks creepy enough. Elvis, my beloved insect killer is by my side, and as long as I have him, the bugs and I can co-exist. Well, wait, not co-exist, we can be neighbors that don't hang out.
It's coming around to summer, goodbye to the 15 thousand tourists off the cruise ships and hello ocean bathwater temperatures. My pool is exactly the right temperature for me, which means it is too warm for everyone else. Everyone won't miss the tourists, I will, I love to see them "tour". My favorite is the arguing, obviously long time married couples, of course, I love when anyone gets one each others nerves, I try to catch my Momma and Poppy on video when ever possible. Maybe that is what I'll do with my very valuable life when Scarlett heads off to school, I'll video tourists fighting. This could end up awesome. Usually they are uncomfortably sunburnt, with a hat that has a brim that seriously hinders vision, they are either in gym shoes that make their feet sweat, or an un-sensible shoe that has no business being downtown in a shopping hell, oh, downtown is always hot, and dirty. Note: The people with the attractive shoes always win the argument. Obviously, they are in survival mode. Either way, all these factors of un-comfort lead up to max frustration, not to mention being stuck in a stateroom with the person you settled for for a god damned week. I'm surprised that there aren't more murders on those boats.
Cruisers are hilarious people.
The ones who stay are the jewels. Scarlett belongs to a preschool co-op, for those of you who aren't treehugging hippie mom's that is where a bunch of brave people get together and all take turns teaching the group of little ones. Our group has seven 3 and 4 year olds, we meet every Friday, and each week is a different lesson usualy involving crafts. It has become my favorite day of the week. The morning we have preschool, and that night we have family fun night, and in the middle Scarlett takes a nap. Perfect! The best part of the co-op is that you don't have some random person telling you that you cannot travel with your child, school is lockdown. It'll come soon enough.
Scarlett has blossomed here, a child who was basically never around anyone the first few years of her life is now surrounded by people who are so interested in her, and friends that are her age. She is in dance class every Saturday, Taco night on Mondays, and inevitably beach dates and playdates throughout the week. She swims with her life jacket finally, I thought my finger was going to fall off, seriously, for the first year, she swam in the pool and the beach holding my right forefinger, refusing to wear her life jacket, now she's discovered the freedom, and both of our lives are better for it. I'm pretty sure there will be some long term arthritic effects to show for this year.
I looked at her fire lit face while she roasted a marshmallow under the stars, on one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen, surrounded by sweet friends, and I knew we were where we needed to be.
This winter we had a total of 3 weeks without a visitor, and I loved it. Everyone who seems to come to this island can see why we love this place. Our last visitors were Carolee and Larry, and Scarlett's self proclaimed new bestie Autumn, it is not mutual, Autumn is 16 and likely feels that there is little in common, Scarlett however decided that she is a God to be worshipped and often.
We took a trip to Virgin Gorda, stayed in a villa that my friend John set us up in, it was fabulous. John is my dear friend that likes to fire me up about politics, and consequently agrees with everything I say, he may be your first bleeding heart staunch republican, and he made us feel so welcome, and I cannot wait to go back. I am literally making excuses as we speak to get there. I think it is probably a good idea to go British for my 38th birthday, if anyone knows how to turn 38 it's the Brits.
Well, here is to another year on this fantastic ROCK!
