Attempt number one at getting our USVI license. Fail. Need driving record from Illinois. Need notarized permission slip to gain such document. Need willing family member victim to pick such document up. Need printed application filled out. Need to get a clue. Need to learn to roll my eyes like that. I seriously thought I had "You're a fucking idiot' down, turns out, I am a Grasshopper.
Finally we took Scarlett to "Elsa's house", aka "Magic Ice". Magic Ice is a 8,000 sf Ice sculpture museum in downtown Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas USVI, makes complete sense? As a person that lives here, all I could think about is their WAPA bill. If our electricity bill is five hundred dollars, and we never turned on our air, not once, then what is this McMansion sized refrigerator running each month? I've heard horror stories of some of the little grocery stores having to close down just because their bills were 10k+ every month, and "Magic Ice" can afford to pay to keep this at a balmy 22 degrees? It was pretty "cool", I've got to admit, and with Frozen being the latest OBSESSION these people should be raking cashola in. Will they capitalize on that? No, no way. There aren't a lot of "business minded folk" around here.
We went to Coral World, A-MAZING. It has tons of exhibits including sharks and stingrays. You can even swim with the sharks if you are really stupid and have some cash. We were allowed to pet the starfish, and that was free, all while a very knowledgable guide teaches you everything you never knew you ever cared about before about Starfish. It had a huge bird exhibit, and by "huge" I mean the birds were massive. The place was really child friendly. Actually, I hate to blow my cover, I really loved it too, animals and all.
So since I have arrived here, I have made so many new friends, I am really starting to feel at home here. I love it. I noticed a few weeks ago that there WAS one type of islander that consistently dismisses my existence. "Rastafarians" hate me. Even their babies hate me, that is no shit. I tried to smile at this sweet little baby boy and say "hi", he looked at me in disgust, made a face like I had just bare butt farted in his, and started the "active ignore process", which I happen to know all toddlers are good at, not just this lil jerk. This is my latest challenge, to befriend just one "Rasta". Step one, find out why? Well, "they" hate being called "Rastafarian". They hate being called anything that puts them into a category. I can relate. They hate religion. I think I am "Rastafarian". They hate western ways. Hmmm, yeah, I can feel that.
Not saying I am never going to stop at a Starbucks again, but I get it. I do feel that my skin color isn't helping me out here. They don't put anything processed in their bodies. Which I totally agree with! Not all of "them" smoke pot, so my idea of attaching my smiling picture to a bong and passing it around won't work. My goal is to befriend a "long haired black man or women that wears the colors red, yellow, and green", they know my name, I know theirs, and we smile back and forth, and preferably I don't make them puke, or have to fight puking. Goals are so good to have.
This week contained the biggest success in my "Rastafriending Movement" yet. For 10 weeks I have waived every. single. day. to my neighbor up the road, not once has he even acknowledged my existence, he has perfected looking though me. THIS WEEK HE WAIVED. I think he senses that I am relentless. I am so honored. This is a win, albeit small, but a win nonetheless.
Nonny and Poppy left, it was the fastest visit ever. I missed them immediately when we pulled away.
Lastly, I want to talk about the best thing all week, well, beside the wave. Jason, Scarlett, and I have been going to the beach every morning, mainly because we can, but also to establish getting her out of the house early, so it is not such a lifestyle change when she heads to school, lump-in-throat. Any who... Yesterday we went and right when we arrived a dark rain cloud saunters over us, I was a little bummed at first because we had already paid to get in. It started to rain...
We swam anyway. I will never ever be able to describe just how majestic this was. It was a tropical downpour, hard and heavy rain, straight down. The ocean seemed to glow, misty aqua, and you could get down to water level and see all the rain drops ca-plunk into the water, kind of like a purified water commercial, except thousands at once. The ocean seemed still, and warm, and the smell was heavenly, like one of those candles named after ocean and rain, except it was actually good. The sound was loud and quiet all at once, and I know that makes no sense at all, but it is the only way I can say it... It felt like Jason, Scarlett, and I were the only ones in the world. It brings tears to my eyes when I think about how magical it felt. I will never avoid the beach again when it looks like rain, in fact, I can't wait for a rainy day.
Love. This. Island.
