So I mentioned in my Botan Clan post about my botanical family that my biological family was visiting me here on Statia, but I never got the chance to tell you about hanging with them. They were here for 10 wonderful days of adventuring and relaxing. I had such a great time with them here, and I’m not sure if they know how much I appreciated them coming. (Thanks guys! You’re the best!)
When they landed at the tiny airport they were not expecting to see me because I had told them that I was working and wouldn’t be able to make it. Little did they know I was on my way with a gaggle of kids to greet them. We had just taken the summer club kids on a field trip to see what we could find in the tidepools and on our way back I told them we had to make a quick stop at the airport to meet my family and welcome them to Statia. They were very excited about this idea. I asked if they could all say, “welcome to Satia” when I gave them the signal, but they had an even better plan and decided to sing to my family instead! We pulled up to the airport and I saw my family walking away about to get into a car with the woman we rented the house from, so we had to chase them down before they left. I ran up to my family with 10 little kids running behind me singing “Welcome to Statia, yeah yeah, Beautiful Statia, yeah yeah”. I was so excited to see them I was jumping around giving them hugs like a madwoman. I think they were a bit surprised! Later, Russ said, “that was so crazy! But at the same time it totally made sense. I thought, ‘yeah, Coral would show up running down the street with a bunch of singing kids’”. I think it was a proper first impression of Statia.
We had planned on renting a car for the week, but there were no cars available on the island (probably because it was Carnival week) so we HAD to get 3 scooters. A few hours later, after zipping around the island, we were all so happy there were no cars available. The scooters were so much fun! We started calling ourselves the Hines Angels.
After eating dinner and catching up a bit, I whisked my brothers away to a BBQ, even though they had been traveling all day and had only had a few hours of sleep the night before. Troopers, those boys. They immediately fit right in with my friends here. My boss was hosting the party and it wasn’t too long before she was saying “They are so much fun! Can we keep them?” :)
Russ, being the outgoing individual that he is, made friends with people on the island very quickly. We would even sometimes hear his name being called out as we drove by on the scooters. Dutch, our friend and a local here, told me recently that he talked to Russ on the phone! I haven’t even talked or emailed with him since they left! Tisk tisk, Bad sister.
Nat became basically famous for his dance moves. One night when we were out at Superburger (burger joint by day, bar with dance floor by night) Nat stole the show and amazed everyone there with his INCREDIBLE Michael Jackson inspired dance moves. He was so good he cleared the floor (Gill and I gave up and started bowing down to the master) and the DJ kept playing MJ song after MJ song to keep him going. Eventually he was covered in sweat and had to ask the DJ to stop playing MJ, because he literally couldn’t stop moving if those funky beats were still playing. I don’t know if I have ever laughed so hard in my life. I had no idea he was so good!
It was carnival week so the constant sound of a base thumping and people laughing became background music, blending in with the crickets and tree frogs. One night, after partying and swimming off the pier, Nat, Russ and I got home around 4 in the morning. That morning the Juve Jump Up parade was beginning at 5 in the morning and I tried to convince them to go with me. They said they would lay down for a bit and then I could wake them up when it was time to go. Riiiight. They wouldn’t budge. But then my ever-faithful adventure companion, my Dad, woke up and decided to go with me. My Dad and I always seem to be the hardcore experience-seekers during our family vacations. I think it goes all the way back to when I was about 8 years old and we were camping at the Grand Canyon. My dad and I would wake up super early to watch the sunrise while the others slept. I remember so clearly (and I usually have a bad memory) sitting there drinking hot chocolate and watching the shadows move and transform on the red rocks as the sun came up. In Yellowstone a couple years ago my Dad and I outlasted everyone (including a National Geographic photographer!) while watching a dead Bison carcass, waiting to see if a grizzly or wolf would come back to eat some more. Anyway, thanks for the support Dad! Even if we only lasted at the parade for 20 minutes, we can say we went. :)
We all agreed that the week was a good balance of partying, adventuring, and relaxing. I took them hiking up and down into the volcano, we went snorkeling, we walked on Zeelandia beach looking for turtle tracks, and my Dad and brothers got SCUBA certified! So then we all got to go diving together! It was great to dive with my Mom again, and so fun to watch the newbies experience the magic of the underwater world. After a dive Nat said “I had a moment down there where I thought ‘I have been underwater for half and hour and I’m still alive!’”. I was so happy to share my passion with them and show them what my life is all about here, and to see them enjoying it so much!
We spent a lot of time hanging out with Walter, the bartender down at the Gin House (he says Hi by the way!) drinking Presidente and Pina Coladas, going back and forth from swimming in the sea to sitting in the chairs sipping on drinks and chatting. Many mornings were spent lazing about on the porch at the house they rented, drinking coffee, reading books, and enjoying the breeze. I was so excited to soak up the simple luxuries living in a house provides. Such as showering with warm water, without wearing sandals and then coming out to clean, dry towels! Internet, a tv, a toaster, a cutting board, a coffee machine, a washing machine, no rats, no mice poop in my clothes in the morning, only a couple cockroaches and spiders....amazing! To me it was a vacation spent in luxury! It’s good to be reminded of all the little things you take for granted. Family included! You guys are all wonderful people. I love spending time with you! Thanks so much for coming down. It went by way too fast and I wish you were still here. I can’t wait till our next family vacation....where ever it may be! xoxo
P.S. I wanted to share some pictures of the Hines Angels scooter gang, but once again I am having technical difficulties (aka I lost my charger and usb chord for my camera....oops!)
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