Caribbean Note #39

Hey Y’all,

It seems like it’s been 58 days since we’ve seen you all – no wait . . . it has been 58 days since we’ve seen you; with another 34 days to go ‘till we’re back the first weekend in June.  We’ve just passed by Danica’s Birthday and will pass by Carrie and Amber’s Birthdays next month so --Happy Birthday-- to everyone, and we’ll celebrate mo’ better when we get back.

We’ve managed to acclimate to island life pretty well this trip and have slowed down into an easy going pace where each day includes birds, birds, birds mixed together most days with fish, fish, fish.

Berit has been birding with Jerry and her new friend Eileen and we’re still killing lionfish on the reef and giving away more than we eat.  (We’re at 612 and counting.)  The garden is alive with critters and our favorite iguana Splitty McForkson still visits every day for his papaya handout, along with Darcelle and the new iguana kids trying to horn in on Splitty’s action.

There’s a new ground dove baby that’s been flapping around in our back cactus fence.  A couple days ago his brother fell prey to some local predator.  Chick number one is learning to fly with Mom and Dad; chick number two is mostly eaten with the ants finishing off what’s left of his skeletal remains.  The iguana world was dealt a blow when the neighbor cut down their home tree, but at least there are still plenty of nice places around to move into.

Berit and I have been diving new sites and will be heading out before sun-up in the morning for a transition dive.  We’ll get in the water in darkness and during the dive the night critters will be replaced by the waking daytime critters.  We’ve done this kind of dive before and find it’s like ringing a wake-up bell on the reef.  It all happens at once; one minute you’re seeing eels and lobsters and the next parrot fish and turtles.

We’re still hanging out with friends and neighbors (Robert asks about Geoff and Jacob) and we’re taking Eileen to Dia di Rincon tomorrow evening for the annual festival in this five hundred year old town.  The event recognizes the importance of the village to the local people; kind of like a combination founders day and freedom rally.  Rincon is inextricably tied to historic Bonaire in all its glory and especially its horrific embrace of slavery and the hardships and celebrations of plantation life.

And speaking of celebrations we just had our own “Taste of Bonaire”.  Not quite the same event as other places like “Taste of Chicago” or even “The Bite” in Portland but food and fun and music and a chance to see people.

Berit and I have been drafted by our friend Michael G. to help survey local businesses as to their “handicap accessibility” in order to help raise awareness and remove barriers.  It’s kind of strange ‘cause the roads and sidewalks are so bad that cars have trouble getting around let alone wheelchairs.

Every year since I bought my rebreather I’ve replaced the electronics and they have failed yet again.  This time (luckily) it’s only my deco side unit that’s gone wanky and I do have an off-board backup I can use for deco.  But Damn!!  I always replace the failed gear with the newest and bestest and most foolproof new thing around that always cost more (but is oh so much better) only to have it fail one year later like clockwork.  So remember, when you all buy your rebreathers, factor in an ongoing expense to keep them in good repair!!

Berit is still learning about nutrition and putting what she has learned into practice (on me) and I’m still losing weight and we’re still working out every day and getting stronger, which helps with some of the nasty sites we’ve been diving, humping our gear up and down goat and donkey trials to get onto coral rubble beaches where I’m sure we’re the only ones to go diving.

So, as you can tell, life here goes on as it should for two retired people in paradise.  I’m glad I have the where-with-all to live here, but even more thankful that I have Berit to share it with.

Bobby and Tina will be coming down soon for a couple of weeks, and I confess I’m looking forward to playing cards and hanging out with some folks from back home.  That'll give us a chance to catch up on the local news.

Remember that you’re all invited to visit us here any time you can.  After the summer weddings we’ll return in September and this time we’ve purchased one-way tickets.  Anyone want to spend Christmas on Bonaire?

Hope all is well with you and the people you love.

Dad