Our trip, like most good things, came to an end on Wednesday, Nov. 15. I have to be honest and admit it was longer than perhaps we’ll do in the future, thinking two weeks is probably enough.

We flew JB r/t from JFK and had perfect flights both ways. Used wc porterage on both ends of the trip and as has been the case every trip, SXM was great but JFK - not so much. But bottom line we made it to and from safely with their help and that’s what really matters.

We had no problems on arrival at PJIA and even our bags came out in a timely manner so we were whisked off to our chariot compliments of Lesley and Shirley Bruce in no time at all. They do such a great job always and really take good care of their clients. Our shiny red car with its #69 marker plates was always easy to spot.

The good people of Beachside Villas took great care of us and we were able to stay in #14 once again, right next door to the pool. Perfect unit for anyone with mobility issues. Our unit was perfect and as has become our habit, we had basic prestocking done by Jeannie of Shop and Drop. Perfect as always.

We really didn’t do very much since both of us have been dealing with health issues but the trip was very good in so many ways. We saw and spent time with friends of long standing which is always good. Celebrated the birthdays of other good friends - thank you, Barbara, for spending your birthday with us - and thanks to Sharon for inviting and including us in your celebration, a lovely evening at LaRosa, Too and to Jeannie - thank you for what you did.

We took a cab one day from BSV into P’berg to have lunch with our favorite jeweler, Manu Budrhani, at the French Touch where we got to see and catch up with the owner, Jean Pierre Pomarico, who we’ve also known since the early 80’s.

And we ate! Boy! Did we ever!

Tried some new to us places, Roma, the Secret Fish House, Dingy Beach Bar and LeBrassier - spelling is wrong I’m sure but the restaurant was good. We went to the latter with some of the BSV crew and then again just the two of us. Some we really liked and others were okay but there were some minor issues along the way. We had dinner with Kim and Ken at Sublime but IMO it just in sn’t the same without the lovely Lela. We also ate at the Yacht Club, the Spaghetti House, Marks, Chesterfields, Bar Code and a bunch of other places whose names escape me at the moment but it was all so very good.

We had dinners (or breakfasts) with Ann and Steve and special moments with Terry and Rit and spent not enough time chin wagging about airplanes with Luda and Jim. And porch time with our Canadian friends the Fraser’s was delightful, too, as it always is. And nice chatting with bdeeley again. And so many others I wish we’d had more time to spend with all of you.

I wish I had amazing feats of daring or incredible side trips to report on but not the case this year. We spent our time with friends but not nearly enough and primarily we chilled which was the whole idea behind this trip. I got to meet and put faces to names of peeps I’ve ‘known’ via the internet and that, too, is special. Robin and Ed for starters……..

And down to the wire, our return trip was on Wednesday the 15 and given all the speculation on the airports soft opening I was very apprehensive but in our case we got there very early, turned in our car to Lesley and thanks to the wonderful wc persons we cleared the airport with bags checked, passports scanned abd securety screenings done and all in about 30 minutes. And then we sat in the new departure area at Gate 4A until they boarded us via the brand spanking new jetway. And no issues at all for us at the airport.

All in all, another great trip under our belts.