Well, it’s over. At least for Andi, Tanner and I.
And compared to how it all started on December 31st of 2011 with our grand entrance, our exodus form the island (which is taking place in stages), is feeling a bit anticlimactic.
But let’s not dwell on that! I just enjoyed a fantastic eight days on the island with the girls, and I want to focus on that instead.
On Sunday, June 16th, I flew down to St. Martin for what would be my last and final trip to the island (at least as a semi-resident). Andi had finished school at Learning Unlimited and was ready to come back home, but she didn’t want to fly internationally alone. She’d done that once already for a medical trips, and did NOT want to do it again. I don’t blame her.
I was there for 8 days, and to maximize the time with the girls, I took vacation days from work so we could play, relax and enjoy each other’s company.
Tanner opted out of this trip. In his own words, “I’m done with the island.” Plus, it was right smack in the middle of little league season, and he would have missed six games had he come with. MANY thanks to the Anderson’s, the Beard’s and Coach Todd for all the help while I was gone.
The trip was a splendid success in every way possible way. But instead of boring you with lots of talk, I’ll let the photos do most of the sharing.
Dinner at Karakter’s…
Karakter’s (pronounced Character’s) is a seaside restaurant on the ocean side of Simpson Bay, and it has become one of the favorite places for a night out. On weekends it’s crowded, busy and loud, but during the week it’s tranquil, peaceful and beautiful. We sat and visited for hours while the sun set, eating yummy food and enjoying time with Carina, who took time out of studying to be with us.
Piper brought Sally (from the movie Cars) and spent much of the evening buffing and shining her paint job.
This is goat’s cheese mixed with honey on a french baguette. It’s a delightful melody of flavors like you’ve never experienced before!
Grand Case…
When Cari was in school, the rest of us (Michelle, Piper, Andi and I) headed over to the little village of Grand Case (pronounced Grand Koss) for lunch and some shopping.
Piper lost her hat on a boating trip, so the girls picked her out a new one.
… a class of school children headed to the beach.
The home made ice cream was really yummy!
I think this means, “Don’t sit on this wall.”
L’Effet Mer (The Sea Effect), where we ate lunch. HIGHLY recommended.
If you go, order the salmon platter. So good.
Café Atlantico…
The girls just found this little hole-in-the-wall café recently, and they were excited to bring me there. The selection is no where near Sarafina’s, but it’s closer (Simpson Bay, just past the airport, across the street from Gourmet Marché), just as yummy, and way way less expensive. It’s owned by a cheerful French woman, and on the morning we were there, she was working hard to keep pace with the steady flow of customers eating a variety of yummy breakfasts.
We all ordered different kinds of crepes, and then took turns sharing with each other.
Shopping in Marigot…
As this would be my last trip to the island, I wanted to pick up some art I had seen at a little gallery in the French town of Marigot. We stopped in there when my parents came to visit over a year ago, and it had stuck in my mind as a place to which I wanted to return.
We bought a few prints by this local artist, Antoine Chapon.
And the girls picked up some Caribbean jewelry.
A Day On The Water…
One of the highlights of the trip was the day we spent with Bluebeard Charters, a large catamaran that took us from Simpson Bay to Prickly Pear island. Prickly Pear is a small, uninhabited island that contains the most beautiful beach I’ve ever seen. In my life.
A big wave doused mom and Piper.
In the background is the boat we came on.
Small grass-hut bar, if you need a cold drink
Lunch was included in the price.
The view while eating lunch.
Michelle and Pierre on the beach.
Time with Piper…
It had been almost two months since I’d seen Piper, and I knew when I left that it would be another five weeks before I saw her again. So every evening after dinner and before bed, I would immerse myself in the world of her imagination.
Watching out for pirates…
… building towers…
… and choo choo trains…
… shopping…
… racing cars…
… fixing the train when it broke down…
… giving some love to the monsters …
… and calling her friends.
Final Note…
For Andi, Tanner and myself, our island time has come to an end. Unless we ever go back there for vacation someday (and we have all asked ourselves if we’d want to), we’re done. For Piper and Michelle, their island time will be over in two weeks. For Carina… well, her experience down there has been drastically different than everyone else’s. She will leave the island and come home on August 22nd. For the overall experience, all I can say is…
What.
A.
Ride.
The entire experience has been life altering, challenging, enriching, painful, fun, beautiful, sad, and most of all, educational. We have meet people who will be friends for life, both other students and their families, and local islanders through church. For this alone, the experience has been invaluable and priceless.
To all our new, life long friends who we met on St. Martin, we wish you Godspeed and happy travels. We look forward with hope for the next time our paths cross, and in the mean time, let’s keep in touch.
To all our old, life long friends in Minnesota, we are thrilled beyond words to spend a little more time with you before this journey takes us to our next destination. We thought we left Minnesota for good when we packed up a year and a half ago, and this time is a welcome respite. Your friendship and help is noticed and appreciated, and I hope we can repay you in some small way.
The life-long impact of this past 20 months we can’t yet know, and it will be an adventure to grow into an understanding of how it will shape our future lives, for the kids especially.
And in the mean time, we look forward to whatever adventures still lie ahead!
Crazy adventures for you guys! We know about those…. Did you notice it says Piper under L’Effet Mer on the sign? Wishing you guys the best!
Hey Alisha! Good to hear from you. I think about you and Joe a lot… Scott gives me periodic updates on your business and I am so happy to hear it’s going well. I didn’t notice the sign said Piper until I was prepping the images for this post… not sure how I missed that when we were standing right there. And I’m not sure what Piper Heidsieck means… I think it’s some sort of beer? Thanks for the comment!
Casey,
This was a genuine treat to read and look at and enjoy. It took some serious work. Thanks for doing it.
Love you all,
Dad Crooskton
You are welcome! And thank you for taking to time to read and look and enjoy.
Casey,
Thanks for sharing your experiences and trips with us all. Your photos are fantastic and sharing your family with us all is quite a treat!!! You are a great man and it seems like I’ve known you and your family forever. I remembered your first time arriving here in St. Cloud with your young family and have witnessed how they’ve sprout out and have grown. Your experiences with your lovely wife attending medical school in a far away place and the separations is just plain amazing to me; it sure is a great test for the both of you but most of all your determination to let your wife chase her dreams. Your story of how you wanted to get to know her right after you returned home from your Mission was a great story…I’m glad that her father didn’t shoot you then…perhaps you were lucky that he was already the Ward Bishop or else it would’ve been a whole different story!!! I have a lot of respect for you for your determination to help all my nephews and son into the young men program and Scouts…you had impacted those young men’s life and that it why I hold a special place in my heart for you and your not so young family anymore! Your wife helped my wife during her leadership in the Primary for many many years! So thanks again for sharing your story and life with us all. God bless you all for what ever you all may endeavor in the near future!!!
Thank you so much for your warm and loving comment, David. One of the privileges of being back in St. Cloud is that I get to see your smiling face every Sunday!