SEPTEMBER 28, 2005
…trying to start the file to provide my day to day ventures to date…the trials & tribulations…the laughter & tears! All on
the path to follow my dream!
After my very hectic last few weeks in Los Angeles, camping out at Dee’s and Arienne’s with my cat, Donna took “us” to
LAX. This after many tears and one last Bacardi O with Dee, Trish, Ted & Lance…
Once checked in, I had to take Rossi OUT of the carry on cage to hand carry her through security! We made it; luckily
Rossi had not packed any weapons unbeknownst to me!
Due to a bad seat assignment with no room for the cat carrier under the seat, a very accommodating flight attendant
reseated me in a Business Class row, all to my self! Luckily my neighbors did not seem too bothered by Rossi’s
meowing & clawing to get out en route to Puerto Rico. Once there, the hired porter led us from the American to the
Caribbean Sun terminal – only on the complete opposite side of the airport! Once again, Rossi had to come out for
security. We were both completely exhausted from our hectic schedule & red eye flight – AND Rossi’s first true tropical
temperatures! Next a several hour layover, then onto the next flight, direct to St. Vincent. Rather uneventful and again
a very gracious flight attendant who was keeping an eye open for her furry friend (Rossi, that is!!). Upon arrival on St
Vincent, the Government Vet arrived promptly and although the microchip did not actually scan properly, she signed
off on Rossi’s import and $36 US later we were free and clear! The flight landed at 5pm and we were delivered via taxi
to the ferry dock by 5:30pm. One of the Rasta dock handlers asked if I had a small mountain cat and did she want
some fresh fish?! Well, we were all off to a good start – Rossi did great, even on her first ferry ride.
My cell phone was now not working, as the St Lucia AT&T tower had been struck by lightning the week prior. The
Ferry Captain was kind enough to call over to my awaiting taxi driver to inform him I was on an earlier ferry than
anticipated. As usual, Gideon was at the ferry dock & had m luggage, cat & self loaded up before I knew it. Off to the
“rental house” – yes, the one that was described by the owner as “just like a Sheraton” – well, I am still not sure which
Sheraton in the world they have been to, but this house was not even Motel 6! Too late & too tired to do anything that
night, I turned in for much needed sleep. Awaking in the AM, I had still been unable to call Jeremy who was to be sailing
down from St Lucia that morning…after several unanswered attempts to call me and never hearing if I actually
successfully made it through Immigration with the cat, he put two & two together and having set sail at midnight, arrived
on the shores of Bequia late morning of my first day here.
We tried to survive the house for a few days, but ultimately moved down the road to a little studio apartment in a
comfortable little Inn with a pool. MUCH BETTER! Rossi started adjusted by leaps & bounds at that point. She is
learning the entertainment value of the occasional night time bat “fly-through”, the locust chase and the classic
romping in the top sheet as the fan billows it up!
Last week there was not a market on the island that had canned cat food (not that she likes what they have here,
anyway!!) But, she is now sampling the likes of canned tuna, sardines in tomato sauce…she still has not adapted to
fresh fish…but we shall see as time goes on. (If it does not say “Fancy Feast” on the can, she gets a bit finicky!!)
Well, as I await Jeremy’s return from checking on his boat, I will close for now and endeavor to bring the story up to
date this week! (Even though I have not yet figured how to get this into my webpage yet, you may have noticed that the
page at least opens properly now!!) Progress at a snail’s pace!
© 2006 AQUA on Bequia