Life has a delightful way of whisking us from one adventure to the next, and this particular chapter was a vibrant tapestry woven with family, friends, delicious food, and a healthy dose of retail therapy. Join me as we retrace a journey that spanned states, reconnected with loved ones, and even involved a few delightful discoveries along the way. Consider this post super-sized!
Mondays often arrive with a flurry of activity, and this one was no exception, keeping me happily occupied right up until logging off. I was working remotely from Florida for the week, and that evening brought a culinary treat that’s a rarity in my usual routine: ham and scalloped potatoes. Since Dave isn’t a fan of scalloped potatoes, this was a special indulgence, and I savored every bite. The meal was followed by a lively game of Uno, which, despite a valiant effort, saw me narrowly defeated.
Later, I touched base with George and Dani to finalize our Sunday plans in West Haven. We settled on Riva, a new spot on the water I was eager to try. Their generous offer to chauffeur me around, knowing I’d planned to Uber until Tuesday, was a truly kind gesture.
As the day wound down, I found myself embarking on an unexpected hour-long rabbit hole. Armed with Google Lens, I explored the myriad collectibles my late Aunt Sue had accumulated. She had a wonderful penchant for these sorts of treasures, never parting with anything, which means the house is a delightful museum of Disney, NASCAR, and Christmas-themed items. It was a lovely way to remember her.
Tuesday evening brought another culinary adventure with my dad. We ventured to Big John’s Rockin’ BBQ near Lake Toho, a place that offered a trio of delights unavailable to me on Saba. First, a Captain Morgan and Diet Coke – a simple pleasure, as only Coke Zero is an option on Saba. Then, an order of crispy corn nuggets, followed by a slider sampler featuring four different kinds of pulled meats. Everything was absolutely delicious, and we had a fantastic time.
Back at the house, I connected with Samantha to firm up plans for my upcoming visit to Connecticut. A chat with Dori followed, catching her up on my return to the USA and checking in on her. The day concluded with a goodnight call to Dave before I settled in for the night.
Wednesday was a day I eagerly anticipated, with a pedicure scheduled with Kimicoe. She had been my aunt’s nail technician, and I was looking forward to both the pampering and the connection. At work, Jamie had an excellent idea: a weekly Coffee Talk via Teams. With several team members now working remotely, she envisioned it as a way to stay connected, and I was all for it. I genuinely enjoy my colleagues, and it felt like a positive start to the day.
The day itself was quite a flurry of activity. With an upcoming week off, I was determined to tackle as much as possible. While I made significant progress, I didn’t quite achieve everything on my ambitious list. After work, I made my way to Kimicoe’s, where she not only pampered my feet and hands but also provided excellent conversation. We chatted about life in Saba and general happenings. She’s such a delightful person; it’s easy to see why my aunt held her in such high regard. The drive to Kimicoe’s was a little nerve-wracking at first. The road near my dad’s house includes a 55mph zone, and after six months of not driving over 30mph (and none of it myself!), it took a quick adjustment to get comfortable with the speed.
Thursday felt a bit overwhelming. I was attempting to condense two weeks’ worth of work into one, and the clock was ticking. When Dana, an outstanding colleague, asked how everyone was doing that morning, my honest reply was “drowning…lol.” True to her nature, she immediately offered assistance. I truly appreciate my work peeps! Thankfully, I managed to get everything to a reasonable place by the afternoon, which was perfect timing as I was off to Cirque Du Soleil at 3:30 pm!
The show, “Drawn To Life,” was a magical experience, filled with delightful nods to Disney animation and music. We thoroughly enjoyed it, and afterwards, we had dinner at The Edison. The restaurant featured live entertainment from a band called Moxie, and the singer’s voice was beautifully soothing (not to mention her fabulous steampunk-style knee-high boots with pink laces!). It was the perfect accompaniment to our meal. We were home by about 9 pm, and after a brief chat with Dave, I headed to bed.
Friday’s alarm sounded at 6am, signaling it was time to check in for my Southwest flight. I secured boarding group 7, which was totally fine. The early start did allow me to catch the sunrise from my dad’s lanai, a simple pleasure I always enjoy. I worked until 1 pm, and my cousin Michelle arrived about 30 minutes before I logged off. We chatted for a bit before heading to lunch at an Italian restaurant my dad and Sue had always loved. Lunch was delicious, and we continued our conversation back at the house.
Somehow, the topic of the “Attack of the Devil Shark” documentary, a Shark Week special from Saba, came up. Since my dad had Discovery+, we decided to watch it. The most amusing moment was my dad turning to me halfway through and asking, “You watched this and then brought me on a sunset cruise?” We all had a good laugh, and then followed it up with another show about the invention of chocolate syrup and similar tasty treats. Michelle departed soon after, and I opted for an early night.
My alarm went off at 2:45 am. Yes, you read that correctly! I had a 6 am flight from Orlando to Hartford. I arrived at the airport so early that the Southwest kiosks hadn’t even been unlocked yet. Once they were, it was smooth sailing all the way to Hartford. Jenn and her boyfriend, Dave, met me at baggage claim. It was my first time meeting him, but my initial impression was already positive. My best friend is genuinely happy and at peace in a way I haven’t seen before, and he certainly deserves credit for that. Our in-person meeting only reinforced my positive feelings, and I gave them my enthusiastic thumbs-up by the time we finished lunch.
Before lunch, however, I made two essential stops: Target and Lane Bryant. Target was a source of unexpected excitement, as I found hard-to-obtain items like chewy Tums and easy-glide dental floss. I even picked up a couple of toys for Albus, including a Lambchop with a rope ball body – a definite score! But my greatest excitement was reserved for the quest for Nerds Gummy Clusters.
I’m not typically a fan of either Nerds or gummies, but somehow, when combined, they are magically delicious. Publix in Florida had them on sale, buy one get one free, and I managed to snag the last two bags of “Very Berry.” Alas, upon arriving home, they were mysteriously missing from the groceries. At Target, I spotted them on an end cap, but they were cherry lemonade flavored, and I’m not a fan of cherry. I headed to the candy aisle, where the shelf section where they should have been was sadly empty. But, to my delight, Jenn’s Dave spotted a single-serving box on a lower shelf! Huzzah!
From Target, we headed to Lane Bryant, where I had a fair amount of shopping to do. With a full suitcase to work with (Deana already had one of mine in Connecticut), I took full advantage. The best part? Everything I tried on was too big! I was genuinely shocked to discover I needed to go down a full size. What a wonderful surprise! From there, we went to Olive Garden for lunch, where I happily indulged in alfredo sauce and breadsticks.
Our afternoon continued with a visit to Rick and Laura, where Jenn introduced Dave to them. He and Rick immediately hit it off, and we all enjoyed a pleasant visit. Jenn and Dave departed shortly before Jason arrived, and we then headed to a barbecue with some of Jason’s friends. Despite the rather unpleasant weather – seriously, it was 52 degrees and raining, about 15 degrees too cool and far too wet for Memorial Day weekend in Connecticut – we had a wonderful time. To thank our host, I gifted him a package of stroopwafels.
The evening concluded with interesting conversation, and overall, it was truly one of my top ten days. The entire day was outstanding from start to finish. I savored being back in Connecticut, catching up with friends, and enjoying some truly basic thrills.
Sunday began with a shoe shopping excursion to Hawley Lane. I needed assistance finding shoes that would accommodate the on-again, off-again swelling in my right ankle while also providing proper support. The woman who greeted me at Hawley Lane actually remembered me from previous visits and commented on my absence. I explained about my broken ankles and subsequent move out of the country, and we had a friendly chat while she helped me. My mission was successful!
After shopping, I met George and Dani for lunch at Dive Bar, an old hangout of mine in West Haven. I didn’t recognize any of the staff, but it was still nice to be there. We decided to make an afternoon of it, stopping at Bonfire Grill for a drink, and then heading to Joey C’s Boathouse for a domestic violence fundraiser, complete with live music! The owner kindly reserved some seats by the fireplace for us (again, it was freezing outside), and we lingered until I left to head back to Jason’s for dinner. After dinner, we chatted until bedtime.
After six months at 1,400 feet above sea level, returning to a lower elevation made me feel like superwoman – I had so much energy! Monday was Memorial Day, and after some confusion about whether the parade was happening, Jenn met me at Jason’s. We socialized for about an hour before heading to the parade in West Haven. Jenn’s daughter was performing, so we wanted to secure a good view. We managed to snag a park bench right in front of town hall, and I stayed with our belongings while Jenn sought out the best photo opportunities.
After Jenn’s daughter’s performance, we headed towards the beach to meet Dani and George and retrieve my new shoes, which I’d left in her car the day before. Jenn departed to catch her train home, and I lingered for another hour or so before calling an Uber. The weather had turned lovely by midday, making for an enjoyable afternoon outdoors amidst the festivities. Jason and I hung out until I called it an early night around 9 pm.
Tuesday began with picking up my Enterprise car rental. Then, it was off to my old office to swap out my laptop and close my accounts with Ion Bank, a regional bank I could no longer use. The process was quick and painless, and I was finished at the office early enough to stop into Sitting Duck Tavern for lunch. I invited Samantha to meet me there on the patio. From there, we grabbed some ice cream and chatted about her upcoming trip back to Saba. I’m truly excited to show her the new place!
I headed back to Jason’s, where we enjoyed a quiet evening on the patio. They’ve created a beautiful spot in their backyard, and it’s a truly lovely place to simply sit and chat. I must also express my gratitude for how amazing Jason and Bill have been all week. Dave takes excellent care of me, but I’ve felt truly pampered and deeply appreciate their hospitality.
Wednesday saw me departing Jason’s around 9am to retrieve an item from Jenn that I’d left in her boyfriend’s car, followed by a visit with Rick and Laura. I brought everyone some delicious bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches from Goodies, including one for myself. After my visit, I picked up the cookie cake I had ordered and delivered it to Ola, where we would be dining later. I was back at the house by about 2 pm, and we enjoyed a pleasant afternoon soaking in the beautiful day. We were all a bit hungry, so we headed to Ola’s early and had a truly excellent dinner, followed by the cake I’d dropped off earlier. My personal highlight was when the drink I ordered arrived on fire – a delightful surprise! The cookie cake from Kathy’s was as delicious as I remembered, and the entire evening was a hit.
Thursday began with a leisurely morning, and I headed out around 11 am for lunch with my stepson, Jared. We met near his workplace to catch up and also to obtain some much-needed paperwork for my residency process in Saba, which had been sent to him for safekeeping. I arrived early and spent the time with a quick shopping excursion into Kohl’s, where I snagged a new purse and wallet. At lunch, I was delighted to find shawarma on the menu, and I enjoyed catching up with Jared while we ate. From there, I opted to head back to West Haven for an impromptu drop-in on Rick and Laura. Afterwards, I returned to Hawley Lane Shoes and was fortunate enough to be helped by the same kind lady. After two days spent in Amazon black sandals, I decided an upgrade was in order. Dinner with Chuck followed, and we had a nice time chatting about his upcoming visit for Saba Carnival. I’m very excited to introduce him to the magic of Saba!
Friday was a half-day for Jenn, and we planned to head to Mystic Village and Mohegan Sun once she was off work. I popped into Brueggers on my way to pick Jenn up, and then we drove to Elm Grove Cemetery in Mystic, where my family is interred. I hadn’t been since my cousin’s funeral in 2023, and I like to stop in periodically to check on everything and ensure it looks tended. From there, we visited the general store for some fudge for Dave, and I also bought him some Pixy Stix. Quick question: how many Pixy Stix would you consider a serving size? If you guessed eight, you’d be right! Seriously, has anyone ever offered you a Pixy Stix and handed you eight of them? I was thoroughly entertained by the mental image of a kid all hopped up on pixy stix.
We also grabbed pizza from a place called Mango, which boasted wood-fired pies – a treat I hadn’t enjoyed since returning to the USA. They were very tasty, and from there, we took a rather circuitous route over the river and through the woods to Mohegan Sun. I initially lost quite a bit quickly at the slots, then did better at tri-card poker before losing it all in the end. Still, I only brought what I was comfortable losing. From there, we stopped in at the Wolf’s Den for a toast to my late Aunt Sue, who would have been 74 that day. When I tried to pay, the bartender kindly declined my money and offered her sympathies, a gesture I truly appreciated.
Jenn’s Dave picked her up from the casino, and I drove back to Jason’s, arriving around 7:30 pm. We spent the rest of the evening chatting and snuggling with his delightful group of furry friends until I eventually headed to bed.
Saturday morning began with returning the rental car to Enterprise, a relatively painless process once the understaffed location finally had someone available to assist me. We had planned to attend an 80s pop-up event at a local park, but the weather was truly unpleasant, with a “feels like” temperature of only 48 degrees. We decided to forgo the event and later enjoyed dinner at a really yummy Mexican restaurant. My chipotle chicken quesadilla was absolutely perfect – so good! As I was leaving early the following morning, I called it an early night.
Sunday’s alarm sounded at 3am, giving me ample time to prepare for my 4am ride to JFK. My driver was picking up Samantha first around 3am, and then heading my way to bring us both to JFK. It was a very long travel day, but by a little after 5pm, we were in the car heading back to our house in Windwardside. It was truly wonderful to be back on Saba!
Life often presents us with opportunities to bridge distances, both geographical and emotional. This past fortnight was a delightful testament to that, a journey filled with reconnecting with loved ones, savoring familiar comforts, and embracing new experiences. From the sun-drenched lanai of Florida to the unexpectedly chilly streets of Connecticut, and finally, back to the serene shores of Saba, it was filled with moments to cherish.
I hope you enjoyed this extended post. Check back soon to hear about my adventures with Samantha on Saba!