Well, folks, the saga of Albus’ journey to Saba continues! As you might recall, I was a tad stressed about getting my furry companion safely to our island paradise. Let’s just say it’s involved some needless aggravation, some questionable water consumption, and an unexpected real estate decision.
My day started bright and early, fueled by the hope of Albus updates. After a couple of hours I received a photo of him at the gate. I was relieved to see proof of life, even if he looked a bit tense. Before I could even make my coffee, Dave casually asks if I’ve been drinking the tap water. Oops! Apparently, my coffee habit might be contributing to my lack of appetite. Note to self: adapt to Saba water, or at least *think* about what I’m drinking!
The rest of the day was a waiting game. Despite assurances that Albus had arrived in Sint Maarten, updates were scarce. Reaching out to the company yielded only a promise of communication from his handler, which, naturally, didn’t materialize. Let’s just say my patience was wearing thin.
That evening, we attended the afterparty for a local wedding. And let me tell you, Saban hospitality is the real deal! First off, Dave had received the invitation from the bride herself, during a chance meeting just a few days prior to the event. Since we lived up the hill from her, she invited us to drop by and join the party.
And the party was incredible, the people were lovely, and the dance floor was…a drained swimming pool? Yes, you read that right. It was a blast! I even got offered the use of ankle weights and a pool for physical therapy by a kind neighbor. Seriously, these are the nicest people I’ve ever met en masse.
But amidst the revelry, Albus was still on my mind. Sleep was elusive, and I finally got an update at 6 am telling me he was on his way to Saba, along with a condescending lecture about the futility of worry. Let’s just say that Dave will be handling future communications with them, because I’m about ready to blow my top.
We headed to the airport, and as we waited, a beautiful rainbow arced over the runway. It felt like a good omen, and sure enough, we were soon reunited with Albus! His harness was on backwards, which Dave had promptly corrected, and the girls who had him hadn’t been provided with his name. They called him Dave because it was the only name they could find on the paperwork they were provided. Still, they were very nice and seemed to genuinely care for Albus.
We stopped for a quick photo op with the Saba sign at the airport with Albus, before heading into Windwardside, dropping the girls off at the trailhead for Mount Scenery. From there we brought Albus home to let him settle in.
Then came the big moment: a viewing of Daphne Cottage. And folks, I think we’ve found *the* place. The location, the grounds, the house itself…it all felt right. Now all we need to do is sell our house in Connecticut!
We celebrated with takeout from Saba Snack, wanting to get home to keep Albus company while he explored his new home. A movie night followed, but I was out like a light two-thirds of the way through. All this island living is exhausting (in the best way possible!).
Monday marked my return to work. Coffee has been a struggle. I’ve finally nailed the coffee-to-water ratio, but finding a suitable creamer substitute has been a challenge. I’ve tried every combination of half & half, raw sugar, truvia, and some sort of plant-based vanilla milk, but so far my only satisfactory cup of coffee was the one I purchased at the Bizzy B. An Amazon order for coffee and powdered creamer might be in my future.
Work was smooth sailing until the phones went haywire. I spent the afternoon wrangling calls, but still managed to get a decent amount done. Dave surprised me with a walking stick to help me master walking around without falling flat on my face. He also suggested going out for a drink, but I needed a night of rest for my ankles and a mysterious hip tweak. I think I pulled something with all the walking on inclines, and while that’s something I definitely will be acclimating to, I don’t see a need to climb Mount Scenery on my first week.
Speaking of inclines, our relaxing night was interrupted by the sound of squealing tires. Turns out, our neighbor’s new car, fresh from Sint Maarten, had tires treated for shine but lacking in traction. The rain didn’t help, and the car couldn’t make it up their steep driveway. Eventually, they abandoned the car and hiked up, planning to try again the next day. Island life, am I right?
Tuesday brought a tech glitch at work, but nothing I couldn’t handle. After work, Dave and I hit up The Hideaway for drinks and burgers (the bar had no running water, so options were limited). And the best news? There are fireworks all over the island on New Year’s Eve! I’m already counting down the days.
So, that’s it in a nutshell. Albus is here, we might have found our dream home, and I’m slowly adjusting to island life, one questionable cup of coffee and pulled hip muscle at a time. Stay tuned for more Saban adventures!