This trip was planned to celebrate the life of my husband of almost 45 years, Rick Hoffmeister (11/22/49 – 7/28/17).  I was accompanied by our son, JP and Rick’s brother, Edward.

JP and I left our house in Parrish and Edward left his house in Ormond Beach Friday morning driving to the Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport where we boarded one of the early afternoon Watermaker Air flights to Staniel Cay in the Exuma chain of the Bahama Islands. 

The plane held eight passengers.  As we got to talking, the gentleman sitting in front of me realized that he knew me.  He immediately expressed his condolences about Rick’s passing and said that he had wanted to do so immediately last year, but didn’t know how to get in touch with me.  His name was Shawn and we had first met on Compass Cay in 2013 when he and his family were staying on their boat, Grace.  He has three girls and, although they were younger, they enjoyed playing with our granddaughter, Vanessa, who was with us that summer.  We all went out to Janet’s beach on the island one night for a bonfire and s’mores.  After that, we had an occasion to visit them at their home in Stuart, Florida, when Tucker’s brother, Preston (Sweet Pea) and his wife were staying there.  Pictured below are Preston and Rick on the dock at Compass Cay in July, 2015.  Remember, you can click on any picture to see a larger version.

When the plane landed, we walked from the airport to the Isles General Store to pick up a few groceries and were greeted at their dock by Bob and Kat Weems who manage the rentals at Compass Cay.  After a bit of a bumpy boat ride, we docked at Compass Cay. One of the first people we saw was Loan Rolle (one of Tucker’s sons) who welcomed us home. 

Then we were taken up to Lilly’s House high on the hill above the marina for our weekend stay. 

We returned a little later.  Loan fixed us some “World Famous Tucker Burgers” and we tried to watch the sunset (unfortunately, the clouds got in the way.)

Bob Weems in the office by a “Tucker Burger” T-shirt in September, 2015.

Saturday morning, JP went running and I went down to the marina office to sit and visit with folks.  I learned that Trevon Rolle is now working there permanently in the office. 

He is one of Tucker’s grandsons – his father is Trevor and captains a boat out of Nassau.  We saw him often at Compass Cay.  The picture above was taken in September, 2012.  Pictured are Pat, Trevon, Tucker, Holly, and Rick.  Pat and Holly were day-visitors whom we kept in touch with for several years.

JP joined me after his run which included going by the low tide airport, crescent beach, past the newest house (Buttonwood Cottage) down to Hester’s ruins and returning by just about any other road he could find, past Tucker’s treehouse, the chicken coop, mango house and back up the hill to Lilly’s. 

Pictured above is the Crescent Beach (looking north).

After his run, he joined me at the marina and then Edward came down as well.  I wanted to see our friend, Captain Andrew, who had posted to Facebook that he would come to Compass today from Great Exuma.  JP and Edward wanted to swim with the sharks.  Eventually, we all went swimming with the sharks (my very first time in 7 years of coming here).  Thanks for taking the picture, Edward.

Mid-afternoon, Beef took us by boat up to Rachel’s Bubblebath.  This was one of my favorite places on the Cay.  While we were there, another couple came up.  As we were talking with them, they realized that they knew me as well.  It was Debbie and Mark, of the M/V Miss B Haven.  They took JP’s daughter, Vanessa, snorkeling one afternoon in July, 2013.  As we were getting re-acquainted, they said, “We remember Rick, he was the one who made the delicious conch fritters.”  And as we were leaving, they asked us to please tell Vanessa hello from them.  

Unfortunately, we learned, after returning to the marina, that we had missed Captain Andrew by about 10 minutes.  I am so sorry about that, but I’m sure we will catch up the next time I’m there.  Andrew always says that he and Rick were brothers.  Rick was born during the day and Andrew was born at night.  The picture below was taken in February, 2013.
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JP went for a similar run on Sunday morning and then Tucker came in the Kubota and took us from Lilly’s to Hester’s Ruins. 

Tucker Rolle owns the island and he and Rick had become good friends.  He gave me permission to scatter some of Rick’s ashes up at Hester’s. 

Once we finished our brief ceremony, saying another goodbye to him just about one year after his death, we walked along Crescent Beach and then swam for a little while

before taking one of the many trails across the island from the beach to the marina.  This time, our “Tucker Burgers” were prepared by Germal Rolle (another one of Tucker’s sons.)  His son (also Germal), aka JR, was on the island staying with him and working very hard.  I didn’t get a picture of them while we were there, but I found a nice one taken in October, 2014.

We all swam with the sharks again that afternoon and enjoyed watching the many, many tourists doing the same.  Edward is in the picture below with a couple of them.

When the tide is high, the sharks (they are nurse sharks) like to lie on the dock.  So, JP spent a little time, after the tourists were gone, to lie around with them.

While on the dock, he took some amazing close-ups.

One of the final things on my list of things-to-do was to update the sign that Rick and I had hung in the Boater’s Grille.  So, JP and Edward and I went over and they helped me get up on a table to reach the sign and add this year to the previous years 2012 through 2018.

We got an early start on Monday morning with Bob picking us up about 7 a.m. and then taking us by boat to the Staniel Cay Yacht Club to check in for our return fight.  As I was waiting to check in, I ran into another acquaintance, Allison Sage.  The picture below is Allison (in the LSU shirt) and her Mom, Suzanne, when she came to visit Compass Cay in March of 2015, with myself and Preston standing in the background.

Allison used to be the mate on M/Y Sea Clef which spent a lot of time on Compass Cay.  She told me that she is now in charge of all of the housekeeping staff at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club.  Congrats to her.  It was an unexpected pleasure to get to see another of our friends over this short weekend. 

We had a nice flight home before returning to our homes Monday afternoon.  The trip seemed a very fitting way for each of us to remember our loved one on this anniversary of his passing. 

Sunday, 7/1 through Saturday, 7/14/18

After church on Sunday, 7/1, I joined Emma in the pool for a while before returning to unpacking.  On Monday, 7/2, our driveways were sealed and I met with the rental agent for a final walk-thru that went well.  Tuesday, as usual I spent some time volunteering at church.  At the house, we were thrilled to get our hot tub installed.  JP and Kellie were enjoying that night.

On the 4^th of July, I drove to Ocala, picked up Dad, and then continued to Palatka where we spent several hours with extended family.  Shown in the picture below are my brother, Bill (wearing the “promoted to Granddad” t-shirt); on the opposite side is his wife, Mary.  They are expecting their first grandchild in September – congratulations to son, Tim and his wife Connie who live in Georgia.  The two in-between them are my great-nephew, Michael and his mom, Melissa.  They are our other brother, Rick’s daughter and grandson.  And, of course, Dad is sitting in the middle.

I dropped Dad back off at the facility where he lives around 5:30 p.m. and headed east again to Ormond Beach to spend the evening with my brother-in-law, Edward, watching fireworks over the Halifax River. 

I drove home from Edward’s on Thursday, 7/5, in order to be at my doctor’s office early on Friday, 7/6, for a blood draw.  – I received a text from friend, Jackie, on Saturday, 7/7, saying that Ken got his stem cell transplant at 11:00 last night and was doing well so far with no signs of rejection.  In the afternoon, Jackie’s daughter, Angie, picked me up and we went to Moffitt for a class on what kind of care Ken will need once he is released from the hospital.  Also, I sent birthday wishes to my great-niece, Savannah.  I missed my swim with Emma on Sunday, 7/8, because I went out to lunch with a couple of friends after church.   I spent the rest of the afternoon working on a vacation bible school project.  On Monday, 7/9, shades and blinds were installed; the fireplace mantle was worked on; and we had an inspection for our new homeowner’s insurance.  Tuesday, 7/10, shutters were installed.  Wednesday, 7/11,   more workmen were expected “sometime between 8 and 5.  Thursday, 7/12, was my nieces, Melissa and Mary’s birthday.  They are my brother Rick’s daughters born on the same day two years apart.  Friday, 7/13, finished up my “work week” including a meeting with the builder to order a stove and microwave; an appointment with the doctor to review the results of last week’s blood draw and going to JP’s old house to load up both cars with more “stuff” to bring to the new house.  On Saturday, 7/14, I drove up to the Ocala Forrest to check on Dad’s place.  The neighbor’s had called saying that there was a broken window.  After checking it out, I called my brother who will go up mid-week to take care of the problem.
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Sunday, 7/15 through Thursday, 7/19/18

My niece, Melissa, stopped by Sunday afternoon for a short visit after preaching the morning service at a church in Brandon (not too far north of here.)  My microwave and stove were delivered on Tuesday and hooked up on Wednesday.  We signed a pest control contract for the house and grounds.  The pool heater guy came out and discovered that the gas company had never finished hooking up the gas – that’s why the pool heater wasn’t working.  And JP had the GE repairman out for the third time – the first two times for the microwave; this time was for his washing machine and the guy has to come back again.  Vanessa and I spent our regular afternoon at North River Care Pregnancy Center sorting donated baby clothes.  I had supper with Jackie Sosville and her daughter Renee on Wednesday night. 

On Thursday, I drove to Ocala to take Dad for a 6-month checkup with the gastroenterologist who put in his feeding tube.  Dad has been eating all of his meals for several months now, so he asked the doctor what he needed to do to get the feeding tube out and the doctor took it out on the spot!  He has another appointment in four weeks just to make sure it has healed properly.  I had a meeting with the Rehabilitation Center staff after bringing Dad back.  They reported that his walking therapy has been successful, but they would recommend that he either use a walker or a cane when walking.  Dad is now talking about moving in with me by the end of this year.  Also on Thursday, after taking care of the broken window at Dad’s place, my brother met with a real estate agent and listed Dad’s house for sale.  The agent contacted me because I had to sign some paperwork. He told me that he expected a quick sale.  I drove home and packed my suitcase for our trip to the Bahamas tomorrow, then went to church to help decorate for Vacation Bible School.

Friday, 6/1 through Saturday, 6/9/18

Friday evening, I met Ruth Baker and husband Bill along with friends and family at the Riverside Café to celebrate Ruth’s and my birthday.

Saturday afternoon, JP and I loaded up the entire back of my Explorer with boxes of lights and fans and took them out to the house so that electricians can install them.  On Monday, my granddaughter, Vanessa, passed the last segment of her GED, making her a 2018 graduate.  Thursday I heard from Vanessa that she got her driver’s license. 

Sunday, 6/10 through Saturday, 6/16

On Sunday afternoon, the North River Care Pregnancy Center sponsored a cap and gown ceremony for their most recent GED graduates.  JP, Kellie and Emma joined me and a few of Vanessa’s friends to see her get her diploma.  After the ceremony and reception, the family went out for a celebratory dinner.  Tuesday morning, Kellie’s father was admitted to the hospital with a non-life threatening condition.  He will be there for a few nights.  At the end of walk thru on Tuesday afternoon, it was decided that we would push closing back to Monday, so JP and I went home and started rescheduling a bunch of things (including movers) that had been scheduled for Thursday and Friday.  I drove to Tampa on Wednesday to join Ken and Jackie at the Moffitt Cancer Center for a class to orient family and friends of what to expect of his treatment and care when Ken gets his stem cell transplant next month.  He will be in the hospital for about a month and then another three months in an apartment near the hospital.  During those three months, he has to have someone with him 24/7 and I have told Jackie that I will help with his care.   Since I wasn’t moving into my new house on Thursday, I drove to Ocala to see Dad.   I took a small gift to him for Fathers’ Day which is Sunday.  On Friday, I finished packing everything in the office and on Saturday, I finished the garage.

Sunday, 6/17 through Saturday, 6/23

Sunday, 6/17 – After church and Sunday school, Julie and I took Jane, the church pianist, out to lunch for her birthday.  Later in the afternoon, I took some things over to the new house.

Monday, 6/18 – MOVING DAY!  Doug’s Hourly Muscle Movers arrived at my rental house at 8 a.m.  I left them to their task to go to Bradenton and attend the closing, then rushed out to the new house to help direct them as to where everything went.  They were finished with my stuff by noon and then started on JP and Kellie’s and were finished with everything by 4 p.m.  With no cable or internet until tomorrow, and some very weary bodies, we made an early night of it. 

Tuesday, 6/19 – We welcomed a “flooring guy”, a “pool deck guy”, and a “cable guy” along with a plumber during the day – all of whom came at a time we didn’t expect.  After Emma went to bed, JP wen to the store to buy Wi-Fi extenders to help the phones and internet would work better.

Wednesday, 6/20 – Today we had electricians, and furniture people – but not the pool deck guy who was expected.  After another day of unpacking, I was so tired that I went to bed early missing choir practice.

Thursday, 6/21 – Today we had the “pool deck guy” and “furniture people” in the morning along with a “GE Tech in the afternoon”.   JP got a much-needed massage in the afternoon.

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Friday, 6/22 – I met the “cleaning lady” (who did such a good job for me on the boat) at the rental house to show her what needed to be done, then JP and I had “pool school” in the afternoon.

Saturday, 6/23 – After unpacking all morning, I returned to the rental house today to get the rest of the stuff out of my closet.  Kellie fixed dinner for the four of us with turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole and macaroni.  We told Emma that we were thankful to be in our new home.

Sunday, June 24 through Saturday, June 30, 2018

Sunday, 6/24 – I organized my new garage, giving me the opportunity to park my car inside for the first time since we moved in.

Monday, 6/25 – The “Tile man” was supposed to be at the new house between 8 and noon.  He showed up at 2:00 and stayed an hour.  As soon as he left, Jackie met me at the rental house to help me load up everything left in the garage, then came to the new house to help me unload it all.  JP, Kellie and Emma have taken an overnight trip, so this is the first night I have spent totally alone in the new house.

Tuesday, 6/26 – I dropped off a couple of items at Goodwill on my way to church to input the weekly contributions into their computer system.  Then I went by the rental to pick up the boxes of food that I left in the pantry and the most of the cleaning supplies.  Deanna, the cleaning lady, says she may be finished cleaning the place tomorrow.  The construction manager came over in the afternoon and got a few things on the “punch list” taken care of, including getting JP and Kellie’s microwave installed.

Wednesday, 6/27 – At approximately 8 a.m., JP and I met with the “irrigation guy” (that we expected at 3:30) to learn how to operate our sprinkler system.   I joined granddaughter, Vanessa, for lunch; stopped by the post office to put in a change of address and then by the rental to get more “stuff”. 

Thursday, 6/28 – People were here before 8:00 this morning to start sealing the two driveways; a “cabinet guy” came by to check on a few things and my pantry shelves were installed .  I bought a 3-drawer storage container to put office supplies in; a garment rack to put next to my stackable washer/dryer so I can hang clothes directly from the dryer; and a digital clock because my current cable box doesn’t display the time.  Then I met the cleaning lady at the rental for a final inspection.  I think the house looks as good as when we moved in.

Friday, 6/29 – The electrician came to install dimmer switches in several places.  While he was working, I was unpacking boxes and suitcases in my guest room, putting away Dad’s clothes in the closet and chest of drawers.  I worked in the garage in the afternoon, moving things around.  JP helped me move a lot of tiles and flooring (leftover construction material) to be sure that I have enough room to get out of the car whether I pull in or back in to the garage.  (My single-car garage has extended depth, but is a standard width – “skinny”.)  JP, Kellie and Emma joined me at the Bradenton Yacht Club for my final dinner there as my 18-year membership comes to an end.

Saturday, 6/30 – I called to wish my dad a happy 88^th birthday and I got a much-needed massage.