Red Brown Blonde: 05/01/2010

Every time my extended family is together we talk about how we need to be together more often and for years have traded wild suggestions about fantastic girl trips to the beach, to the west, on a cruise... but the wonderful thing about my family is that we really could have fun anywhere. In fact, I thought we had a pretty good time occupying half of the waiting room at the hospital while we hoped for good news about my mom's mastectomy back in October. Unfortunately, this was the kick in the britches we needed to actually plan a girls trip. A month later, Thanksgiving Day to be exact, we got the good news that no chemo or radiation would be necessary -- and immediately started planning.

My sweet in-laws (sweet is a fact, not just something I have to say), have spent the last few winters enjoying the sun and beauty of St. John, a beautiful US Virgin Island they were married on 26 years ago. After our wedding, Ben and I exchanged gifts and I was beside myself with excitement when I opened an envelope to find two tickets to visit St. John for spring break. It is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. It's just a matter of hours until you realize no one can reach you there, and you physically and mentally melt into this relaxed state of island contentment. [I was one grumpy girl on that plane ride home].

At Thanksgiving, I asked Mama and Papa Glass about the possibility of a girls trip... then asked about brining five girls... Mama Glass' mouth dropped open and I knew I went too far. But then she said "yes! We would love it." And so, three months and countless snow storms later, I was boarding a plane bound for paradise.

At the airport, I waited just past the rum-punch welcoming committee for the others to arrive. My mom and my sister, Jennie were the first. A couple hours later and we piled into the taxi with my Aunt Liz and Grandma, "Rufus." St. John is only accessible via ferry boat, the last of which we just made after our adventurous taxi ride over St. Thomas. Mama and Papa Glass were waiting for us with a large truck that would be our transportation for the next several days. If steep inclines and hair-pin turns weren't difficult terrain enough, you drive on the left side of the road on the island... so we gladly left the driving to the professionals [M&P Glass].

Imagine sleeping in a room of screened floor to ceiling windows, the full moon lighting up the entire house and the silhouette of the cliffs and ocean outside, to the tune of the crickets and the wind rustling through the trees [now do you see why I was grumpy leaving this place?].

Rufus and Aunt Liz could only stay for three nights, so we wanted to explore the island best we could while they were with us. Our first stop was Hawk's Nest Beach. You really can't go wrong when choosing a beach on the island; white sandy beaches and the most beautiful turquoise, green and blues you've ever seen. Back in 1956, Mr. John Rockefeller donated a generous sum to preserve 2/3 of the island as National Park. And since the island is only accessible by boat, you're often left with the feeling that it's your little secret.

can you tell they're related?

rufus with M&P Glass - she was a big hit, but that wasn't a surprise to anyone.

We spent the majority of the days on the beach and then headed home for some pool time and one of Papa Glass' famous pina colada's or rum punches (some days, one of each!). It was just what everyone needed- some time away from work and stress -- able to relax and just chit chat all the day long.

Papa Glass was running the Eight Tuff Miles for the fourth year in a row that Saturday morning, so we ladies left him to rest Friday night and went out for some prime rib specials! Delicious. The band didn't know "Pretty Woman", but they did sing "My Girl" for Rufus. Everyone was singing along by the end of the song.

Remember those steep hills and hair pin turns? Eight miles of this make up the course of the "Eight Tuff Miles" and after witnessing the start and finish line, I personally vowed to never take part. Runners come from all over the world to compete in this race. The record time was broken by three minutes this year. Mama Glass, Mom and I enjoyed some delicious french toast just across the street from the finish line (we considered feeling a little bit guilty thinking of Papa Glass enduring the hills and the heat, but the french toast was just so good...). We made it to the finish line with minutes to spare as he ran through, beating his previous times.

We said goodbye to Rufus and Aunt Liz, who left far too early. The remaining days were filled with shopping, snorkeling, hiking, fantastic dining and good conversation. We saw starfish, countless sea turtles and even some stingrays swimming amongst a variety of other colorful fish at Maho Bay (my favorite).

this is ben and I at maho bay 2009... and then just me at the same tree 2010, missing him

Woody's Seafood Bar provided the best Pina Colada I've ever had, hands down. We did a toast with delicious Pain Killers to sweet Ben who was teaching away up in snowy Ohio -- and even met a real pirate!

Our last night on the island, we met several of M&P Glass' island friends and enjoyed a night of wine tasting at a local restaurant -- delicious appetizers paired perfectly with red and white wines from California.

The whole week was spectacular. Good quality time with fantastic people. My sister Jennie and I spent a couple evenings chatting away late into the night, which was great. No distractions, just sweet conversation and beautiful scenery. We can't thank M&P Glass enough for opening their island home to us. They truly have the gift of hospitality and we couldn't have been more fortunate to spend a week with them in the Caribbean. Hope this is just the first of many girl trips to come!