A SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY - April 10, 2017

Catherine Cummins's photo.

So, we are in Toronto on our way to St Lucia to witness a marriage and celebrate our 10th anniversary.

However, this is how it looks from our hotel window right now...

And this is how I'm dressed.

See the problem.....what to wear to the airport? Teva rubber beach sandals or strappy evening sandals.

"Gonna take a sentimental journey,

Gonna set my heart at ease,
Gonna make a sentimental journey,
To renew old memories.
Got my bag, got my reservation,
Spent each dime I could afford,
Like a child in wild anticipation,
Long to hear that "All aboard".

Thunder Bay to St Lucia, an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a group of people all bound to each other by ties of kinship, friendship and love to witness the coming together of two families in marriage.

The location, Royalton St Lucia Resort, is set in a private cove with amenities descending from cliff top to beach on a cascade of terraces joined by broad paved walkways. Sapphire blue pools surrounded by cabanas and loungers and centered by a swim-up bar anchor each level, so that you never walk far in the St Lucian sun without the chance for a cool sip and dip. The ground floor of each of the six blocks of suites has a covered walkway on one side and private patios with pools on the other. Here I spent all my time, lounging in the shade, allowing the tropical breezes to blow through our room and swimming when I was hot.

Traveling in a large group of Canadians, most of them with familial ties to Newfoundland, visiting another island with historical ties to Canada is a very special experience. I think perhaps living on an island creates an openness and kindness lacking in many mainland cultures, for all around me I heard and saw politeness and concern for others. It was like being cocooned in a single large, boisterous, loving family.

How do you thank people who are willing to accept you as you are, love you for who you are and want to help you when you can't help yourself? Mere words seem inadequate but I will try.

The test of a person's character is whether we are able to see beyond ourselves to treat others as we would wish they would treat us. Three times this group of people came together to be there for one another; to celebrate one happy occasion, to support someone in an accident and emergency and to respond to one dramatic outburst.

Love is the common denominator in the actions of both the people we traveled with and the people who cared for us at the resort. It is not the love we talk about, but the love we act upon that determines the quality of our personality. It is the love that sees a fault and overlooks it, hates the sin but shows compassion to the sinner. It is a love that uses words to build one another up, not tear each other down.

The air of St Lucia is so moist and warm, so soft it flows over your skin like silk. Gentle trade winds blow off the land in the day and off the sea at night, moderating the heat of the sun, rattling the palm fronds, carrying the sounds of the surf shushing on the beach like the heartbeat of the island. Throughout the resort, the voices of Canadians and St Lucians blended in a harmony of courtesy - "please, thank you, I'm sorry and may I help you". I don't believe I have ever been with a group of people so uniformly kind in my life.

No one parties like islanders, and this occasion was a party from beginning to end. From the serene setting of the beach wedding service and heartfelt speeches and blessing spoken at the reception, to the meals eaten always en famille with lots of sharing and laughter, to the caring for the younger members of the group and babysitting the youngest, to the old boys club at the bar and surveying the resort construction, to the couples evenings, to the marking of Carl's 79th birthday with cake, a poolside bar with island rum and pizza, dancing to the happy birthday song with other guests at the evening entertainment, everyone celebrated with style and grace.

Thank you Krystal and Adrian, our bride and groom, for bringing us together in love to witness your marriage. Thank you Loretta and Adian and Melody and Rick, for raising your beautiful children to be such loving and giving adults that they drew to their wedding a large host of like-minded people from many generations, willing to share this special occasion with them. Thank you everyone, Canadian and St Lucian, for rising above the busyness, pettiness and selfishness of the world around us to come together in love.

St Lucia 2017 was a very sentimental journey!
Dear Facebook Friends,

I enjoyed my week in St Lucia so much! No phone, no internet, just time with people I love to be with.

So, I have decided to take a Facebook vacation. I am uninstalling FB on my phone (gasp), and will have to boot up my computer to visit with you.

However, I am a very good texter, so please PM me if you would like my phone number.

Love,
Cathie

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