To: Barbara's Suitcase
Care of the Ma Ha Sailboat
Somewhere in The British Virgin Islands
Dear Floppy Black,
I'm sure you're wondering by now where I am. For some unknown reason, someone in the Houston airport decided I should be sent to Chicago instead of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands with you. The United baggage department keeps saying they are working hard to correct the problem, but with it being a weekend, nothing is happening. I miss you guys and hope to join you soon!
Missing you,
Chris's Suitcase
To: Chris's Suitcase
Chicago O'Hare Airport
Dear Rolling Black,
So good to hear from you! We were so disappointed when you didn't show up with us in St. Thomas. Chris is not happy that the United baggage people don't seem to know what to do with you. He has been spending a lot of time on the phone with them and they keep assuring him they are doing everything they can to correct the situation but Chris thinks that's a bunch of baloney. You know you're holding all his scuba diving equipment and it's not doing him much good in Chicago. He has bought some touristy shirts and a new swimsuit so he can at least start his vacation.
Come join us soon,
Barbara's Suitcase
Dear Floppy Black,
It's Monday now so apparently the United baggage people have returned to work. The people on the 24-hour hotline in some other country tried to make it seem like something was happening, but don't believe it. The update is that there is no direct flight from Chicago to St. Thomas so I'm getting on a flight today to Dulles Airport in Washington D.C.
Heading in the right direction now,
Chris's Suitcase
Dear Rolling Black,
So happy to hear you're on your way. Hope you don't mind we got our charter sailboat trip underway without you. Luckily, Chris stashed his toiletries and, most importantly, his contact lenses in me. And how convenient that his sweet kids brought along a most appropriate Father's Day gift in Lexi's bag: a new bathing suit.
He's out scuba diving right now; luckily the dive shop will provide all the equipment he needs for this dive. They are planning on taking him out again when you arrive so he can at least use the gear he planned on lugging all the way down here.
We're all having fun kayaking, snorkeling, hanging out, drinking the captain's cocktail of the day, and feasting on our cook's gourmet meals. This morning, a dolphin and her baby kept swimming back and forth past our boat. Ryan snorkeled with them and the mom looked right at Ryan under the water. They came quite close to me while I was paddle-boarding. It was so cool.
We've already visited several snorkeling spots and a boat bar where some of us jumped off the top. As we travel from island to island in the beautiful turquoise Caribbean water, the captain sometimes lets out the sails and we get an invigorating ride with water occasionally splashing up through the mesh trampolines on the front of the double-hulled catamaran boat.
I'm currently all rolled up and stashed away in Chris and Barbara's cabin, but I hear all about what's going on.
Peacefully yours,
Barbara's Suitcase
Dear Floppy Black,
Well I made it to Dulles airport and am now en-route to St. Thomas. Sounds like y'all are having a blast. Glad you didn't wait for me. I'm counting on the St. Thomas airport staff to get me on the ferry from the U.S. Virgin Islands to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. Not much other news on my end. I love hearing about the adventures on your end.
Caribbean bound,
Chris's Suitcase
Chris and his rolling black suitcase reunited after our captain picked him up on our dinghy and brought him to us. Yay!
