Back
Vieques- September 2007 NEW
Living and Working in Vieques..
Weve all been to funerals, to memorial services. Weve seen them on TV, with Important People, giving eulogies, telling little jokes.
In Vieques, there is a tradition of having a memorial service at Sun Bay Beach. The word goes out, and friends gather at the appointed time, usually sunset, to say farewell. We had one this evening for Susan Duffy. She died young. She lived hard. Her brother and sister were there along with many friends, flowers and her ashes. Myrna Connolly, a remarkable woman, sang. Some friends reminisced about Susan, then at the end we said the Lords Prayer, and we dipped a flower into Susans ashes, which had been mixed with her husbands ashes, and scattered the flowers into the ocean.
It is Vieques, so everyone is in shorts, a disparate group of friends, just the last light of day, bouquets of picked Vieques flowers and Myrna, her voice as resonant, as beautiful as ever, touching all of us.
It speaks volumes for Vieques that such an event, sad, nostalgic, spontaneous was more affecting than so many other such services with men in ties and woman in hats.
A few months ago, there was another memorial, at Red Beach, for Barney Line, an artist of significant talent, a bridge player, father of five and husband to Sandy, the envy of all the woman of a certain age here in Vieques. Barney was around 90, and died of cancer, exhibiting the same grace and charm with which he lived his life.
It has been a hot summer, in some ways a boring summer. We are all watching to see how the season shapes up. So far, it looks as if it will be crowded with visitors, since there is barely a house or room to be had for Christmas. If you are coming here, be sure to secure a car as soon as possible.
New restaurants open, new shops. A lot of building is going on, one wonders there is still so much space left, but there is.
The regulars go on vacation, and in the post office one sees friends again, where have you been we ask.
Chef Michael came back for a brief visit. There was s small party (with the best homemade pizza I ever ate, by John Towne) and we realized once again how much we miss him and his marvelous shop. Come back Chef Michael
Isabelle seems the new in place. If this were New York, we would say it is slowly being gentrified. Lots of new shops, lovely old building being careful renovated, a new mall planned for opposite the town square, The Blue Macaw, now closed for vacation, but open again soon do not miss this fabulous restaurant (especially the tempura fish).
The Crows Nest is being remodeled; the Steak House will now have banquettes, and a fresh look. Of course the same best steaks, fish and lobster in Vieques will still be served.
Media Luna reopened, with Monicas menu. New lights around the town square and in ground lights on the street opposite.
If you are coming this winter, better make restaurant reservations from home. The good restaurants are bound to be very crowded. Martineau bay is closed for remodeling, by the way.
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, so it is time to begin to get ourselves ready for the stream of visitors. If you are a bridge player, be sure to give me a call, by the way.
An old friend returned, one who has not seen Vieques regularly, and I asked him if he saw many changes. He said he did. Maybe. But to my old eye, it is as magnificent and pristine as ever.Have a wonderful visit,
Sheila
GO to Archives [here]
Webmaster's Note * Sheila has many hats and is also a published author Her first book was "Simple Truths". She has asked that I put a short story she has written and I enjoyed it a lot, even though it has nothing to do with Vieques. You can download "Knowing" by right clicking on the link.
She is also Co-owner of Crow's Nest Realty with Eli Belendez of the hotel Crows Nest.
Sheila can be reached for a brochure through her web page at http://www.crowsnestrealty.com