Emily’s Musings

We have been so busy relaxing and enjoying life with our friends in Texas, I have fallen behind on posting about my last few days on Saba.

Let’s start with the annoying stuff.

First, the new neighbors that moved in next door had EXTRA LOUD DOGS THAT BARKED. A LOT. David and I like a quiet life, and one of the main reasons I was drawn to the breed of our dogs (Whippet) was because THEY DON’T BARK. Unless, of course, they absolutely have to. I was ready to leave Saba after enduring one evening of painful, ear curling, dog fight barking. The awful howl certainly dissipated the serene sound of our coconut tree, and the sound of the ocean. I DID NOT MOVE TO THE CARIBBEAN TO HEAR MY NEIGHBOR’S DOGS BARK CONSTANTLY.

On days where there is no wind, you can bet your house will be filled with “calm weather bugs” after the sun sets. Really, “calm weather bugs” are flying ants that are drawn to the light and they infiltrate your house. They are mostly annoying, but I HATE IT WHEN MY HOUSE IS FILLED WITH BUGS, EVEN IF THEY ARE HARMLESS.

The internet was disconnected a day earlier than we specified with the phone company. VERY ANNOYING. The phone company people just happened to be near our house working and it was “convenient” to shut off the internet because IT WOULD BE TOTALLY INCONVENIENT TO DRIVE ACROSS ALL FIVE MILES OF THE ISLAND TO TURN OFF THE INTERNET ON THE RIGHT DAY. We were ticked. We CANNOT live without internet. After David called the company to have a little chat with them, the internet was turned on within a couple of hours, which was record time by Saba standards.

And finally, the MOST annoying thing of all . . . I had to go to the bank. Those of you who have been to a bank on Saba are thinking, “ENOUGH SAID!” I walked into the bank with two Ziplock® baggies full of loose US coins and Guilder coins. While I waited patiently in the lobby with my two clear Ziplock® baggies full of change, it took the ONE AND ONLY bank teller over 20 minutes to help the three customers in front of me. When I finally got to the teller, she told me they didn’t accept loose coins. I actually asked her if she knew that we were IN FACT, IN A BANK. She then clarified, and said I needed to bring the coins in rolled. When I asked her for some paper rolls, she said I needed to make my own. Yes, make my own out of printer paper. Does anyone see anything wrong with the situation? Couldn’t I just wrap up a bunch of funny money and turn it in? Does this bank not believe in accuracy or quality control? Obviously not. AND WHY ON EARTH DID THEY LET ME SIT THERE FOR OVER 20 MINUTES EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW THEY COULDN’T HELP ME?

The teller directed me to the “other bank” on the island, which was conveniently 100 feet away. This bank DID in fact take my loose coins and turn it into hard, cold US currency. However, all banks are crazy on Saba, and I certainly didn’t walk away without scratching my head. The new bank ASKED ME FOR A PHOTO ID. TO MAKE CHANGE. AN EVEN EXCHANGE OF CURRENCY. YOU KNOW, TO PROVE THAT I WAS INDEED A PERSON, NOT A STUFFED ANIMAL. Whatever. I happily showed off my Texas pride by providing them with my Texas license.

Now, for the memorable stuff.

There is a great restaurant called Swinging Doors. Pat and Eddie own it, and they make EXCELLENT BBQ. Pat and Eddie refer to us as “Hannah’s mom and dad” because, like I have stated before, we are INVISIBLE when Hannah is around.

This is Eddie and Pat.

This is Eddie working his magic on the grill.

They are only open for dinner on Tuesday and Friday night, so we got some friends together (who were still on the island during the semester break) and had one last BBQ dinner on the Tuesday before we left. The food is delicious.

I certainly will miss eating at this place. We really do have wonderful memories of Saba.