The iguana's tale- Portuguese, Spanish, Haitian Creole and Ladino

[iguanamon]

Thanks everyone for thinking of me. Here on the island of St Croix, we missed Irma's eye as it went just north of St Thomas. It pretty much wiped out St Thomas, St John, Tortola and Virgin Gorda. We received relatively minor damage here but I have been without electricity for seven days now, in the tropical heat.

While I am grateful that we escaped Irma's destruction, it saddens me greatly to see the loss of life and suffering that people just 40 miles away from me are enduring. I am still unable to reach friends on St Thomas and St John. It will take a long time for them to recover from this devastation. It took St Croix at least two years to get back from the destruction of Hurricane Hugo. That was 28 years ago and the island never really came back to what it was before.

Everyone here is connected to the other islands in the Caribbean. The devastation on St.Martin/Sint Maarten, Barbuda and St Barts was unprecedented. With 185 mph (300 km/hr) winds, not much is left standing.

I've had plenty of time to read in all my languages. I still hope to leave here via Miami on Friday the 15th... we'll see. I will be less active for a while here, but I am fine. I have a home intact, family and good friends. That's what matters most. Count your blessings my friends... in life, everything is ok until it isn't. Kiss and hug your families and friends. Tell them you love them.

[Elenia]

Good to hear from you. My friend's family is in St. Martin and they survived but have nothing left. I'm glad that you are okay (and that you gt to get some reading done).

[Brun Ugle]

I'm so glad to hear you're OK. I've been thinking of you the whole time and hoping you would be alright. After hearing about Barbuda and some of the other islands, I was a bit worried you might get hit just as hard.

[BOLIO]

You have been on my mind. Glad you are ok and agree with you concerning the destruction and loss. Stay safe.

[MorkTheFiddle]

It's good to hear you are okay and that St Croix was spared the worst. I am so sorry for your friends, and yours, too. Elenia.

[PeterMollenburg]

Good to hear you're well iguanamon. 40 miles is nothing, it could have been a lot worse. Seeing the devastation on St Martin/Sint Maarten and St Barthélémy was pretty insane- I was hoping you didn't get hit as hard or much at all. Unfortunately though, as you expressed, there are those who have been hit hard and that's their nasty reality. I hope they get through it ok.

[iguanamon]

Just a quick update. I have most of my electricity back... except to the kitchen. This has happened to my neighbors as well. I know. It doesn't make any sense. To complain about this seems petty in the face of the dire situations on our sister islands. So, I won't.

[jeff_lindqvist]

Glad to hear to that you're back.

[Jar-Ptitsa]

What a relief that you are ok. When I heard about irma I thought about you because I know that you live in the US Virgin islands. Good luck and strength with evertyhing.

[sfuqua]

A quick confession...

I just remembered where you live this morning at about 3am.
I was so relieved when I read your log.