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Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
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HAPPY 2K10!

Gina Febres, Terri and Freddie Dottin, and Raul Carrillo.We hope that the holiday season was everything that you wanted and then some. Christmas was a little different this year. The Carrillo clan gathered at Raul’s home as usual, except this year, Freddie Dottin was home with his wife, Terri. Freddie is an Iraq war vet who served several tours of duty and is the son of Raul’s sister, Iris, and her husband, Frederico. Youngest sister, Gigi, also came in from Atlanta for the holidays. And this was a particularly special Christmas, as sister, Leonor; son, Ishmael; and daughter, Abigail welcomed baby Matthew just days before. Senior sibling Doc Iris, a pediatrician at RLSH, didn’t have to report to work until later in the day so the Dottin clan was all together this Christmas. Mom Iris and Tia Gina and the rest of the family could hardly contain their glee at having Freddie home. Pretty cool!

By the time that I should have been heading for a nap, I was headed to the airport to get my flight to sweet T&T for a special celebration of my own. My wonderful mother, Lucille, celebrated her 90th birthday on the Sunday after Christmas. Our celebration was simple and sweet, befitting the life my Mum has lived. My sister Audrey, cousin Ivy and I joined the residents and staff of El Shaddai Senior Home as we shared a tasty repast. A special treat was having my dear friend, Marva Charles, stop by to join our celebration. We met when we were both in the same class taught by my Mum in elementary school. We have been friends ever since.

My return trip was one I will never forget. On departing T&T, instead of heading to PR for my STT connection, I was routed to Miami. WHAT! The reason was too much volcanic ash over San Juan. Sitting in the waiting area in Miami were Bunny Wailer and his band. Cool! I spotted Doc Erole Hobdy with her family, as well as Debbie Mann and her husband, Al. The flight home was uneventful until we were a few miles out, then our pilot, Terry Eisenberg announced we would circle until the weather over STT cleared. After a couple of hours we headed to Cyril King airport and actually touched down for a quick minute before heading back up in the air. Okay then! WTH was that! But then a second attempt to land also failed and we were again airborne. At this point I was making all kinds of bargains with God.

Shortly after we landed in San Juan to refuel, there was a steady parade to get off the plane. I saw Bunny Wailer and most of his band members make a hasty exit. The good news is that I finally made it home 7 hours late, but safe and sound.

Wet revellers at Yacht Haven Grande.The bad news is that Bunny Wailer didn’t make it to his concert at Yacht Haven Grande on Old Year’s night. Bummer! But I understand. The crowd at the marina was smaller than expected, but those who braved the rains were very enthusiastic as they welcomed 2K10. I hung out with Chloe Beyer and my BFF, Robert Chen. We saw Nidal Salem, Akima Howard, Priscilla Hintz, JeT’Aime Cerge, Shanna Sam, Anne Nayer, Todd and Antoinette Hecht, Winnika and Stuart deGout, who were enjoying their first New Year’s as husband and wife, and we caught a glimpse of George Marshall Miller enjoying the chow from the Fat Turtle food station. We chatted with Daphne O’Neal, who was also ensconced in the breezeway sheltering from the showers with her friend, Phylicia Sprauve. We enjoyed watching friends, Yassin Hall and Jeanelle Moolenaar entertain themselves and others by posing for their own photo shoot. Funny! They were hanging with Antonio Christopher and Dre.

At the stroke of midnight Tommie Jones presented Fatima Vilich with a gorgeous ring and proposed. She said YES!

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Please send invitations to public and private events to june.archibald@gmail.com or source@viaccess.net

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