Kenny and Jenna

Scrambling to transition from one set of guests to the next, with only a couple of hours in between, seemed crazy. Bill left for the airport in a water taxi before Cay and George left Alembic. I took Cay and George to their water taxi a few hours later, shopped for food, brought everything back to Alembic, washed the produce, discarded all cardboard, and stowed everything just in time to receive the VHF call from Bill saying that they had arrived and were ready at the dinghy dock. Yay!!!

As soon as I saw Kenny and Jenna, I dissolved into tears. Family. At last. Here in Belize. I’m beyond blessed.

They looked tired (much more tired than I was) and hot. First up: cool water, and naps in the cockpit for Kenny and Jenna while Bill and I went back to the dinghy dock to pick up the laundry at Marie’s (a local woman who does laundry for a small fee), get dinghy fuel and twenty gallons of water in jerry jugs. With these final chores done, we could raise anchor at any time. We were ready for another week of showing off our new home-away-from-home. Since it was nearing dark, we decided to stay in Cay Caulker one more night. Strolling around the sweet little island, browsing into all of the food establishments, we chose Haberneras and had a fantastic Belizean meal.

The next morning, after watching dolphins frolic all around the anchorage, we raised our anchor and headed south. Bluefield Range was 33 miles south with a strong breeze to take us there swiftly. Patch reefs around Bluefield Range were only mediocre; our plan was to build up the magnificence slowly. Jenna chose not to snorkel this day; the water was deep and we were far from shore.

Our second day, alone at Rendezvous Cay, Jenna braved the underworld. We walked right into the magical reefs from the calm white sand beach. After this introduction, Jenna was unstoppable! She swam deeper and farther each day, to the point where I was not sure we would get her back on the boat some days. One day, a turtle lured her away from us. It kept looking back when she went to the surface for a breath, waiting for her to plunge down again and follow him out to sea. I think he thought she was a mermaid.

We had many excursions on land, visiting romantic island getaways and simple beach retreats. Coco Plum Island Resort is set up for honeymooners and anyone who wants to celebrate romance. They have dinner tables under palm canopies out at the end of piers and eighteen private cabanas with high end furnishings.

The staff is funny, helpful, and ready to make your stay idyllic. I think Kenny and Jenna are ready to book it for next year! A much simpler venue, Reef’s End, was a tiny place where we celebrated both of their birthdays! We were more than a week late, but birthdays are always worth celebrating!

Every day was full of smooth sailing, reef explorations, and Belize beer and food. We ate most meals on board, but sampled the offerings ashore when that was an option. Spending a week with these two was such a gift. In Maine, we see Kenny and Jenna often, but usually only for day visits. Having this opportunity to blend our lives for an extended visit brought the affinity to a new level.

You see new sides of people when you’re together from those first groggy morning moments, through the exhilarations or challenges of the day, and on to the final exhaustion of the late evenings. As a mother, I now can say that I am completely convinced that my son is in the right place in life. Kenny has found the perfect person to spend his life with. Jenna completes him, makes him laugh, and cares deeply for him. There is a peace in my heart that makes me want to shout for joy and rest quietly at the same time. And I know this is rare.

I am Kenny’s mom, but I also feel a deep sense of connection to Jenna that extends beyond her marriage ties to our family. She has a soul that reaches deep into me with her sensitivity and honesty. What she values, I value, what she hopes for, I hope for. I look forward to traveling alongside Jenna on her journey as she opens doors and makes this world a better place.

Thank you, Kenny and Jenna, for coming to see us in Belize, for spending a full week with us, and mostly for being the wonderful humans that you are. See you in Maine!