Gibi has had surgery. He is back from the hospital and recovering at home. HIs brother cooked for us last night, and the food was up to the usual high standard.
I went in to see Gibi, and he's looking good. Emma is taking excellent care of him. Cheryl Ferguson, who is a nurse, pronounced Emma's nursing care excellent.
(Incidentally Aubrey and Cheryl are delightful. Had such a good time with them that I neglected everybody else, for which I am so sorry. Forgive me, or blame them!)
Please don't everybody rush to visit Gibi. He needs rest.
But I bet he would appreciate get well cards.

Thanks for the heads up Tish!! everyone can wish Gibi well here Get Well Gibi

Thanks for the update Tish. I know he had been ill for awhile. I hope he gets better soon. Maybe after everyone puts their get well wishes in CC, someone on island can print it out and take it to him.

Tish, I have corresponded a great deal with Cheryl... and she is a treasure for sure. I even held up a happy anniversary sign for them in Oct.

I wish post my get well wishes on CC. Thanks for the heads up. Everyone loves Gibi.

I will of course print out get well wishes for Gibi and take them to him.

Thanks Tish

Freddie, I wish Gibi could see your complete animation. Awesome!!

Thanks Tish for your kindness, Aubrey & I certainly enjoyed our visit with you and we too feel badly that we did not get a chance to visit with everyone else.
It was awfully kind of Gibi's brother to arrange for us to visit Gibi, but I agree that he needs his rest and will no doubt go out to see people when he feels he is ready. Emma was so protective of him and so caring, you know he is in good hands!
I'd also like to say how nice it was to have Renee there. She was such a big help, took our orders and helped Gibi's family take care of us.
I was amazed at what she was able to accomplish given that she too is recovering from major surgery on her ankle.
We had our very first night snorkel with Renee and it was awesome (more about that in my trip report).

Kelly, you and I have a lot in common - titanium plates and screws (that did not set off the metal detector) and no one noticed my scar either **VBG**) I still have that picture of you & Steve holding up the sign for us .... a memorable 25th wish ..all the way from Bonaire - thanks again!

Cheryl and Aubrey, Glad to see you had a safe trip home. Really enjoyed the time we spent with you guys. Can't wait until your trip report. We will talk to you later. Kent and Kim

Yeah Kent! You remembered your password!! Glad to see your note! We too enjoyed meeting you & Kim, just wish we could have co-ordinated our schedules so we could have had a longer visit with you! It sure is difficult being here ... (altho my 'yard birds' missed me and were glad to see me top up their feeders)... would much rather be there! That good 'ol PBD is hitting me 'big time' ... that 'sinking' feeling is awful!! Oh well, now I get to sort through my photos and 'recall'. Have a great time in Aruba!!

Loved visiting with you and Aubrey, Cheryl!
Gibi is growing stronger.

Cheryl, I can't wait to hear all about your trip... I expect an email soon.

And isn't that a huge rip off??? I mean, HELLO PEOPLE I have a plate in my neck I want attention!!!!! LOL !!!

Tish, it was our pleasure! Great to put a face with a name isn't it? Makes the Bonaire 'family' seem very real. We could not get over how pleasant everyone was ... amazing warmth on the island ... besides the weather of course. I checked the webcams today (albeit a rather painful experience) ... and there was hardly a cloud in the sky! I've just downloaded ~ 800 photos and now have to really 'delete'...... did not have a cloudless sunset on this visit ... but must admit the clouds were beautiful. I'll have to review how to post photos here ... so it may be a few days before my report is submitted. Just got back from a hockey game .... ouch ...chilled to the bone!!

Kelly, you are too funny!! "HELLO" is right LOL! My late parent's minister told me that I finally 'had my head screwed on right" ..... hmmm.... a good example of sadistic humour I'd say! :o). Trip report is on it's way ...as well as an email ..... maybe with a pic or 2!! Wanna see some dolphins??

Yes, rain has stopped, Cheryl. Clear skies!!
I'm so jealous that you snorkeled with dolphins.

Oh Tish, how I wished I had snorkeled with the dolphins! I got to photograph the lucky snorkeler! As far as rain is concerned... the same thing happened to us last year when we were in Curacao ... hmmmm, must make note to self about when to travel next year :o)

One day recently Divi sent out three dive boats. The dive masters on one of the other boats let all the divers jump in the water and snorkel with dolphins who were out beyond where the Divi boats moor. My boat just stopped briefly so we could look down at the dolphins from our boat and then sped off to our dive site. (:

Oh Tish, what a tease that was! I had been watching them that morning since ~ 6:30 am. I guess my camera on a tripod must have tipped the Divi Divers off as they were getting the boats ready for the morning dive. I could not believe what I was seeing, but we had our binoculars with us and had a really good look at them. they swam back and forth in front of the Divi many times. I'm so sorry that you missed out, I was sure envious of the folks in the water. Here's a picture of the lucky swimmer:

Great shot, Cheryl, but that's not a Divi boat.

The boat looks like it may be one of Bruce Bowker's dive boats.