"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I don't feel like going back to St. John"...

Shocking? Blasphemous? Has someone lost their mind?

No, none of the above.

First off - apologies for the long wait between this and the previous blog entries. Not that much, in a "big picture" sense has transpired, but of course that doesn't mean that nothing has been going on...

Now, back to that opening statement. Those words were spoken by Leslie late last Monday night, after we'd gone to bed. Yes, that's right, in bed - together! It had been far too long that we'd been resigned to phone calls, text messages, emails, and Facebook posts to communicate. Six long weeks, longer than we'd ever been apart - by a large margin.

She had come back to Florida for three long working days with some of her physical therapy clients. After work there were rushed drives to the center of the state to see some of my family members that were staying in the shadow of "the mouse" for our biannual family reunion.

And trying to take care of some unfinished paperwork.

And trying to help me figure what we're keeping, what we're sending to St. John (and when) and what we're getting rid of (and how).

And sneaking in a quick dinner with some local friends.

And spending time with our son Shane, who she hadn't seen in months.

And spending some cuddle time with her pets, Champ and Cutie.

I'd think that she'd be anxious to get back to St. John, if for nothing else, to rest after all of that!

Still, given that whirlwind of activity, is it any wonder that we both felt that the Thursday afternoon to Tuesday morning visit afforded us precious too few minutes to spend together, in each others' arms?

All of our visits to St. John have flown by too quickly, and we're certainly not unique in that regard. I'm really happy that Leslie has jumped right in and gotten involved in the community. There are a number of kind folks on island - visitors and residents alike, that have gone out of their way to include her in their lives (and I thank each and every one of you!). I'm so proud that she has conquered a good deal of her fears and tackled the unknown. She's hurdling the speedbumps that have appeared before her and come out stronger as a result.

Things are looking up on a number of fronts. She's met a pediatrician that is establishing a "one stop" center for pediatric patients and is excited to be a part of that. She's started a babysitting service, primarily targeting visitors that may want a few kid free hours, but has already had some locals as clients.

But...this is our dream. And the stark reality is that, for the present, we aren't living it together. We still know that in the long run this will pay off. But damn, it's hard. We knew it would be, and we've been adjusting to it. But lying together in bed, knowing that in a few hours we won't be able to make those jokes to each other while appreciating the resultant facial expressions, that the "I love you"s won't be accompanied by a hug or a kiss, that phone calls, text messages, emails, and Facebook posts will once again have to take the place of dinners together, walks together, and talks together, I can understand her not feeling like going back to St. John.

But she has to go. That's the only way if I'm to join her in our paradise.

Soon come, baby. Soon come.