Not home yet

My plan was to be in the air right now, 6:37 pm Aruba time, on the plane home, telling you all about the fantastic week we’ve had here with our new family members Jeannette and Jeroen from Fidelis and Luuke and Robbert from Eight. Unfortunately we’re not sitting in the Airbus 330-200 bound for Amsterdam, but back in the apartment next to the runway.

Since we hadn’t managed to get the broken wind sensor down from the mast earlier, Kees went to the boat at the crack of dawn to help a rigger, a lady, up the mast. Kees had already been up there himself, but it blows quite hard here, he didn’t have the right tools with him and he didn’t fancy being hoisted up yet again. Once all that was done, he called the wind sensor supplier from on board, locked up the boat and, all set to leave, stepped off the boat at 11:30.

Or at least, that’s where it went wrong. His memory of what happened is only slowly starting to come back now, but he spent the whole afternoon with short-term amnesia. A small hole in his head and a concussion to show for it. He fell backwards off the little ladder, the one we climb down facing the boat, and landed on the back of his head.

First, someone from the yard, Marwin, took us to a first aid post. They patched up the wound there, but wanted him to go to the main hospital for further tests. By ambulance. Verdict: no flying today. Because of COVID-19 I wasn’t allowed in the ambulance, so I settled the bill and Marwin came to pick me up again. On the way he stopped to buy a six-pack of local beer, opened two, and I thought I was supposed to drink both of them, but one was for him. This is Aruba, you know, apparently you drink while you drive. They weren’t very big bottles. Before I’d finished my last sip I was handed the next one, and when we got home I got the rest of the pack. So sweet!

At the apartment I said goodbye to our friends, who in the meantime had extended the car rental, rebooked our tickets and treated me to a little lunch. I’m going to miss them so much! We love you guys to bits!!! The story of our unforgettable week is still to come.

When I got to the main hospital I went to the wrong place first; I needed to be at A&E, where they were already busy looking for me. A CT scan had been done. I have to say, the speed of it all was fantastic. Everything else was fine, but indeed no flying, and a concussion. And he was still pretty out of it and terribly stiff. But I was allowed to take him with me. Into a wheelchair to the car, settle the bill again first, and off we went. Called the kids straight away and headed back to the apartment.

Of course at some point the fact that we couldn’t go home got too much for me, so the doctor at the first hospital tried to comfort me by saying everything would be fine with my husband. Sobbing, I managed to explain that that wasn’t why I was crying; it was very selfishly for myself, because I couldn’t go home.

All afternoon I got the same questions from Kees, the same reactions and the same comments. Sometimes very funny, but I now know what it’s like to have to look after someone with dementia. Very sweet and positive, though.

100 times: what happened? Roughly every 3 minutes. Told him every single time. Were you there? No. But the guys from the yard were. Oh really??? He didn’t remember any of it. Not what we’d done the night before or what we’d eaten either: sushi, which we don’t have very often. Where we’d eaten, who with, it was all gone. That the rigger had been up the mast, which island we’re on. Everything! Some things are coming back now, but he still doesn’t know, for example, that he was in an ambulance.

100 times: when are we flying home? Roughly every 3 minutes.

Once it was clear we couldn’t go: so when are we going, then? What? Not until next week? Oh well, another week in paradise then. Do we still have the apartment? What about the tickets? Could have been worse. That one 100 times too, and by the end of the afternoon it had turned into: dammit, why does this have to happen to me, and now we’re stuck here for another week.

100 times: sorry. Never mind, darling, it could have been worse.

And every single time, grumbling that he isn’t allowed any alcohol.

The people here at the yard are all very concerned and helpful, sending messages to ask how things are and whether they can do anything. So heartwarming!!! Varadero Marine, the best spot in the world!! Alex, Rishi, Marwin, Judith and everyone else, thank you so much for your hospitality!!