VI Vacationers

Parker had to go back to Wheaton the Monday after Christmas, so she & her dad had only a short time at the beach that morning ;)

Before we took her to the airport, we got to visit with some of the Corriveau family, friends who used to be our neighbors in McKinney. The Corriveau's live in New Jersey now, so it had been several years since we'd last been together. Scott & Vivian had just renewed their wedding vows to celebrate their 25th anniversary and stopped here on a cruise with their 3 girls and her parents. We had lunch with Vivian, her dad, and 2 of her daughters: Rachel, who is Parker's age, and Nicole, who I remember as a pre-schooler - but who is actually a (tall) freshman in high school. 

Rachel & Vivian Corriveau with Parker & me

As we neared the airport, we noticed several police officers standing in parking lots where we don't usually see them, then we saw a line of black suburbans and police vehicles at the end of one of the taxiways. We were discussing the probability of the arrival of some dignitary, when I remembered seeing an article on the on-line St. Thomas newspaper that VP Joe Biden was coming to St. Thomas for a vacation. So, after we escorted Parker into the airport, we drove around to the grounds of UVI, which was on the other side of the airport nearer the waiting vehicles.

Shortly after we found a good viewing spot, the Coast Guard helicopter that had been on the runway lifted off and began circling, and I got ready to take some pictures (sorry about the spot on the lens):

Yes, the end of the runway really is that close to the water

Touchdown

Passengers deplaning

I took numerous additional pictures, from landing to the convey of vehicles driving away, but I won't subject you to all of those :) We all thought it was pretty cool to see the entire process - and felt more than just a little American pride! 

Oh, and Parker's flight was delayed only a short time, due to the ground crew not being allowed outside until the group had left the airport.