The geography might have changed, but the spirit was ready and willing as more than 350 ex-St. Thomians celebrated Bacchanal 2000 in Sarasota, Fla., Friday through Sunday.
Bringing memories, stories, some old dance steps, some children and one leashed cat wearing a pink visor, the expats ate, drank and renewed friendships at the fifth annual jump-up.
What started out five years ago as a relative handful of folks gathering together has become a full-blown reunion. Choreographed by Ron Morrisette and Pat Rice with an assist by Ann Johnson, the affair began with a Friday-night welcome at the Radisson resort on Lido Beach with old familiar faces pouring onto the beach and into open arms, backed up by steelpans and lots of food and drink to set the tone for the weekend.
The celebrants weren't only from Florida. Jenny Rice came from Costa Rica, where she has a small hotel; Ami Hartley traveled from San Francisco, Mary T Cook from Cincinnati, Carol Galvin from New York, Terry "Little Bit" Solomon from Arizona and Pete and Carol Whims from Michigan.
Among a handful of current St. Thomians were Delores and John Jowers, Dick Spenceley, Gloria McGowan, Linda and Charles Sheviski and, most notably, 100-year-old Blanch Sasso with daughter Leah McAllister and a 6-week old great-grandaughter. Ron and Diane Walker were there from St. John.
Sarasota artist Nancy Goodheart Matthew, daughter of Harry Goodheart, was among the welcoming faces, along with David Maas, David Puritz, Bo Campbell and Paula Mydzenski, WAPA Bob and Betty, Jackie and Henry Wazny, Leonarda Crowley, Jo and Len Stein and Kathy and Jim Lavalley.
Jumping up Saturday on Siesta Key at the all-day beach party was an almost complete ticket counter from late '60s Pan Am — Nancy Carlin, Susan Wynne, Brenda Slosky and Barbara Knight. Island music sounded all day with a Dominican group, the Brothers Intent. And doing a few guest shots was Nicky Russell, the "Mighty Whitey."
Calling the expats now "re-patriated" Americans, Morrisette appeared pleased with his labors to engineer an atmosphere of earlier, more carefree days in the Virgin Islands. "It's been a lot of work," he said, "a labor of love." He called putting the whole thing together a "leap of faith."
"We try to get people to send in their money early," he said. For outreach and response, the postage alone came to $500, although they did a lot of it by e-mail. Setting up the music and the catering was no piece of cake. Morrisette said the band he had lined up backed out barely before the 11th hour. However, he was delighted with the Dominican brothers who performed Saturday, as were all the dancers jumping up to the island music.
Some of the commemorative T-shirts, which were included in the $40 registration fee, are still available. St. Thomas artist Edie Paljavcsik Johnson did this year's design, which carries a mocko jumbie theme. To order one, e-mail Ann Johnson:SNBOX@aol.com The cost per shirt is $11 including postage. Shirts come in S,M,L and XL.
Morrisette said the affair went somewhat over budget — costing about $14,000 — and that further T-shirt sales would be welcome. He said he would post the budget details on his e-mail at ramseed2@aol.com soon for the benefit of next year's Bacchanal organizers. Bacchanal 2001 will be held on Florida's Atlantic coast, in Delray Beach.
Appearing exhausted but happy, Morrisette said he was going home to walk his Rottweiler, Brogan, along the beach at sunset while remembering past sunsets seen from Cruz Bay.
