Christiansted JUMP UP

We dinghied into Christiansted’s boardwalk with a cruising couple from Minnesota, Nancy & Rick (s/v Nancy Ellen) to see what St. Croix’s Jump Up was all about.  The downtown streets were closed off and a variety of vendors were stationed here and there.  Five bands were set up in different locations and provided lively music- syncopated reggae, plinkety steel pan, and groovy oldies R & B.  Loads of people- tourists and Crucians- milled about enjoying the festivities.

Among the crowd, we recognized the pastor from Holy Cross, Father John, although he was in “civilian” clothes.  He told us of his Polish homeland and his travels as a Redemptorist Missionary.   Our Episcopalian friends queried him on the new wording of the mass and we exchanged tidbits about our ties to Chicago and Poland. (Father brought up the royalty in my mother's Potocki bloodline.)

Down another street, we found our son Bob's family along with a group of other missionaries from YWAM- St. Croix.  They positioned themselves to feel every vibration of the Rising Stars Steel Pan Band's lively performance.  Their son Aslan is five and an aspiring drummer.  Their daughter Lyla was amazed at the height and dance moves of the Mocko Jumbies.

We went.

             We saw.

                        We reggaed.