The "Visiting With Bernadine Ali: Part II" Story

It was an ordinary day.  I had just pulled into the area in French St. Martin known as Paradise View.  It was a few minutes after 7:00 am as I drove back the narrow lane that is laden with trash and rubbish scattered on both sides of the lane.  

Bernadine's home on Paradise View with her two guards.

In a few seconds I pulled close to Bernadine's home at the rear of the lane.  Wasn't long before my car is surrounded by dogs as the cats sit around her home watching as I get out of the car.  Rasheed, her live-in security force and good friend tells me she will be right back.  She had to pick up two cats to take to the vet today that someone found.  Seems the vet runs an island shelter for all sorts of animals.  It was yesterday that I had asked Bernadine if I could help her in any way and she asked if I could take her to the vet this morning.  

One of Bernadine's 12 feline friends.

OK!  I had offered and I couldn't renege, so I'm here today to help the savior of the island's homeless animals.  In no time she pulls her damaged and old car behind me, gets out holding an animal carrier with two small cats staring out at me.  I load them into the back seat of my rental as well as one of her rescued cats that is going in to be spayed today.  

Trying to catch the escaped kitty.

Traffic is heavy as we negotiate the islands awful roads from the French side to the Dutch side of the island where her vet is located.  About thirty minutes later I pull into the vet's parking lot and we each carry an animal carrier through the door.  Her appointment is at 8:00 am and we are on time!  As we sit waiting another island man and woman bring in a very angry large cat wrapped in a blanket.  Seems they couldn't find their pet carrier so they wrapped their kitty in a blanket for his trip to the vet.  Wasn't more than two minutes before he had escaped and was climbing the rack of animal food on the one wall.  Bernadine jumped to her feet to lend help while I snapped a few photos of the event.  The gentleman noticed blood running down his arm and the attendant grabbed him to take him back for first aid.  

Bernadine with one of her favorites.

The poor scared cat was finally captured and placed in an animal carrier.  Bernadine was called and she took the two carriers back the narrow hall and two minutes later returned telling me it was time to head home.  I must admit it was a rather entertaining trip to the vet for me.   We took a different route home, since I found out she needed to stop for groceries...if that was OK with me.  Sure, why not!  I waited as she went inside the store and about 10 minutes later came out with a large bag of dog food.  Then she asked if I could stay put while she goes in the other grocery story on the other side of the parking lot. I was enjoying the action and entertainment in the parking lot so I told her that was fine.  Another 10 minutes and we were on our way once again.  It was at this point that she told me she needed to return before 5:00 pm to pick up her cat that was being spayed and could I bring her back for that.  I knew my wife had other arrangements so I told her how sorry I was, but that wasn't going to work.  We headed back toward Paradise View, drove back her lane and got the empty carriers out of the car.  I was about to say goodbye to her when she asked if I could take her to the nearby Gendarmarie which is the local police station on the French side.  She had business she needed to take care of this morning.  Took about 5 minutes to get there and I pulled into the lot and asked how long she was going to be.  

Posing for a selfie with one that wouldn't let me go!

Maybe 20 to 30 minutes she told me.  Wow, that's not going to work.  Carol was waiting for me to head to the beach and it was one of our two last days on the island.  She thanked me with a big hug and said someone at the station would take her home.  Geraldine is such a wonderful person and I hated to disappoint her, but my vacation was over soon and I didn't want to spend the rest of the morning driving around the island, running errands.  We will return some day soon and make another stop to visit with her and her homeless menagerie.  It at times is so sad to see all these homeless animals on the island, but good to know that someone like Bernadine has taken it upon herself to save all these poor souls.  She really is the savior for the island's homeless and I was glad to be a small part of that for the morning.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.