Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

As I mentioned yesterday, I just spent two weeks in the British Virgin Islands, which are much less touristed then their American counterparts to the west. The BVI are also said to be some of the safest islands in all of the Caribbean. Locals tend to view the USVI as crime-infested and corrupt. The capital, Charlotte-Amalie, was described to me on numerous occasions as simply "crazy" and "out-of-control." I asked a certain Captain Mitchel if he ever sailed to St. Croix. "Nope," he said, "unless I want to dodge bullets."

We stayed a week on the isle of Virgin Gorda (described as resembling a "Fat Virgin" by Christopher Columbus in 1493). At the Biras Creek resort, things could not have been more tranquil, what with a maximum of 30 guests residing here at any one time. It was the perfect get-away. In fact, it is a popular spot for the likes of Morgan Freeman and Robert De Niro. Of course who else should be there during our stay but Dee Snider of Twisted Sister and his wife.

From the moment he strolled onto that sun-drenched beach, wearing his black biker spandex shorts and a New York Yankees cap and nothing else, I could tell he didn't want to be bothered. We did exchange a friendly hello but that was it. If he had asked us if we were using a particular beach chair, I would have more than obliged by saying, "No, we're not gonna take it. Anymore." But it didn't happen. He and his wife kept to themselves the entire week. And maybe they needed to, in order to work things out. In the middle of one dinner, Dee and his wife got into an argument--leading to Mrs. Snider storming out. He followed suit while everyone else watched like the voyeurs they were.

It's all anyone talked about that night. But rest assured, they returned to the restaurant the following night holding hands. When we prepared to check out, I decided to jot down a few thanks in the Guest Book, only to find the name above mine was "Snider." I assume his wife wrote the comment, which read (and I paraphrase), Rarely do such places deliver on their promises and meet our expectations but this place did! Thanks for a wonderful time.

I'd like to think the Sniders were able to work things out too. I've got great respect for the man who once took on Tipper Gore and later helped Arnold Schwarzenegger become governor of California. May the Sniders' holiday season be merry and bright.