The trip that changed everything.
“We Made It Out”
They held hands and spoke French, smiling, even giggling as they recalled the previous six months, Nicolas and wife Rhonda Mellor. Holder of a comedian’s mind and stand-up timing, Mellor says life over the past six months had her every so often singing the theme song from the classic sitcom “Gilligan’s Island.”
“Who knew the coronavirus was going to keep us on the outside of the United States looking in?” Mellor said. “We are lucky and thankful we are here. At times I thought about Gilligan’s Island and being stranded!”
As they had done before, Mellor and Griffon set off to St. Martin, a luscious Leeward Islands setting in the Caribbean, governed on the north by the French. The southern side of the island is Dutch and called St. Maarten.
French or Dutch, St. Martin or St. Maarten is paradise, featuring gorgeous beaches, carnival-like nightlife and great food. It is the perfect retreat for a retired couple seeking asylum from a long and frigid Midwestern winter.
On Jan. 20, 2020, Griffon and Mellor began their most recent journey to St. Martin. They were to return in April, 10 weeks later.
After two days of driving, following a humanitarian flight to Florida from St. Martin, Mellor and Griffon reached their Bettendorf home on July 10.
Victims of coronavirus travel restrictions leaving St. Martin and entering the United States, the two had six planned flights from St. Martin to Miami and then home cancelled. But with help from family and friends, the couple eventually made it home.
“A three-hour tour,” Mellor joked, referring to the Gilligan’s Island group being stranded after what was to be a three-hour boat excursion.
“Six times our flight out of St. Martin was cancelled,” Mellor said, drawing a smile and a chuckle from her French-born husband. “Six times!”
A retired French teacher, Mellor had spent 39 years teaching, including 22 years with Davenport schools and the final 17 years of her career at United Township High School.
Eventually they were notified of a flight connected with international students who had also been stranded. The couple were fortunate enough to secure places on the return flight.
Despite being stranded in a foreign land for six months instead of the 10 weeks they had planned, Mellor and Griffon’s situation was never dire.
Family and friends watched their Bettendorf home. One neighbor even planted their garden. Their landlord in St. Martin allowed them to remain in the apartment they had rented minutes from the beach.
Even during lockdown, they were allowed to go to the grocery store, pharmacy and exercise within the limits established by local authorities.
Griffon often fished and cooked. Mellor exercised daily, did yoga, shared Zoom cocktails with friends and meetings with her book club, and stayed connected with family.
“We adjusted and waited for our chance,” Mellor said. “We talked about just swimming home!”
Through it all, Mellor and Griffon had one advantage over many Americans dealing with coronavirus restrictions abroad: Griffon is French and Mellor had spent her career teaching French. Communication on the French side of St. Martin was not a problem.
Knowing the language, understanding the laws and having visited the island before helped them navigate the unusual circumstances.
In addition to praising her sisters, children and friends, Mellor said her husband’s attitude was key to getting through the experience.
“He balances my crazy,” Mellor said of Griffon. “Seriously, he does.”