“Nothing is ever as over as Christmas.” That’s a quote from John’s mom that sums up our feelings yesterday. Yesterday morning, John and I took down the Christmas lights and put away all of the cards that had made our salon so merry. Two weeks ago, we ran 130 feet of white lights from the top of the mast forward and aft. People could enjoy the lights for miles around, because our mast is 63.5-feet high. Fellow cruisers anchored nearby have visited us in their dinghies just to tell us how much they enjoy our lights, which made us smile broadly and swell with pride.
Christmas morning aboard Island Chariot was a bit like Christmas morning in Whoville before the Grinch returned everything he stole from the Whos. We did not have a Christmas tree or stockings or plates full of decorative and delicious cookies. Gifts we gave and received were simple and meaningful. Holiday Kleenex boxes, two strands of white LED lights and Christmas cards from friends and family on both sides of the salon created a festive atmosphere. Without the usual hustle and stress, John and I had time to reflect on the meaning of Christmas. Many people call themselves “seekers” of God. Actually, God seeks us and did so in a major way by sending his only son to save us. He’s right here. All we have to do is accept Him and His amazing love for us. No further God-seeking is required. And, we paused as we do each day in moments of gratitude to name everything for which we are grateful at that time. Although we missed our families, we felt joyful and peaceful.
Later on Christmas Day we prepared a tossed salad and an appetizer of cheeses and crackers for nine of us, then drove the dinghy over to Hale Kai for a cruisers’ Christmas dinner. Hale Kai is a large Beneteau sailboat piloted by Richard and Sharon. We think Richard may be in the witness protection program. Here is the evidence: He changes his appearance every two years or so, has Delaware as the hailing port of his boat, lives in the mountains, and keeps his boat in Oriental, NC. I know what you’re thinking. I could be describing almost any cruiser! At any rate, we were an eclectic mix of people who had a delightful time together despite the fact that we would make an unlikely dinner party on land. I’ll say it again; the people we meet are the best part of cruising.
We all enjoyed each other so much on Christmas that we did some South Beach sightseeing together the next day, walking to the Holocaust Memorial and the Botanical Gardens before stopping for refreshments on Lincoln Road. The Holocaust Memorial recapped the horrors of what human beings are capable of doing to one another. I was glad we started the day there. My spirits were lifted again admiring the beauty of the flowers, shrubs and trees at the Botanical Gardens.
A few days later, we took a dinghy trip up the Miami River under bright sunshine and blue skies. We are used to creeks in rural settings. The Miami River feels like a creek; however, it runs through downtown Miami. It was strange seeing skyscrapers on the cement banks of the narrow river.
As we crossed the Biscayne Bay on our way back to Island Chariot, we fished a cane out of the water. It had a golden dragon’s head at the top with gold designs down the black cane. The owner had placed a return address label near the top, most of which was still intact. It was our pleasure to look up the owner’s phone number online and inform her that we would ship the cane to her in Pittsburgh. We called her to ensure she was still at that address. She was amazed that we found the cane and that we were returning it to her.
Earlier in December soon after our arrival in Miami Beach, we found a man’s designer dress shirt in the street still wrapped in plastic and on a hanger from leaving the dry cleaners. It was a Saturday night and the dry cleaners was closed. On Monday, we brought the shirt back to the dry cleaners. The numbered tag on it enabled the staff to identify its owner. They, too, were amazed that we would return the item. Isn’t that a sad commentary?
Then, again, is the story of my sunglasses. On the day we went to Parrot Jungle I left them in the shower room at our "gated, exclusive yacht club". Thirty minutes later when I realized what I had done, I went back into the shower room only to find them gone. I checked with the office staff and no one turned the sunglasses in to lost and found. So, I brought the case into the shower room with a note telling the person who found the glasses to take the case to protect them since I did not need it any more. But, I digress...
Wrapping up the holiday week, we took pleasure in a quiet New Year’s Eve celebration. Being lovers of sci-fi movies, John and I watched Transformers on Blu-Ray DVD, and then switched to the FOX network celebration in Las Vegas. The FOX celebration took place at the Mirage Hotel where we stayed when we were married in Las Vegas. Daughtry and David Cook performed, both of whom I enjoy, which is what made us choose that particular TV party. At midnight, we emerged from the salon up into the cockpit of Island Chariot and reveled in fireworks surrounding us from downtown Miami to South Beach.
The next morning brought us the Tournament of Roses Parade followed by much college football. The highlight of New Year’s Day was watching my alma mater win the Gator Bowl. It has been so long since the Huskers have had a winning team!
Normally, my resolutions, affirmations, and goals for the year ahead would be complete by now. I'm holding over last year's affirmation "I'm feeling energetic and lean weighing 118!" for another year. That's all I have so far. The problem with that goal wrapped in an affirmation is that I'm feeling too energetic and great weighing 128. Anyway, John and I decided that January 1 is an arbitrary date. We agreed to revisit our goals for 2009 and beyond on February 8. No, there is no particular reason for the date.
Today we joined several others at Sunset Harbour Yacht Club in celebrating Clare’s birthday. John met Clare and Steve when he brought our boat home for the first time. Part I of her party included mimosas and danishs at 10AM. Part II is a bar-b-que at 6PM. What a delightful way to spend a beautiful Miami Beach January day!
It is hard to believe our month in Miami Beach is up on Monday. It feels like the time-space continuum has folded. We can’t have been here for 31 days!
Marathon here we come!
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