Christmas Eve

Wednesday, 24 December                                                                        0.0 SM

Palms line the shore at the Yacht Basin.

There’s the steady hum of morning rush on the twin bridges, just above the bow. Below decks, the Philadelphia Symphony fills the cabin with “O Tannenbaum,” courtesy of Radio Free Naples. Sun fills the cockpit, peeking between the coconut palms ashore.

It’s 0800. A light southerly whispers across the Caloosahatchee. Sure, it’s 72-degrees but with that wind chill factor, it feels like 71. The forecast calls for a high today in the mid-80s.  (Yes, Dan, this doesn’t suck!)

Hard to believe the uniform of the day is short sleeves and shorts on Christmas Eve. Aboard Steadfast, there is agreement that having a “change of seasons” is greatly overrated. This weather does not diminish the feeling of Christmas.  I mean, come on man – Bethlehem’s in the desert!  Snow?  There are palm trees all over the place like, well, Florida.  Think about it.  The REAL Christmas tree is a date palm!

Nothing says Christmas like Pirate Santa at the reins with Rudolph-the-Red-Nosed Gator on the bow.

Well, okay, maybe a little. But it appears it’s something one can get used to, witness the displays of neighbors at Fort Myers Yacht Basin.

So, here’s wishing a merry Christmas to all and many blessings for the New Year!  But for now…

Steadfast out.

BTW…the cold front coming through tonight is supposed to drop temperatures in the low 60s overnight, a high of just 71 tomorrow, Christmas Day.  How’s that for a change of season?