Whatever direction you're going, may you soar freely forth in clear blue skies.
****
It's that time of year again. The H-Season (dare I say it??) is
almost officially over, however, we don't want to jinx things too much!! After all the Weather Gods that Be may just BE hovering overhead, and we certainly wouldn't want to get in their way, n'est ce pas?
Lately, the shopping buses have been over-filled with cruisers getting last minute extras, and the boat galley cupboards are most likely brimming full. The Capt'N's are surely performing final checks and sea trials. The Crusing Guides have been brought out and are visible on the tables, the pages being perused are dog-marked and annotated with places to stop and things to see along the way.
There's excitement a-buzzing all around and the energy is vibrant and frenzied. As we stop and converge in a group, sharing our schedules and intended itineraries, it all seems to end with one last HeartFelt Hug, and perhaps even a Tear or Two.
Like everyone else, we've been trying to get it all done and trying to see everyone in the
limited (weather dependant) time we have on our hands.
It's sort of like everyone trying to do everything and trying to squeeze into this very narrow passageway that is the photo, meet and mingle through this very narrow space,
and as we emerge on the other side, we all scatter freely in different directions.
Camp Grenada is OUT.
Along with that, there's been a few birthday celebrations to celebrate.
Mine.
Our dear friend Jeff, who was willing to share Cake with me.
What a great evening with fabulous friends who came out to raise a toast with us. Lovely memories made that night that will be treasured for a very long time.
The Annual Halloween Bash was the next big event on the list. It was rather challenging to organize a group costume, but we think we pulled it off rather brilliantly, wouldn't you agree?
Gilligan's Island, complete with The Witch Doctor and Voodoo doll,
that made poor Gilligan jump up and down in fear.
And then we learned that the timing was down to a crunch and that there were even more changes in the works.
Some special hugs,
some special toasts,
(and even another advance Birthday Celebration) followed by a special request at The Aquarium: Grenada, Spice Island performed live, just for us.
Grenada: where we've made such wonderful memories !!
And then, we found ourselves in the same place at the same time as longtime friends Mike and Rebecca of
Zero to Cruising, and quickly made dinner plans.
We fondly remember how, many years ago, reading their blogs was a daily routine. We were eagerly planning and anticipating living this lifestyle, doing what they were doing, and Just.Couldn't.Wait!!
And now we are here, and what a mind-warp all that is !!
New and different destinations, along with new and exciting plans in the works for all of us.
Which makes me wonder where we will all be this time next year? In some instances we're saying serious "good-bye's", and in some instances it's only a brief "see you later".
And as we lounge back into the comfort of our home in the cushions of our cockpit, planning our plans we smile. The beginnings of the colours of the evening palate are emerging,
and we toast a cheers to our friends that have already left, to the new ones we've met, all of it melding into beautiful memories.
My beautiful friend Wendy likes to raise a toast with these German words:
"so jung kommen wir nicht meh zusammen"
which translates (roughly) to,
"We will never be this young, together, again".
To our Friends: It's been great fun. We shall miss you. We do miss you. And we cherish the memories of our time spent with you.
To Grenada: We shall miss you too. And will remember you warmly.
"See You Somewhere North of Somewhere".