Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Today is our 5th wedding anniversary. One of the fun things we decided to try and do when we got married was to spend every anniversary on an island of some sort, which sometimes requires creative thought. Last year, for example, we were very busy on something I can't even recall now, and couldn't get away to an island, or even take the boat out to one of the Channel Islands offshore, so we drove to Disneyland and spent the day, which included a visit to Tom Sawyers Island.

So the question is, can a boat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean be considered an island? We decided yes, of course, and have spent a very nice day on our own little private island.

As usual, we had our fishing pole in the water all day, hoping for something good for our anniversary dinner. But alas, nothing. So far on this passage, even though Allan has had a line in the water almost every day, we have not caught one fish. Here we are, with a galley stocked to the teeth with wasabi, ginger, and even dried seaweed nori for sushi rolls, and nary a pelagic nibble. So for dinner I defrosted the tuna that was given to us by Salty, the fishing boat next door to us in La Cruz.

Marinated in ginger, garlic and soy, seared on the grill and served with steamed brown rice and edamame, our favorite meal. Just as dinner went on the table, and just as Allan uttered the words "thank you for this fish ..." Vzzzzzzzz! we caught a fish! How phenomenally ironic. What utterly bad timing. So Allan and Greg and Tiffany are thrilled -- (remember -- I'm the hypocrite who can't deal with the catching part but is just fine with the eating part) -- Allan turns the boat and heaves to and everyone suddenly realizes the duplicity of the situation: A fish! We caught a fish! But dinner, Alison just made us dinner ... but a fish! Their eyes go from the fishing pole straining with it's catch to the plates of hot food before them to the fishing pole, to the plates. Frozen in action poses, Greg and Tiff wait for a sign. So Allan makes a command decision: leave the fish at the end of the line, let's eat. Sadly, as the boat turned when we hove-to, the line snagged on something and broke, so he got away. Good eats anyhow, followed by a wonderful homemade key lime pie that Tiff labored over under awkward conditions this afternoon. And then, as if it wasn't already a wonderful anniversary, Greg and Tiffany surprised us with a very generous gift -- they have offered to stand our watches tonight giving us the night off, a chance to watch a movie, sleep in, etc. Quite the offer, hard to turn down, and we are once again reminded of how lucky we are to have them aboard.

And to have each other, very grateful. It's a good life.