David and I are sitting on Pinocchio in La Cruz Marina. We are reflecting on Christmas's past with family and friends. This year, we chose to have Christmas in Mexico on Pinocchio. Banderas Bay is beautiful and warm. The town of La Cruz is low-keyed and quaint. A perfect location to "get away" for the holidays...be careful what you wish for. We are having the most "un-Christmas" Christmas we've ever had!

Something is missing...our hearts are feeling the emptiness of not being together with our dear family at our "tree house" in Woodacre. There's always too much food and wine, which leads to lively conversations, laughs, and sometimes tears. This is what family is about. Celebrating with each other, marking time, and most important, being together with loved ones.

New Years Eve is traditionally celebrated with our neighbors on the "knob" in Woodacre, otherwise known as "Weirdacre"! We will miss the lively festivities with our fellow "knobians", where I usually end up wearing a lampshade, and dancing my feet off!

It's Christmas Day. We are joining a pot luck dinner here at Marina La Cruz, with maybe 100 other cruisers, most of whom we do not know. I'm making a sauted fresh shrimp dish with garlic, butter, white wine, and parsley to share. We will have the comradere of fellow cruisers where sailing tales, knowledge and adventures will be shared. No plans yet for New Years Eve.

Merry Christmas dear family and friends. We are there with you in "spirit" this year!