I’m not a big Christmas person ordinarily and down here in the islands, I’ve felt even more removed from the season than usual. In spite of that I was eventually deeply touched by the Christmas sprit this year. It happened on Christmas Eve. Susan’s children (Chelsea & David) had flown in that afternoon and we had just finished a delicious meal of Mahi-Mahi & ribs on the beach when the most beautiful music wafted over us. It was Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s enchanting cover of Over the Rainbow/Wonderful Life that drew us like humming birds to nectar.
Cruisers had gathered for an evening of music on the beach. A collection of about one hundred had gathered under the stars, soft pines and warm glow of amber Christmas lights for an evening of Christmas music.
While the first group of musicians were setting up I got into a conversation with the cruiser next to me. I asked him how he came to this place. He prefaced his answer with; “it’s a long, boring story” which it turned out to be neither. His was a story about a dream, a search for the right boat and the numerous trials and tribulations between then & here. I could completely empathize with him, lord knows, it hadn’t been an easy process for me either. The initial setting out being the hardest part of all. It turns out it's not long passages, storms at sea or equipment failures that are generally found to be the hardest part of cruising. It’s the long, tough, journey that one must complete before you get to cast off those dock lines and head out. But we’ve made it!
Somehow everyone on that beach on that charmed night had overcome innumerable personal obstacles to get there. I don’t think that anyone but another cruiser could ever imagine what it takes to get here. It takes courage and a strong belief in oneself because there are bound to be setbacks and even failures. Perseverance makes all the difference.
The singing soon started and that’s when it struck me; I was with a large group of deeply kindred spirits and we had all been drawn to the special little patch of sand to enjoy community, express our gratitude, our sense of wonder and to thank the universe for the bounty that we’ve all received. That’s the moment that the Christmas spirit really hit me this year.
