Survived New YearsJan 12, 2006
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Santa Claus
Swimming Hole
New Year's Day
| Even with a confusing array of addresses; Lewes, DE - Cudjoe Key, FL - Livingston, TX, Santa Claus found us again on Christmas. Since we weigh and measure everything that comes into the RV, our Christmas Tree was all of 18 inches high. But hey - it's the thought that counts and an evergreen in 80 degrees suffers anyway. But we had our roasted chicken, stuffing and everything else that goes with it to make you groan and beg to not leave any leftovers. For dessert, it was our year to take in and give a home to THE circulating fruitcake. Actually, Rob made one from his mother's recipe and kept in soaking in rum since we left Delaware. So, everyone reading can rest easy 'cause we did it in. Took us three weeks but it is now dead and won't be threatening to arrive stealthily on any of your doorsteps next year. As you see from the pictures New Year Eve and Day were beautiful. Our development has a regular pool but it also has an ocean pool. We try to swim there most days. As I am not a great swimmer - which shouldn't suggest that I really swim at all - the salt water makes it much easier to avoid drowning and actually to seem like you know what you're doing without thrashing frantically to and fro. We started out New Year's Eve at a performance of Act 2 of der Fledermaus. It was in the round and all the actors were singing in costume, masks and drinking champagne...surrounding the actors, the audience was also in masks and drinking champagne. It was like...whoa...should I be singing???? We moved on to a wonderful dinner at One Duval (double lobster tails stuffed with crab for me - lamb chops for Rob), and then walked on Duval Street watching the crowds. It doesn't take much at all to turn any day in Key West into a Mardi Gras-like festival with beads being tossed from balconies for the required "flash" from the receiver of said beads. Then to see Sushi, a performer who sits in a ruby red beaded slipper and is lowered at the stroke of midnight to welcome in the New Year. But Sushi has been known to start celebrating a little early and you can imagine the results if one stands up in a ruby red beaded slipper, in high heels, while the slipper is being lowered on pulleys by others who also may have started celebrating a little early. The oohs and aahs from the crowd as the slipper wobbles down with a wobbly Sushi waving to the assembled masses is something to see and hear. Then we finished up the evening by watching the fireworks set off over the Atlantic Ocean. Great fun. We just got back from Fort Lauderdale - a fun three days. We were able to visit with our nephew Jim and to meet his friend April. Over an excellent Thai dinner, it was scary listening to their accounts of the hurricanes that swept over them this fall. They were fortunate to make it through with minor damage. Hopefully they will visit us in Key West before we leave. We also got to visit with our friend Fifi. We all worked together at American Express. We were mesmerized listening to her recount how she was born in China to Greek parents (who themselves were born in China), how the three generations of her family was interred by the Japanese during the WWII and how they had their homes and businesses confiscated after Mao came into power. They were forced to leave China and find a new home. She eventually came to US. She is an avid traveler still. I thought Rob and I have been around but she has been everywhere...from Afghanistan to Zambia. We also had tickets to the King Tutankhamen exhibit at the Ft. Lauderdale Museum of Art. It was not up to the one that toured the country in 1975 (I think) as the Egyptians will no longer allow the mummy, death mask or sarcophagus out of Egypt. But it had quite a few items from his parents and grandparent's tombs. So it was interesting seeing the lineage. We should be so lucky to last as long as the Egyptian ancient dynasties - 3000 BCE to 30 BCE. One of the neat items were these small statuettes "shawabty", that were included in the tomb. Their purpose was to act as substitutes for their deceased owner, or to be his servants, when he was required to undertake work in the new world - sowing and reaping, etc - that was necessary to survive there. (Tut had 413 shawabty.) But the point was to have someone else do the work for you so you could reap the benefit of a good life in the afterlife. All work and no play would definitely make for an unpleasant Nirvana. On the way back to home we stopped in Islamorada to have lunch and catch up with our friends Tom and Nancy. They own the restaurant where Rob was accountant during the last five summers. A short but fun trip. Then, top down, home we came. Til next time... |
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