Tropical Christmas
Christmas aboard Nanook is one I will never forget. Watching Theo sail his Opti and Ben paddleboard past the window while I made Christmas Eve dinner, carols playing, the sun setting in the most spectacular way. It felt surreal. It’s forever etched into my memory. Christmas in warmer latitudes is definitely different from the snowy white ones of th north, but I loved it nonetheless
After an awesome day exploring Hope Town with the Muselers, we made our way back to Man-O-War and shared Christmas Eve dinner together aboard Nanook. Yet another data point proving that any adventure is that much better when shared with friends. cont. below pics.
The boys woke at a reasonable hour on Christmas morning. We still made them snuggle in our bed for a few extra minutes of lounging before the action packed day ahead. Adam confirmed that Santa had indeed found his way to Nanook and that the boys must have been very good this past year.
With croissants baking in the oven and cappuccinos in hand, we sat back and watched the flurry of little-boy excitement unfold. They actually took their time unwrapping this year, savoring each gift. Two moments stood out.
The first was Ben opening a gift we had told him he most likely wouldn’t be getting. Ben is a huge WWII aficionado. He could probably teach a grad school level course on the subject. For his birthday, Ghee and Poppy had given him a leather bound copy of With the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa, written by WWII soldier Eugene Sledge. To say he loved it would be an understatement. He later asked for a 1:6 scale Eugene Sledge action figure, but I told him it was too expensive, and he reluctantly gave up hope. Unbeknownst to Ben, Adam had bought the figure and tucked it awa before we left Palm Beach. When Ben opened it on Christmas morning, his excitement and pure gratitude was priceless!
Theo’s big wish was the Lego Black Pearl set, which Adam picked up during a Navy trip to DC in early December. When it came time to wrap it, Adam had the brilliant idea to prank Theo by putting all the bags into an empty shop towel box. We told him that since he’s been such a great helper in the engine room, we thought he’d love his very own box of shop towels. He was completely perplexed, then caught on and then erupted in laughter. He still didn’t know what the gift really was until he unwrapped the instruction book. He was psyched!!
Once the presents were opened and everyone had some time to play, we hopped in the dinghy and headed into town for Christmas Mass. The sense of community in Man-O-War is something truly special, and it was on full display that day. We sang Christmas hymns as the palm trees swayed in the breeze and held hands as we welcomed the birth of baby Jesus. The locals provided amazing food, and we met a great family from Alabama who have a house on the island. Theo and their son became fast friends and spent the rest of the week together.
After church, we zipped back to the boat, grabbed our bathing suits, and headed to Tahiti Beach with the Muselers for an incredible Christmas beach day. The water was warm, the colors impossibly blue. I remember thinking I could really get used to this—and a month later, as I write this, I definitely have.
Back in Man-O-War harbor that evening, we went over to the Muselers’ boat for dinner. The boys had a blast hanging out with the “big kids,” while the adults caught up and dreamed up schemes of buying a house on the island.
A truly magical Christmas, to say the least.
