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We were bathed in a sense of gratitude for all our blessings this
Christmas. I believe all Americans have re-prioritized since the tragic
events of September 11.
Being together, celebrating our holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas
and looking forward
to the coming year of 2002 we continue to count our blessings.
Lee, our youngest, is in Washington State, and was not able to join
us for Thanksgiving or Christmas this year and we missed him. The
rest of the family was here including the three granddaughters who
put sparkles into the eyes of everyone around. Seeing Christmas through
the eyes of a child is magical.
Charlie
and I depart in the morning, December 27, to fly from Orlando to Atlanta,
then on to Madrid and Lanzarote. This will be a long flight but we
will make it all in one sweep with no layovers, and arrive in Lanzarote
on December 28.
We have three men joining us in Lanzarote for the 2650 mile leg across
the Atlantic. Jeff Elledge has sailed with us on several occasions,
including crossing the Pacific where he was our lone crewmember; Wiley
Hill has sailed with us many times, including a leg on the America
500 and one on the Millennium Odyssey. Bob Hall is our third crewmember.
Bob has not sailed on Sea Gem but he captained his own boat, Hornblower
on the America 500, and Hornblower II on the Millennium Odyssey. We
are delighted to have three able sailors with us on the long crossing
from Gran Canaria to Barbados. We will also have the company of two
other boats: Prince Karl with Teva and Hinano aboard and Que Sera,
Sera, with Don and Lois Babson aboard. Don and Lois sailed with friends
on the America 500 and took their own boat on the Millennium Odyssey.
We're
looking forward to really enjoying this last "kick back"
cruise home. Until later….. |
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