Merry Christmas to all!

One of the hardest things I’ve had to get used to since we moved aboard Rough Draft and sailed her south to Florida is the lack of a white Christmas.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the warm winters and wouldn’t move back north for anything, but if I had a wish granted to me at this time of the year I think I’d wish it would snow in Florida every Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I’d gladly put up with the cold weather two days a year.

I grew up in Michigan and my Christmas memories are of snowball fights, snowmen, and the cold. There were a few years when the snow was skimpy, but it was rare not to have a least a little snow on the ground for the holidays.

I’ve moved around a lot over the years. My early adult years were northern moves; to Maine then back to Michigan then to Minnesota, so the snow was always there. In those early years the cold didn’t bother me as much as it does today and I thought nothing of shoveling snow. Minnesota brought more snow than anyplace else I lived, but a snow blower replaced the shovel and I tolerated the cold.

In October of 2003 when Mary and I headed south on our boat I swore I would not set foot north of the Mason-Dixon line between November first and March first. Except for the year Mary’s mother died I’ve stuck to that oath.

It seems that the Florida sun has baked and thinned my blood to the point where I just can’t tolerate the cold weather. But still, for those two days of the year I think I could put up with it.

Of course South Florida’s not going to get snow on Christmas during my lifetime, but if I were a kid again I think I’d add a white Christmas to my wish list to Santa.

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