Takadventures
  • Welcome
  • Debbie's blog
  • Taka Trois
    • About the boat
    • Crossing the Atlantic
  • Contact Us

Truly Blessed!

12/19/2013

10 Comments

 
Picture
Clinton, New Jersey
On the way to and from Arizona, I stopped in New York and New Jersey to do a bit of Christmas shopping and to revel in the festive delights of the Christmas season in that part of the world. Despite the crowds and the commercialism, it is still one of my favorite times of year in "The Big Apple." I love the jingle of the bells that the Salvation Army volunteers ring on every street corner, the bling and glitz of the shop windows on 5th Avenue and in Herald Square, the skaters in Central Park and especially the big tree at Rockefeller Center and the graceful angels that herald it.  The dusting of snow that fell on my nose and eyelashes on my last night there had me singing carols with gusto as we walked through the streets.
Picture
This year however, all of that was eclipsed by a once in a lifetime opportunity.  Every year in the quaint little town of Clinton, New Jersey, where my brother's family resides, there is a Christmas parade.  Their church is represented by a vintage firetruck owned by a certain Mr. Hooper and I was fortunate to be invited to ride on it in the parade.    The town is small, so the journey was blessedly short as it was pouring with freezing rain, but what an experience!  Much to the children's delight onboard, the truck was driven by none other than Batman (not sure why, but then again, why not?) and we were given jingle bells to shake.  At the end we were frozen and wet and our voices were hoarse from shouting 'Merry Christmas' to waving pedestrians, but I relished every moment!   Thank you Mr. Hooper!
Picture
I'm the one in the red hat towards the back of the truck.
That 'dusting of snow' in New York City I mentioned earlier turned into freezing rain by the time I left the city the next morning to catch my flight back to St. Martin, so I was, in fact, quite happy to leave and get back to the tropics.   Taka Trois was still ‘on the hard’ having her annual bottom scraping when I arrived , but she’s now back in the water and we’ve been busy scrubbing the rest of her, inside and out and putting her back together after her enforced 'rest' during hurricane season.  It's like doing a giant puzzle--maddening, but very satisfying when complete,  just in time to welcome ten members of our family who will be joining us here for Christmas week.

Truly blessed are the words that keep coming to mind as I write this final entry in my blog for 2013.   Faith, family and friends are the things I am always most thankful for, but this year, I would add an extra thanks to God for the incredible adventures we have had during the past 12 months, beginning with crossing the Atlantic (no, I can't say it enough!) and for keeping us safe throughout.  I must also say how grateful I am to you, dear readers of this blog.  Thank you for your encouragement and for sticking with me this past year.   
Picture
10 Comments
Cousin Kimmy and Mike
12/19/2013 03:08:39 pm

Blessed indeed and much to be thankful for! Merry Christmas. We also adore Christmas in the tropics. Ft. Lauderdale included!

Reply
Jan Riggs
12/19/2013 03:17:38 pm

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, our precious friends. We love you so much! Blessings, Dave and Jan

Reply
Colleen
12/19/2013 04:14:17 pm

We are blessed....

Reply
Judith
12/19/2013 10:06:23 pm

You make me feel like discovering the Holiday Season in New York !!! Now enjoy Christmas under the sun, great picture of you two in Arizona !!! Our best wishes for 2014, looking forward to see you soon aboard Taka Trois !!!

Reply
Martha Moran
12/20/2013 01:58:28 am

Merry Christmas and all the best to you in 2014! xoxo

Reply
Thierry
12/20/2013 05:54:07 am

Ma chère Debbie, tu nous transmets ton énergie! :) J'adore les photos, (surtout celle de l'ange au Rockefeller center qui me rappelle de bons souvenirs), le texte et cette qualité que tu possèdes de voir et ressentir pleinement les bons moments de la vie même sous un brouillard givrant.
Je vous souhaite de merveilleuses fêtes de fin d'année.

Reply
Aunt Kathe
12/20/2013 07:01:20 am

Oh the JOY of living. I too have a lot to be grateful for.., Jesus Christ my Saviour, flowers, trees, the air I breathe...and of course my wonderful family and friends. A very Merry Christmas to you.

Reply
Deloris
12/26/2013 11:58:18 pm

Merry Blessed Christmas and may 2014 bring with it more happy adventures. May God bless you and yours!

I was a "remnant" again at St Michael's for Christmas but for the New Year will be off on holiday for two weeks. Stay blessed by God's grace!

All the best for the festive season !

Reply
Dawn Gibbs
1/2/2014 02:55:18 am

As WARM as Christmas is in the Tropics.......there is nothing like Christmas at home! I love the snow, the crisp air and the blue sky. Those angels --beautiful!!!! - maybe one day we will do "Christmas in New York". I prayed that your holiday in St. Martens was uneventful (no heart attacks or falls) and that you had a warm and wonderful time with the in-laws. Hugs,

Reply
Maverlin Oliver
4/1/2014 07:24:47 am

Hey guys! I am not seafaring, more like 'seafearing" but this sounds so exciting that I think I could have some fun in the sparkling, zesty waters or just join Debbie & Judith to make Jamaican jerk chicken to spice up the sandwiches! Debbie, your passion for writing is staring me in the face so whenever you are ready for an editor, check me out. Bon voyage. Ahora estoy pasando tiempo con mis padres en Jamaica.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Author

    Debbie is first mate of Taka Trois as well as head cook and chief provisioning officer. 


    Archives

    June 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly