MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM CHRISTMAS ISLAND!







It’s certainly no Christmas tree by the fireplace made extra cozy by the feet of snow outside, as in Minneapolis…

Instead it’s a Christmas snorkel and French toast and champagne on the beach. We head out for a morning snorkel; the water temp is perfect and the clarity great. A bunch of folks went for a Christmas dive (Santa hats included) and afterward we make French toast and drink champagne on the beach with them. The cove offers a handful of communal gas grills, and many locals who stayed on-island for the holidays are there cooking up food, drinking, and generally being jolly. We find some grilled sausages and smoked tuna on our plates, too.

Then it was decided that a jetty jump was in order; so Arthur, Kristin (a fellow Midwesterner!; hails from Indiana) and I take a jump off the jetty. Arthur and I decide we need more ocean time, so we take a couple kayaks out for a spin around the point. We soon feel as though we are getting too much sun, so we paddle back, and promptly take a nap. Later we head over to Rob and Kristin’s for some food and drinks. Kristin provides a buffet of casseroles (her friend sent her French friend onions, so we even had the infamous green bean holiday casserole :) and watch American football (again, sent by Kristin's friend) and we provide the drinks (Bloody Mary’s and Cypresses).

All in all a great day! Though I can’t say it felt like Christmas. My body doesn’t identify palm trees and sunshine as congruent with Christmas time; but I think that’s preferable. This way I don’t miss my family as much for Christmas, and I still get to celebrate and be festive in a small town community. I don’t recall the last time so many strangers wished me a Merry Christmas.