Settling Into a Routine

After my folks recovered from their flight nightmare and had a restful night's sleep in their cozy twin bed room, it was time to experience a little of what we had been enjoying prior to their arrival.  As usual, this was a very relaxing kind of day.  After all, we needed to reserve a bit of energy for some bar hopping, dinner, and fireworks celebrating Bahamian Independence Day that evening.

7:00 A.M.ish
Wake with the bright sun, peeking through the curtains and blinds, not allowing itself to be ignored.
Luxuriate with coffee, the morning breeze, and an ocean view while sitting in a shaded nook on the upper deck.
Enjoy wifi with a little speed since all the bandwidth hogs were still asleep.

8:15
Move the coffee sipping party inside, switch to VHF 68 and listen to the familiar format of The Cruisers' Net.  "Good morning cruisers!  Good morning Abaco!"

Lounge in jammies, eat toasted Bahamian bread with melted butter, sip more coffee, and tap on devices, fiddle with puzzle until ???

Noonish
Spray all exposed skin with sunscreen, don hats and sunglasses, locate and re-adopt random lost boogie board, leash up the white beach digger, and head out to On Da Beach for lunch, swimming, and more lounging.

My mom... walking the beach, baggie in hand, looking for trash to pick up.

Millie, beach hole digger extraordinaire!

Grandma watching Shawn and the kids in the breakers.

Nicholas catching a wave.

Riding the crest.

Getting tossed around in the white water.

Smooooooth exit.

3:00ish
Return home for lounging in the pool and cooling crispy skin.
Video tape the teasing and taunting of Millie with, "Are you ready?" at the edge of the pool.  Then, disappear under the water, swim to the other end, and pop up to incite a frenzy of barking.  (Summer's tail just about did Millie in!)

Wait for it to be nearish to 5:00.
Rinse off pool water and remaining sand...actually washing with shampoo and soap in the shower, optional.
Put on clothes that may or may not be clean, still sandy, and/or the same thing that was worn last night.
Pour a drink!
Lounge some more.
Continue working on puzzle, praising one another for finding a match.

And only six days to do it!

Even Grandpa helped with the puzzle.

6:00
Pile up in the golf cart:  Shawn as driver, me in passenger seat with Summer on my lap, grands and Nicholas three across in the jump seat.
First stop...Firefly for Devero's special concoction:  a pina colada with birthday cake flavored liquor.    (Devero is the bartender there and the "handsome local" who drove us from the lighthouse back across the harbor earlier during our stay.  See?  I'm practically also a local!)
Marvel at the view of the Sea of Abaco.
Visit gift shop where Grandpa delighted in buying Summer a silver ring with iridescent greenish stone.

7:00
Repeat golf cart seating process and drive down to Abaco Inn for another set of drinks.
Repeat marveling process...this time having the pleasure of seeing the ocean and the Sea of Abaco from the seats on the elevated deck.

A cold one at the Abaco Inn.

Blazing sun...not quite ready to set.

7:30
Three-peat golf cart seating process and drive down to Sea Spray for another set of drinks and finally a special buffet dinner:  Duck, chicken,  and/or ribs!

9:00ish
Watch Firefly's fireworks off in the distance.
Enjoy rake-n-srape with Eddy.
Try to restrain self as Summer actually played the saw!!!!

Summer, dying of humiliation!

9:30
Continue to celebrate their independence with more fireworks, drinks, and great Bahamian music!

Fireworks at Sea Spray!

10:30
Again, pile into golf cart for the drive home.
Sit on pool deck, look for satellites and shooting stars.
Marvel at the wonders of the universe.
Feel thankful for all that we have and for being able to spend this time together.