As the Christmas season began, we said good bye to grandbabes in 70 degree Colorado, aware that a killer snow storm raged on the East Coast. Thanks to the kindness of a neighbor, our son in law and grandson, we were able to make our way into the driveway after a 1am arrival from Logan. It was only when we awoke the next day did we realize the amount of tree damage that had occurred in our absence. Hubby spent his free time the following week with the chainsaw cleaning up the yard and assessing damage. It would take awhile to saw up and stack the fallen wood. The house had fared well without power for several days and structurally survived multiple treefall. Our greenhouse required a little repair work. Clean up was rushed because hubby and I committed to finishing last year’s trip in Bermuda. Perhaps this visit would bring full circle last year’s interrupted vacation due to the unexpected death of my father. As destiny would have it, the anniversary of his passing occurred while we were on the Royal Dockyard, reminiscent of a year ago when we received the gut wrenching call. My weary heart ached…Miss you so much, Dad. ... It wasn’t until the following day that sadness lifted and revealed how stunning Bermuda is off season. No crowds, brilliant sunshine and turquoise sea. The travel writer in me must report that conditions were not exactly the same as a year ago. Ferry travel between sections of the somewhat crescent shaped island still revealed majestic pastel colored businesses, hotels, homes and mansions with those brilliant white rooftops. This year, however, roofs were being repaired and demolished yachts, sailboats and small shipwrecks remained in the coves as a reminder of the recent hurricane. The locals seem to take constant weather disruption in stride and still greet you with a friendly smile. Quiet sunsets on our patio overlooking subtle ocean waves was emotionally restorative. A most interesting visit was the Museum of Bermuda Art where a display of local Animagic originator Arthur Rankins 50 year old Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer figures were on hand. The original Rudolph and friends from the Christmas classic as well as the camera which captured the painstaking video process to make the film were there. I grew up watching Rudolph as did my kids and now my grandchildren. Nostalgia makes me smile. The underground caves at Grotto Bay with stalagmites and stalactites and cool swimming water was unique. I did pick up a special fragrance at the Perfumera. In 1864 the Mary Celestia shipwrecked off the south shore of Bermuda. In 2011 two bottles of intact perfume were found in the bow of the sunken vessel. Chemists analyzed the 150 year old fragrance and meticulously recreated the perfume naming it Mary Celestia. A limited number of bottles are being made…and I have mine! We did get caught in a few tropical rainstorms but it was nothing compared to the ice and rain that fell on the East Coast. Home, again, the snow was about washed away with standing water in the woods. We weren’t home long before receiving a call from our grandson asking if he and his brother could come over and play. I asked if he wanted to help decorate the Christmas tree. “Don’t start without me!” He said excitedly. We didn’t.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 19:23:01 +0000