Let the dog in!

The Spirit of Seattle, an Argosy Cruises boat, has its holiday duds on. We just saw it last night (although I did not take this picture). It came creeping into Eagle Harbor on our island, blaring Christmas music. Then it led a boat parade out of the harbor.

It was all very special, although we missed that last part. It was cold out. And a little drizzly.

And while Kid seemed game for freaking me out by repeatedly stomping and leaning heavily toward the black, shimmering waters at the boat dock edge, and by gladly taking the burning candle in a paper cup offered to her by someone I can only assume was childless, I was sadly underdressed for the event.

“Underdressed” by Pacific Northwest standards means not enough layers on, in case you are somewhere it was 84 yesterday.

Sure, I can dish out advice to recent Californian immigrants regarding the merits of flannel sheets, but somehow I missed the fact that it was a “two-shirt” day (as a friend of mine called it). Not only two shirts, but really, at least one should be wool and capable of being stretched to your lower lip.

The nice hot cocoa they handed out helped a little. And even that candle (although we know there are certain hazards with candles….).

Anyway, I shiveringly resorted to bribing Kid with “old McDonalds” to leave when people were only just beginning to have bonfires on the beach with those little candles in cups.

Overall, we enjoyed the caroling on shore and from sea. And seeing those giant ships floating and spinning around in our little harbor, sprinkling Christmas spirit everywhere (which has less scent than you’d imagine).

Maybe Santa will take the ferry to deliver to Washington kids?

Of course, he’d need $1000 in ferry passes for the night, and security rules dictate that he (with his bag) would have to get on and off every time the boat stopped even if he didn’t need to. And he’d need captain’s permission to leave the boat if he got on and changed his mind.

Nah.
I’d go with the flying reindeer.