New Years at Sea
Can you tell I'm on a roll with these holiday entries? If anything this trip is proving that the festive season can be celebrated without alcohol. Still, I did miss Cassie and my family aweful much.
New Years on the boat was my favorite holiday yet (and hopefully last). As the cruise is whining down it is taking less and less to amuse the science party and crew, thus more and more of them are turning out for the festivities.
It was actually a pretty simple affair. One of the able-bodied seamen (A.B.), took a rader reflector, wrapped in it with white Christmas lights (stolen from the Christmas tree) and ran it up the foremast on one of the lines used for displaying flags. As midnight approached everyone gathered on the bow and just started screaming 10... 9... 8... etc. Someone even thought to bring one a stereo for play "May old times be forgotten" or whatever the title is to that traditional New Year's song. Everyone yelled some more with the occational, handshake, hug and kiss.
Everyone would have probably stayed out there all night if the Captain had not come out and told everyone to move it elsewhere. I guess we were keeping those crew members in the adjacent cabins awake. And thus proving you don't need alcohol to cause a ruckus worthy of having it broken up by the authorities.
: