Because I wrote the last few blogs in Word and copied them to the blogspot program, they all failed to print out: just the titles showed as you have seen. Rather that going back and trying to reconstruct them, I'll summarize here.
We've been hanging aroung Culebra and Fajardo, PR dodging two TS, only one of which turned into a hurricane right over our hidyhole in the mangroves. The winds at the top of the mast (67 feet up) got into the high 50s, but down where were never above 25 knots. We were fine. Dewey (a mile down wind/path) on the other hand got whacked.
Back in mid October we got a call from Jessica Fine - Ned (deceased) and Suzy (my sister) Von Geldern's daughter and step daughter, respectively - that Suzy was in Straub Hospital in Honolulu and not expected to recover. She had redeveloped scoliosis from one of two spinal fractures, a failed spinal surgery, partially repaired shoulder cuff surgery,extreme pain (neck, back and shoulder) resulting in alcohol and pain medication addiction, etc. Her spirits were good, notwithstanding. She realized her situation and decided that DNR was in her best interest. We immediately booked tickets to Hawaii arriving Wednesday night, October 26. We had a good visit. Hospics was called in and Suzy was transferred to a facility in Kaneohe. On November 9, with family at her side and under a hoku moon (Hawaiian full moon with a circle around it) Suzy left us for her soul mate, Ned. Because the Death Certificate couldn't be produced for 10 days and because the Von Gelderns and Fines needed to return to the Mainland (business, family, etc. duties) we decided to have a memorial service at Suzy's request on January 14th. So we returned to Orlando where we had already plannecd Thanksgiving.
We checked with our friends Sue and Steve Pinhey, Loose Change, in Culebra to see if they would watch our boat which we had moored at SunBay Marina in Fajardo for $1/foot/day. Steve offered to save us a round trip and move Kuhela for us plus keep an eye on her. So, we hung out in Orlando nursing our dear friend Jackie Williams (1/6 of the SixPac: Jim and Jane Caltrider, the Arnolds and DuaneWilliams) who had broken her ankle. We had Thanksgiving and Christmas with the whole family for the first tmes in a few years. Linda's mom, Mildred "Millie" Welsh, had two strokes a week before Christmas, so with all that was going on, Linda was kept hopping. Millie in slowly recovering her speach and number comprehension: thankfully no paralysis.
Back to Hawaii on January 11 for the memorial service on the 14th with our daughters, one son-in-law (Mark), and five grandchildren. Little did we know that the Sony Invitational (FKA Hawaiian Open) was on the same day a block down the road. Kahala Beach Park is across the street from where Suzy, Johnny and I grew up. Suzy wanted her ashes scattered off the park and beyond the reef. Jessica made it all happen. Family rode a sailing canoe out beyond the reef on a mill pond calm sea where we dropped her li leaf urn over the side in 20 feet of water. We were able to see her all the way to the bottom, it was that clean. A honu (turtle) popped its head out of the sea just yards from us as if to say its goodbye, too. What a perfect time. We then repaired to the Outrigger Club (guess who has a membership: ya Jessica) for a service with all of Suzy's friends and family. After the service, three whales breached off shore to the delight oif everyone. Usually whales are sighted between Maui and Lanai and not so much off Oahu.
By the time we god home, we'd been gone three months less a week. Wow, way too long! Now we sit and getting over miserable colds we picked up in the virus pool we'd been living in so long. Cough, cough; runny, runny; itchy, itchy; pooped.
I've managed to reinstall the repaired watermaker so we are back up to half full. The center console for the dingy is on hold for another part: motor conversion kit from Mi-jami. I'm cleaning out the tool room, rearranging, putting away and cleaning. We're both reconnecting with all of our cruising friends in the area. For those who have sailed on, we'll see you later.
