This is an experience that will be hard to describe in words to my land-locked Midwestern friends because we don't have anything to top it. Ever the tour guide to the Pacific Northwest, my daughter (Megan) booked us for something called the Christmas Ship Festival. She has only lived in the PNW for a year, but she sure can find the neat things to do, even if she's never done them before, herself!
I don't know who, why, or how, but back in 1945, an event was organized in the Seattle area on Lake Union, and that event became a tradition. This year, we would all be part of it! The event takes place in the evening and consists of two big tour boats--the kind that usually operate as whale-watching vessels--all decked out with Christmas lights and decor. They travel up Lake Union and back, making a couple of short stops along the way to pipe Christmas music to the masses. The lead boat carries among its passengers a group of carolers, dressed in period costumes and singing into a sound system that is broadcast far and wide. Both boats are double-deckers with a bar and bartender on both levels. Inside, it was warm and festive. Outside, it was clear and crisp. And all along the route were lots of other boats--big boats and little boats--all lit up with Christmas lights and themes, some of which were competing in a contest for best decorations. Many of the smaller boats were anchored in the various little bays of the lake. Others sailed beside us in a parade of sorts. (One such little boat was well lit and had a steaming hot tub on the open stern, with passengers dressed only in swimming trunks. Methinks they had lots of "antifreeze" on board to keep them warm!) Our view was of all of this, plus the lights from the shore...and a rising moon, almost full, just above skyline. It was breathtaking!
But let me back up a bit. We traveled to the dock area from which the Christmas Ships would depart. There was a really nice restaurant that had a full view of the water. We ate dinner there. Nice! Lots of seafood on the menu, of course. Other Christmas Ship participants were there, wearing Santa hats, etc. (If we have occasion to do the event again, we'll be sure to bring ours, too!) When it came time to board, we had a group picture taken with Santa on the dock. We were booked for the second boat. We got on board and settled in, and soon enough were under way.
Both stops on our voyage were for the purpose of broadcasting the carolers' music to the other boats and the landlubbers that had gathered along the shoreline just to be part of the festivities. I didn't go out on deck for the first stop. I could hear the music from inside, although the noise from the inside revelers made it a little hard to hear. I just sat and looked and listened while sister Shari and the rest of the family enjoyed the music out on deck. When Shari came in, I noticed some drops of white stuff down the sleeve of her red jacket. Huh? What's that? It seems that while she was outside enjoying "Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men," a bird baptized her! She said she felt the glancing blow in her hair but hadn't noticed it until I pointed it out. Down her sleeve, across the back of her collar/hood...even a little on her neck scarf. Missed her hair by...well...a hair. She went up to the bartender to ask for paper towels to clean herself off. He told her that was Seattle's good luck sign. She should be lucky for the rest of the year! Needless to say, we got a yuck out of changing the words to the song about Grandma being run over by a reindeer to "Grandma done got pooped on by a sea gull." It could only happen to Shari! I did go outside at the second stop on our voyage. So very beautiful!
At the end of our "three hour tour" (Thank you, Gilligan!) we got in the car and went home, tired but happy. That evening, my sister and I saw and did things we may never be able to see and do again. It was magical. I can't imagine how miserable it could be in rain or fog, but that night was clear and beautiful. And I do think the resident family sees it as something they'd like to do again as part of their own Christmas traditions. I'm sure it was expensive...so thank you Megan and Denis for our memories of a lovely evening! All was calm; all was bright.
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