Call it luck. Call it fortune. Call it “the gods are smiling
on the Captain today.” Call it what you will. I am blessed!
Two months ago the Captain decided to attend a church
conference this week in Lutz, Florida (near Tampa).
Actually, the choice was between a couple days at a retreat
center in Tennessee with the Bishop and a bunch of clergy-types, a couple days
sitting at the feet of John Dominic Crossan in Tempe, Arizona, as he lectures on his
latest book ("How to Read the Bible and Still Be a Christian"), or the “Real Ideas” conference at the Van Dyke Church in Lutz.
In reality, the Captain just needed to get away.
So yesterday, as the Banana Winds sailed south – leaving
behind 40-degree temps and arriving to low 80s – a major winter storm was
heading toward the home port. The second since Valentine's Day.
The Weather Channel has named this storm “Thor”. It is
expected to dump up to 14” of sleet and snow on the home port overnight
tonight.
[Captain's Note: This photo was taken earlier this afternoon by a fellow captain.]
Meanwhile, in Tampa, the sun is shining bright!
And this Captain feels terrible about it!
Nonetheless, my agenda was carefully planned out. I arrived a day early so I
could relax from the 12-hour drive and get myself mentally prepared for sitting
through two days of seminars.
And I planned a visit to Mecca.
In this case, the stadium where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
play football.
Yep, that's me!
The Captain was disappointed to learn I had missed all the
Gasparilla Pirate Festivities in late January.
Next time…
Although the Buccaneers are on the perpetual losers list – but that means we got
first-round draft pick this year! – they have the cutest cheerleaders in the
NFL.
And – as far as the Captain knows – the Bucs are the only
team to have a Pirate Ship in the end zone!
Dear Santa: A sky-box at Raymond James Stadium is only
$250,000, with a three-year commitment. That would make a great
stocking-stuffer!
But alas, all good things must come to an end. The fun has
been had, the rum has been drunk, and tomorrow the conference begins.
But the fun doesn't end there. On Saturday, the Banana Winds sails over to Orange Beach, Alabama before returning home,
where on Sunday the Captain plans to attend “Worship on the Water” at the
Flora-Bama Bar & Grill.
Unfortunately, the forecast for O.B. calls for a high of 56 –
not quite the toes-in-the-sand worship the Captain had hoped for!
[Captain's Note: Those are not my toes.]
But it should still be fun!
I’ll let you know….
