On Tuesday, December 2, we took the Community Transit van, which is a door-t0-door service, to Wal-Mart. The service is truly amazing as the driver blows the horn for the person to come out of their home and on the return trip, he carries their purchases into their home. Of course, he didn't have to do that for us, yet! On Thursday, December 4, we rode Community Transit to Publix to do our food shopping and several of the same people were riding the van and greeted us by name as though we were regulars! On Friday, we attended Friday Fest with Vince and Mary on M/V Betty B. This festival is held the first Friday of every month with food stalls, arts & crafts vendors, and live music. The next day we shopped the Farmer's Market for fruits and vegetables, and as always, the selection is incredible.

On Sunday, December 7 we watched the Fort Pierce Christmas parade, the huge Christmas tree in the round-about was lit, and then the trees in Marina Square were lit, as shown above. However, these trees blink white, red, or green in conjuntion with Christmas carols; the palm tree trunks are wrapped with thousands of lights and the oak trees have lights in the branches. Every night from 6-10 PM we could watch this light show from Palmetto Moon, and we became mesmerized by it.

On December 16 we had dinner at Yianni's Greek Cafe with Brenda & Geoff of S/V Silver and Karen and Lowell of S/V Changing Channels. Otherwise, many evenings we walk to the edge of the marina and go to the Tiki Bar or Cobb's Landing for drinks or drinks and dinner.

It wasn't easy getting ready for Christmas this year as Alex had to "help" with wrapping gifts and putting up the 3' fiber optic tree. Actually putting up is the wrong term, he knocked it down several times and then ran as fast as he could.

We celebrated Christmas at Jane's house in West Palm Beach with our parents and two friends, Paula and Lauren. Jim snapped this picture as I balanced my new "ears"; Jane is bent down under the tree in the lower right wearing her Santa hat. It was a typical Florida day with temps in the high 70s...

On Saturday, December 27, Jane and the parents came up to Palmetto Moon so Mom and Dad could meet Alex, see the tree lights in Marina Square, and dine at Cobb's Landing. The next day I drove back down to Jane's to spend more time with my parents and have Christmas dinner leftovers.