Happy Birthday, Elijah and Other (In Another Way Completely)) Important Matters

Have the best birthday and the best year ever, my favorite son! My heart makes the 4000 miles a hop skip and a jump. I love you!

And now, you'll find out the rest of the stories. A couple of them anyway.

No doubt you were expecting this post to be All Things Animal Welfare Auction being as it was Saturday. And it was. The library deck was packed with many familiar faces and a few visitors who make Culebra home every winter and spring, along with some folks I've never seen in my life. That's a good thing!

The mayor and his wife showed up, this new administration proving very helpful in working with AWC for the benefit of the animals who need attention the most.

The bidding flew under John Ernst's rapid-fire and funny delivery.

A table laden with donated delicious food items was decimated to a few crumbs (the food, not the table). Beautiful objects, dinners, hotel stays and more went from the show table to the audience with applause.

The volunteer showcase girls from Abbie's school did a fine job of showcasing each item.

Sue and Tuck/Tom were honored, as they richly deserve and barely accept, for their long service to the welfare of all animals on Culebra.

Then Teresa was honored for the same. Who do you call when your critter is in trouble? Or you find a stray? Or some careless people dump a dog or cat someplace it shouldn't be here on Culebra? Yes, honor and respect is highly deserved among those three.

There was beer and wine and water for sale. Because this is Culebra and that's how we hold auctions.

There was a raffle for a hotel stay in San Juan. The owner of the hotel came to speak and tell about his place, cat and dog friendly. There's a dog park, a bed for your pet in your room on request, and much more. He also happens to be the guy behind the fast cat ferry (ironic in the best of ways). He got a lot of applause.

Have you noticed yet that none of the photos and the writing go together? That's because I'm not really going to go on about the auction today. Maybe another day. Maybe not.







The thing about Saturday was that it was incredibly beautiful here. I mean, it's beautiful here a lot, but Saturday was a stunner even by the standards of pretty much every local I saw, born and raised here. Gin clear was muddy compared to the air, the water a few thousand shades of blue and green with some purple thrown in just because the Painters were feeling wildly reckless. The combination raised spirits like a hunting dog on the scent of the finest aroma he was ever lucky enough to try and track down. It seemed everyone was on point.

I saw this boat when it was to the south of Sail Rock and watched it for awhile.

I watched it until it got in front of Culebrita. That little leg took about ten minutes that stretched way beyond clock holdings. I think that happens to sailors who don't sail anymore. I was easily at the helm and could feel the deck under my feet. A kid let loose in a candy n electronic store wouldn't have a bigger grin.

And that's what yesterday was about on the physically ethereal level. Then came the solid on the ground of dollars and sense taking care of the animals while having fun auction (they would call it that but it's too long to put on a poster).

Have a marvelously made-to-order Monday! Do something miraculous. Like being born and celebrating it!