Friday, December 16, 2011

NOSTALGIA FOR A TROPICAL CHRISTMAS

St. Croix Boat Parade

After many years in Houston, I still feel a bit nostalgic for the wonderful Christmases I spent in the Caribbean--seven in St. Croix, another more recent on a sailboat off a tiny sandy island somewhere near Petit Saint Vincent. We had white sand under our feet instead of snow, wore bathing suits and drank rum punch. The only fire roasted a pig on the beach and plantains replaced sweet potatoes. But what brings back those times more than anything else is the music. The radio played Charo’s MAMACITA DONDE ESTA SANTA CLAUS and The Mighty Sparrow’s CARIBBEAN CHRISTMAS MEDLEY, and, of course, The Great John L. sang CHRISTMAS IN ST. CROIX.  Cruzan Gold and tonic anyone?

8 comments:

jink willis said...

i had the fun task of pending two Christmases in the Caribbean...love the music!!

Lark Howard said...

Where were you, Jink? The islands with Christmas carnivals are a lot of fun. Did you go to any jump-ups or parades?

Pat O'Dea Rosen said...

Heaven! Thanks for whisking my imagination to the lslands.

Kay Hudson said...

We moved to south Florida about the time I turned ten, and I spent Christmas there through the Christmas I got married (when I was in grad school). Not precisely the Caribbean, but we had palm trees decorated with Christmas lights, swam on Christmas Day--and missed the snow I remembered from my first ten years in Wisconsin. All in all I find Houston a nice compromise.

Lark Howard said...

Pat, I knew down deep you're a big Charo fan. :-)

Lark Howard said...

South Florida is close enough to the Caribbean, Kay. And I agree that Houston's a pretty good compromise--not too cold but with the chance of snow on Christmas Eve.

Anonymous said...

Wow- this sounds fantastic! I love the Caribbean and go every chance I get. I grew up in the tropics and spent most of my winters barefoot and in shorts. I remember growing up, my parents would let us turn on the AC on Christmas Eve fullblast so when we woke up the next morning, it would be freezing inside the house. We'd make hot chocolate and eat star fruit and pineapple! It all seems so easy.....

Lark Howard said...

Where did you grow up, Stacey? It must have been fun being a kid in the tropics!