Hi, this is Tom, occasional guest writer!  Robin did a great job covering our 55 mile crossing from Florida.  I have just a brief story to tell about two guests who made that Gulf Stream crossing with us.

If you have followed our blog you may recall our stowaway lizard, Lizardo. He was on the boat for a week or more while we were still at Folly Beach, and I was unsuccessful at several attempts to catch him and put him ashore in more suitable reptile habitat. So he came with us, as Robin has described.

Now, what she has not told you is that he was missing for several days after we were in Titusville, FL on the way down the coast. We feared the worst; that he abandoned ship at the marina, or jumped or fell overboard, or was picked off by a passing sea gull.  But no, he reappeared the evening before our departure from Lake Worth, apparently happy and healthy!  We took that as a goodwill sign from Neptune!

Lizardo enjoying the view in West End, Grand Bahama Island

The second guest on board is our Uncle AJ plant.  Uncle AJ was my mom’s oldest brother who passed away long ago.  By rough count maybe a half dozen readers will have the slightest clue what I am talking about here, but I’ll tell the story anyway.  This plant is the last remaining sprig of life from a plant that grew in my uncle’s back yard many many years ago.  Cousin Ron, do you remember bringing small cuttings in little clay pots to a Walton Christmas party, what, 20 years ago, and giving one to each family member? Mine flourished for many years, and then barely survived my moving three times. It sat neglected with a bunch of “stuff” that I had not yet found a place for.  Out of a fairly large pot, there were two or three small sprigs that showed faint signs of life.

We were heading out on our boat for an undetermined time, and I couldn’t just let it die after all those years.  I knew I had to rescue old Uncle AJ.  The day before our departure on October 2nd, I carefully lifted the sprigs, trying to save the roots, put them in a pot, and put it onboard the boat. So far he’s looking good!

I have so many wonderful memories of the Walton farm where my mom was born and raised.  Uncle AJ and Aunt Louise were quite a couple of characters.  They were wonderful, laughing, jolly people, and I miss them and the others very much.  Of the six children, Mom and baby brother Waburn (Pistol) are still going strong.  So here’s to the original Waltons of that small Brunswick County NC family farm; Amos and Carrie, my grandparents, and children AJ, Pearl, Nell (my mom), twins Ray and Rupert,  and Waburn (Pistol)!  And thank you so much Ron for that little Christmas present so long ago.

Uncle AJ on the high seas!  Rock on!