Holiday Cheer

 

December 5, 2021

Holiday Cheer

The holiday season is a big deal in Key West and somehow it seems especially so this year as people are going out again, in spite of the rising numbers of the latest Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus. They all seem to be in a pretty good mood as well. I know Kathy has been busy for more than a week, about 40 hours of total work in putting up our annual holiday light display. Our deal is that she puts it up and I take it down, that way we don’t kill each other by trying to do it together, it works pretty well.

She has been especially inspired this year as she added a number of large elements to the display including a large inflatable llama and a big light up Polar Bear which we placed on the roof. Once again we did not enter the lights contest as we were discouraged by the voting procedure that allows for frankly, cheating by padding vote totals that we just find distasteful. 

She does it to bring joy and happiness to those driving by and that it certainly does. Already countless trolleys and trains full of people have been going by the house on a nightly basis, whopping and hollering and often calling out to us by name if they know us. There has been more traffic this year than any previous and I heard that every available train and trolley was sold out.

That could be the reason for the proliferation of rented golf carts that have been driving by every night. It has been an explosion of golf carts full of people going by as well this year, which has added to both the traffic and frivolity of the nightly parade.

The entire island gets caught up in the holiday spirit with the Key West Seaport being the best decorated city-owned property. It is a beautiful Christmas wonderland and is the highlight of the official city décor. Once again this year they had Santa Claus available one evening to take photos with pets with photographer extraordinaire Rob O’Neal on hand to take the photos.

I took Jack down to get what would turn out to be his final photo with Santa. He really enjoys going down and seeing the other dogs and sniffing about in a new place, the photo itself is not his favorite, but he tolerated it well enough and overall it was good to get him out. He even saw his vet Lisa from All Animal Clinic in a non-scary setting which was cool.

While not exactly a holiday party, the annual fundraising gala for the Florida Keys SPCA , POSH, was held at the Audubon House and I wanted to go down and take some photos of the festivities. I love gatherings at that location, it is an absolutely beautiful place and this year they featured live music from the Miami-based fushion band Suenalo.

The party was awesome with great music, food and drinks and a great crowd of people all supporting animals, which is a great cause. It is also a rare Key West occasion to see people dressed up and looking fabulous.  It was a huge success and a really fun evening.

The holidays are in full swing on the island of Key West and sometimes it feels like our house is holiday central with the constant flow of trains, trolleys, bike tours, golf carts, walkers and those in cars coming by to see our lights each night. We get to see friends, some of whom it feels like ages since we have last seen, all without having to leave the house or yard.