Vacation: Day 5
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Jeff & Carrie had arrived the night before, old friendships renewed and introductions made. We all unwound after our busy day with some drinks on the top deck. Soon, everyone turned in for the night.
The next morning was again bright & sunny - I was up at dawn. I really had to remember to close the blinds over my bed before falling asleep. Waking naturally via the sun is great - if the sun comes up around 9 a.m. and not 6:30. The ocean was definitely calmer today - the gentle sound of the waves whispered in the distance. Once again, being the first one up, I started the coffee and checked the Weather Channel. (I could see a routine forming.) Another sunny & warm day was forecast. The rest of the group began straggling up the stairs, heading directly for a caffeine fix. The day's plans were discussed on the deck. Since this was Chris & Katie's last day in Hatteras, they would spend the day at the beach, after a quick dip in the pool. Jeff & Carrie thought they would just laze around Lightship - yesteday had been a long day of traveling for them. Harry wanted to check out some of the galleries in the area. I considered the unlimited options of activities in which I could partake and decided on ..... laying around the pool and reading a book.
I was re-reading "The Keeper's Son" by Homer Hickam. The story takes place on a fictional island, Killakeet (my opinion - appears to be fashioned after Portsmouth), along the Outer Banks. Main character, U.S.C.G. Captain Josh Thurlow, has returned to Killakeet still searching for his younger brother, who was lost to the sea 17 years earlier. Having shunned his family's traditional occupation of lighthouse keeper - much to the chagrin of his father, Josh and his causual crew of islanders, guard the coast against German U-boats during the early years of WWII. For sure, I am not a fan of books based on German submarine warfare, but Josh and his ragtag group aboard the "Maudie Jane", along with the island's resident characters, are highly entertaining, making for a great read, especially on Hatteras Island! (For those of you interested in reading non-fictionalized accounts of German U-boat attacks along the North Carolina coast during WWII, I recommend "Torpedo Junction" also written by Hickam.
After a few hours around the pool, much of it spent sitting under an umbrella (for some reason, this year my skin seemed to burn - a rarity for me), I headed upstairs (again taking a rest between floors 2 & 4 - I really gotta quit smoking) and, as was quickly becoming status quo, joined the group on the ocean front deck for early evening cocktails. Harry had decided to make his famous chicken & noodles for dinner, but first we decided to head to Hatteras Landing for Dirty Dick's happy hour shrimp. 
Chris, Katie and Harry had made the acquaintance of the bartender the evening before and she kept us well supplied with shrimp and hush puppies. Prepared cocktail sauce is not served with the shrimp. However, the do-it-yourself makings were lined up on the bar. Chris had perfected a recipe of horseradish, tabasco and ketchup that was spicey enough to make the nose run, but without the tears. We had a fun time, just shooting the breeze, eating & drinking. I would be sad to see Chris & Katie leave tomorrow morning. They had been on Hatteras for only 2 days .... how could they bear to return home so soon? Between Jeff, Harry & I, logical(?) explanations were presented to the kids on why they should remain. After more beers, these explanations sounded logical, even to me, and after a couple quick phone calls back home, it was decided they would delay their departure for a day. In high spirits, we went back to the Lightship so Harry could start cooking.
As he labored away in the kitchen, Chris, Katie, Carrie and I played Yahtzee. We have played Yahtzee every year we've visited on the Outer Banks - even the year that the Dane's came to Rodanthe. (Birgit spoke very, very little English and it was so funny when she'd cry out, "Fuld hus!")
After Harry's incredible dinner, we went back to our game. I'm not sure which was more entertaining .... the actual playing of the game or playing the game with Katie. She's quite animated and energetic in her game participation! This was the evening that will go down in history as the creation of "Katie's Yahtzee Dance!" Upon rolling her first Yahtzee, Katie began with a little wiggle dance in her chair, culminating with laying on the floor with all 4 limbs waving about. Soon Harry & Chris were also doing the Yahtzee Dance .... what a crazy group! Sorry to say that no one thought to photograph this ritual.
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