Nautical & Nice

A few weeks ago, it was time for our annual trip out to Cape Cod. From what I've written last year, it's guaranteed to be our favorite weekend of the summer...maybe even the YEAR, and this year it didn't disappoint.  We rallied the same crew from Cape Christmas 2011 to head out there for another fun-filled weekend this year.  This year's Cape Christmas (for those of you confused about what that actually is, please refer to my post from 2011 that speaks to the first ever annual celebration. Cape Cod makes my heart extremely happy.  I could write for days about all the different reasons to smile while visiting one of my favorite sea side destinations, but I'll spare you....SOME of it.


 After 4 hours, racing a terrible thunderstorm, a potential tornado, and 3 hours of blinding lightening, we all made it to the Cape.  It's become a tradition to do what we call the "haunted walk" on our first evening of the trip.  So within minutes of arriving, we loaded up on the rum cocktails and took our brood to the haunted streets of Old Silver Beach Estates.  The only light of the entire walk was from the moon, the mist is coming up from the ocean, and the howling winds added another element of spookiness to the little adventure.  Regardless of the fact that it felt like we could be attacked at any moment, it's refreshing to get some salty ocean air and stretch our legs after a 4 hour car ride.

U-S-A!!!

The first day was supposed to be cloudy and stormy, but we woke up to sunshine and beautiful weather.  We made the most of it by heading out first thing to the beach, where we invented a little game combining paddleball & tennis.  It got fiercely competitive & was actually quite the workout, but essential as the rest of the day was spent in costume and celebration.  As with 2011, we themed each night of the trip with costumes.  This year, being the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Olympics, we decided the first night should be themed U.S.A.  So we all dressed in head to toe red, white and blue and headed to the British Brewing Company waving our American flags to watch the first night of the Olympics.

It's art everyone!

Day two brought some gloomy weather, but all the more reason to enjoy some sea food and a few (or several) dark and stormys, or as we like to say "daahk and stoormees".  This may have led to a few random purchases, including a palm tree painted like mahi mahi that was a piece at the local Cape Cod art installation.  At the time it was a necessity, and it was fun to carry around to the bars in Woods Hole, but now, I'm a little

nervous about how it fits into our Manhattan apartment decor (I'm currently craving a massive re-decorating session...so stay tuned to see how the painted Mahi Mahi makes out).

Day two also brought our favorite made-up holiday with Cape Christmas.  A day of the year where it's festive to dress up in Christmas colors while being tropical and summer-y in the meantime.  It's hard to explain exactly what Cape Christmas is, or why we feel the need to celebrate it, but the amount of joy it brings is indescribable.  We hung lighted Christmas wreathes, we had steel drum Christmas songs playing, we all donned our gay apparel, and we feasted on lobster & corn on the cob.  There was another terrible rain storm that evening, but it didn't stop us from taking our outdoor dinner to the back patio where we were sheltered by the overhang and played games by candlelight while listening to the thunderstorm.

The final day of the celebration was spent in nautical dress (what else?) playing card games at home until our final dinner together before parting ways.  I'm always a little sad when this weekend comes to a close as it truly has become my favorite summer tradition.  I was self-diagnosed with PCD - Post-Cape depression for a day or so after coming back.  In just two years, this silly tradition has become a weekend that I hold near and dear to my heart and one that makes my heart smile for months and months after it's over.

Winston the water dog!

While there isn't any snow, or a big guy coming down the chimney, Cape Christmas actually IS Christmassy in the fact that it is a time of year that reminds us how grateful we are for wonderful friends who share the Mobley's love of being festive and sporting costumes.   I hope that no matter where we all end up, or how our lives change, we continue to take this weekend to celebrate each other and the joy that comes from made up holidays.  You better believe that even though it might be another 11 months away, I'm already thinking of themes for next year.  Happy Cape Christmas to all and to all a good night!