Bahama Breezes and More

Custom Kitchens in Richmond where Jim Stewart works, were celebrating their 50th Anniversary by taking all of the employees to the Bahamas. They booked rooms at the Breezes Bahamas Resort on the island of Nassau. One of the employees had trouble getting a Passport – and since I had worked for Custom Kitchens about 15 years ago and knew a bunch of the people, Susan and I were offered an opportunity to jump in on the celebration and get a room. We flew from Ft. Lauderdale – 37 minute flight on Spirit airlines. Everyone else were flying from Richmond. Susan and I arrived in Nassau around 5 P.M. Unpacked and met everyone having cocktails by the pool. The weekend was all inclusive, food, drinks, all in a “no-cash” environment. The time was spent around the pool, on the beach, grabbing a taxi into town. Susan bumped into an old friend, Fred from the old Tobacco Company days - Fred had married Melody, another of Susan's old acquaintances from another life – Fred/Melody/Susan and I grabbed a Taxi and went to an Art show/Wine tasting. Carolyn/Jim and another group explored the island. It was fun as everyone would branch off and pursue their interest and meet up again at the pool, bar, beach, whatever. Everyone found the Atlantis Resort down the road amazing - you felt like you were in the undersea lost world of Atlantis as the whole hotel is surrounded by aquariums. You eat in the restaurants and bars while looking at large Manta Rays, Sharks, tropical fish of all kinds swimming right beside you. They have several Dale Chuhuly Glass pieces in the casino. It is truly fabulous. It was almost like a “Blackwater weekend; but, on the Beach”. Half of the group returned home on Sunday and the other half of us stayed and returned on Monday. We got out just in time as Tropical Storm Noel came heading toward the Bahamas as we escaped paradise for home.

I kept hearing the lyrics from Buffett’s song,

“Bama Breeze”

At the Bama Breeze

You can shoot some pool down there

You can act a fool down there

You can play it cool down there

At the Bama Breeze

You can drink some beer down there

Argue, laugh, and cheer down there
You're one of our own down there
You never drink alone down there

Good God I feel at home down there

Pass another year down there