I always enjoyed when Past Commodore Andy Holmes would craft his column for BHYC on board some exotic sounding ocean liner. I am taking the luxury to heart and writing this weeks column aboard an air liner.

Andy and Alice Mutch and I have been enjoying a delightful day on our way to New Orleans for The Winter Reunion. In fact I commended Alice for suggesting New Orleans for this year’s destination. Jeff Long, a almost native of The Big Easy, along with his wife Ella and Walter and Martha Weil of Metairie, Louisiana stepped up and robustly for the intricate planning that has gone into the much anticipated escape from our “Mud Season.” Few states can claim five seasons like Maine. It is by far the most challenging of them all. Being originally from the Midwest, it is about now that I start expecting spring bulbs to begin to shoot up and bloom. But, oh no, the only ones of these are on the shelves inside the front door at Hannaford. At least they are the harbingers of hope.

Why the fall of ’17 I planted 125 tulip bulbs in the raised beds in front of my house. For all intents an purposes I might as well have hung out a sign “Buffet … All you can eat” for the deer. Six hardy determined bulbs matured.

Speaking of tulips, last Thursday evening PC Rob and Sandy Wheeler hosted the Winter Cocktail Party for March. When I complimented Sandy on her flowers about the Boothbay Harbor One Design Room, she laughed her brightest laugh and said “I was running late so I asked Rob if he would stop and get two bunches of tulips. Instead he brought me two huge bouquets of flowers.” She made them proud. Too bad they won’t keep until we get back from New Orleans.

Andy and Alice Mutch, the BHYC Flag Officers, and I are hosting a birthday celebration for Walter “Scotty” Scott’s 96th birthday. There will be cake and Prosecco for toasting. Scotty is one of our oldest and most senior members. The shindig is from 4-6 p.m. on Saturday the 30th. All are welcome from the community who know Scotty. Please BYOB if you like and a savory to share. Did someone say they would bring tulips?

The Junior Sailing Program docks and one lonely Boston Whaler went in last week and the Boothbay Region High School Sailing Program launched Monday. There are 12 students enrolled in spite of the still chilly temperatures and even chillier waters.  You have to love to sail to brave those elements.

At the Thursday gathering one of my strongest literary supporters, Phil Brooks, said “Why did I think I had to give you so much encouragement about your column?” It is because of well wishers like Phil that I derive so much gratification from creating this column. It is only in a small New England town that one can run into someone at Town Hall who isn’t a member of BHYC and hear, “I enjoy reading your column every week. You should be a novelist” Thank you local builder Matt Cole.

I can only imagine what this column will look like when the season is in full swing in a few short weeks.