It is Christmas morning, another beautiful day in Paradise. There are poinsettias on our dock tables, that’s how we know what day it is.

We made pancakes this morning and watched the yachties wash down their huge charters, something they seem to do every day whether the boat needs it or not.

Yesterday was a wonderful day, reading in the cabana by the ocean and then at the harbor beach. We even tried paddle boarding! It was so calm it was easy to stand up.

Yachties drove golf carts with their clients’ kids down to the beach to entertain them for the afternoon. They put up a huge inflatable trampoline, kayaked and played in the sand for hours. Not sure where the parents were, but the kids didn’t seem to mind.

The native children don’t need such entertainment, they make their own. I met Ed’s bike buddies as I walked past the village where the island staff lives. They were maybe 8-10 years old, very excited about Santa coming. I asked them what they wanted for Christmas.

“I want a new IPad, you know the one that has 200 games.” He waved his arms wide showing me how big it was.

“I want a bike,” the younger one said. I replied you have a bike. He said no that wasn’t his bike.

They said they knew Ed, they said they beat him racing. Hmmm, that was not what Ed had told me.

Who knows the real truth??

We found out the children of the staff here don’t live here because there are no schools. They live in Nassau and visit their parents here on holidays and occasional weekends. They are here this week on Christmas break.

We will buy water and settle up this morning, as the office closes at noon. We are celebrating the holiday with dinner at the restaurant -“Xuma” – tonight.

“Plan A,” the luxury yacht across from us is preparing to leave. We are amidst 13 luxury charters, in high cotton as my dad used to say.

But “Cool Runner,” the island patriarch, chats readily with all of us, blow-boaters and stink-potters, and makes us feel at home on Highborne Cay.

First Christmas I’ve ever been away from my kids—kisses and hugs to Nate, Will and Gracie from Bahama Mama!