Twenty Years of Excitement

April 25th 2025

“The air crackled with a unique blend of giddy anticipation and the slight tremor of ‘oh my goodness, it’s actually happening’ nervousness. Twenty years! Brandy zipped around the boat like a caffeinated hummingbird, a whirlwind of last-minute preparations. 🤪

The ‘crew’ (a loosely defined term usually involving whoever wasn’t currently napping) scrambled to put the final touches on the boat, transforming it into a floating birthday fiesta for the magnificent Mechelle, who was turning the big 4-9 with the grace and radiance of someone perpetually stuck in their fabulous thirties. Streamers shimmered, and a buffet of deliciousness was laid out for the VIPs. Naturally, Katniss, the resident furry queen of the vessel, assumed this spread was a tribute to her discerning palate and made several valiant (and mostly unsuccessful) attempts at quality control.

Then came the five-minute warning – the signal for the ‘long crossing’ (a dramatic term for a short dinghy ride). B and G watched as a green jeep, driven with a certain ‘need for speed’ enthusiasm, screeched around the corner. A dramatic pause ensued as the window slowly rolled down, building the suspense. Finally, Mechelle emerged, and instant, beaming smiles erupted. The hug was the kind that squeezed two decades of missed moments into a single embrace. Introductions followed – Brandy and Greg meeting Frank for the first time, and Greg finally meeting the legendary Mechelle. A flurry of hugs later, they were all heading towards the boat, the adventure officially beginning.

Someone (who shall remain nameless, but let’s just say his name rhymes with ‘Freg’) had the brilliant idea of a little jaunt into the ocean. Enthusiastic agreement all around! And just like that, they were battling the waves. Water crashed over the bow, turning the salon into an impromptu splash zone. Brandy, Mechelle, and Katniss (who seemed to be enjoying the aquatic rollercoaster a little too much) were tossed about in a symphony of laughter and near-misses, while Greg and Frank, at the helm, found the whole spectacle highly amusing.

However, the oceanic joyride took a slight detour when Mechelle’s rear end made an unexpected appearance in the air. 🤭 While still enjoying themselves, a swift consensus was reached: land was calling.

Drenched but still smiling, they opted for a civilized dinghy trip to 15th Street Fisheries for an early birthday feast. The food was fantastic, the drinks flowed, and their server, Sara (no ‘h’, she insisted), was a comedic gem. The return dinghy ride was… memorable. Let’s just say it involved some things, a few questionable navigational decisions, and a lot of laughter. The details remain shrouded in a veil of ‘what happens in the dinghy, stays in the dinghy.’ 😇😈

And with that tantalizing tidbit, I shall leave the rest to your wonderfully creative imagination. 🤩”