This morning I woke up thinking about my friends on Palmerston Island (my last stop before New Zealand) because I realized they’ll be the last folks on earth to ring in the New Year! This small atoll in the Cook Islands has a unique history, having been settled by one large family and still exclusively populated by their descendants (the number fluctuates, but there are around 30 people there now). There’s no airport and supply ships only stop every few months, bringing people home and taking others away. The people take pride in welcoming cruisers and sharing their island life with them for a little while. I was exceptionally lucky to have conditions that allowed me to linger there longer than most, and meet new people I feel honored to call friends now.
Some highlights of the experience were:
being welcomed by Eddie, Simon, and Rocky into their family and eating freshly caught fish prepared every imaginable and delicious way (especially Rocky’s coconut raw fish)
going net fishing with Eddie at the northern motu
getting to know Malvie, the nurse from Papúa New Guinea with a fantastic sense of humor and a huge heart
going to church on Sunday and listening to their beautiful harmonies
meeting Sherrin, the Aussie school principal with amazing life stories from working on commercial fishing vessels to teaching in Korea
meeting teacher Nano and doing a little storytelling workshop for the incredible, bright students of the Lucky School
listening to the guys play guitars and ukuleles and sing songs written by islanders
meeting two talented young women, Julianna and Mehau, both with an eye for photography
going camping on the south motu with my friends for midnight crayfishing
having the kids visit my boat to meet Zia (there are no dogs on the island)
snorkeling off the mooring outside the gorgeous reef
having my new friends over for sundowners
all of the beautiful atoll scenery and sunsets
...ok, I could go on and on, but to all of you, thank you and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
