Merry Christmas from the Ross Sea
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.”
As I was leaving our home in Silver Spring, Maryland three weeks ago – my wife Joan handed me a thick ziplock baggie stuffed with colorful envelopes. She and our two sons – eight year old Xander and five year old Mackenzie - had put together 25 handwritten and decorated cards, one for each day to open during our expedition. They’ve been a menagerie of humor, great animal art from my sons that only parents can really appreciate, and collections of quotations, Bible verses, and thoughts that have warmed my heart throughout the journey. My morning tradition has been to sneak off after breakfast to the serenity of the helipad - only the gentle rumble of the engines four decks below and the occasional crack of the Oden humbling another frozen piece of the Ross Sea to break the stillness of this magnificent desolation. Seemingly alone in the Antarctic – this empty fifty meter square of metal is my peaceful escape where I can savor a steaming cup of dark Swedish coffee and my family’s message for the day. This morning was spectacular as only an Antarctic Christmas morning can be – crisp, frosty air and bright sun shining over pure white sea-ice stretching to the horizon in every direction, interrupted only by towering icebergs imprisoned in the frozen wasteland. Adelie penguins playfully flapping their silly little wings, pure white snow petrels soaring overhead, towering icebergs majestically reflecting off the still sea – I could only sit and ponder the incredible gift I’ve been given to be able to experience this continent and try to share a bit of the awe and wonder with each of you.
Today's envelope was decorated by Mackenzie - with some green trees and his trademark smiley face (two eyes, nose, smile and an extra large dot below that has yet to be explained!). The message he'd chosen (we're just into the learning to write the alphabet stage in kindergarten) was "HaCDzDEiWWN" which I chose to interpret as "I love you Dad." The boys had selected a card with a glittered picture of a cabin in a wintry forest - captioned "Thinking of You At Christmas." Inside was a wonderful holiday message from Joan which I enjoyed (but won't share) and then laid the card down on the deck while I returned to enjoying the view. It wasn't until a few minutes later that I noticed the quote that she had added on the back - "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." It was an epiphany - and truly made my day complete to be reminded so poignantly of what is to be prized in life.
So no pictures today – for as my wife was so timely to remind me - Christmas is a time to appreciate those things that are truly the best and most beautiful. IcebergsA floating body of ice that has broken away from a glacier., penguins, and seals can hardly compare with the love of our families, the warmth of true friendship, and the wonder of a tiny baby born two thousand years ago. For all the grandeur of Antarctica - the best part of today was a reminder that came in an envelope with green scribble trees and an odd smiley face on the front. My hope is that each of you experience a holiday full of this beauty that you can feel with your heart. "God Jul” from the Oden.
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