Anyone who got too cold went into the galley for a few minutes to huddle near the coal-fired stove, then returned to the deck, usually with hot cider or toasted bagel or ginger snap in hand. The galley only holds about eight standees so we were all happy that the night was dry.

This was the first year some watching the boats had experienced such a parade, but a few of the old salts told us there were actually many more lighted boat entries for this outing than in previous years.

Some were so covered in lights it was hard to figure out what kind of vessel was underneath. We watched a "locomotive" with moving wheels and puffing smokestack; an ingenious candle complete with flickering orange flame at the top of the (candle) mast and a finger grip for holding the (deck) stand; an all-white woodland scene with multiple trees, several deer, and a large star in the sky; a palm tree, no kidding; and two different Santa's sleighs launching into the sky. A living Santa waved greetings from aboard another decorated vessel, coming quite close to where we were docked, and followed by two smaller vessels, also brightly lighted.

Then, two real-life tug boats turned for their return trip, and did us the honor of saluting the 100 year old S.T. BALTIMORE with their search lights! We waved and applauded. Tug boats, by the way, look quite elegant when their gunwale lines are outlined in red or green lights.

Other highlights were the paddle wheel boat BLACK EYE'D SUSAN with spotlights on the wheel so you could see the thrown water flashing in the light, and a mostly un-lit tall ship, which sparked friendly debate about whether she was the saled-down replica of the PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II or the two-masted schooner CLIPPER CITY.

Some boats had loudspeakers and played carols as they went by, and during quiet times, we could occasionally hear the tubas and baritone horns at the Inner Harbor, playing in Baltimore's Merry Tuba Christmas Concert.

It's worth being cold for a couple of hours, to see and hear all that, and especially to hear the cannon salutes and see the now-precious salutes to an aged lady of the harbor force, from two much larger, newer, stronger members of her blood line. It was a grand affair.

Happy Advent, everybody, and here's hoping that those of us aboard the BALTIMORE this past Saturday night were there for her advent into new health and mobility for the future.

Valerie