The Farmers’ Almanac was right. It announced almost a year ago that all of the northeast would experience a colder than normal winter with snow, ice and other weather weapons assaulting us. With this forecast in mind, did we rush to buy airline tickets and rent a house for two or three months in Hawaii?
No, we simply put hands on hips and double dared Jack Frost to team up with Mother Nature and deliver that brutal kind of winter. I enjoy an occasional snow day: an excuse to cancel all plans and schedules, light a fire and relax with feet up, a good book and a steaming cup of tea.
As you have witnessed, experienced or heard, this winter did validate the Farmers’ Almanac and brought fierce winds, outer-galactic temperatures and shovel-demanding amounts of snow.
We missed our big chance for a month in Hawaii but decided to rescue the last part of winter in the northeast by signing on for a cruise. We’ll go to warm climates and see places we’ve never seen before: Belize, Roatan and Cozumel. Now we have something to look forward to that helps bear the drudgery of our forced house arrest.
Belize, Roatan, and Cozumel boast beautiful, unspoiled beaches and places to snorkel and scuba dive. The waters there boast rare, colorful fish that live only in their reefs. You’ll never see creatures like those at the Jersey shore!
Reservations finalized, payments processed and new passports issued, we start day dreaming about bathing suits, sun screen and brightly colored featherweight outfits.
On a relaxing and newly optimistic Sunday morning we sit, have a leisurely breakfast and read the papers. That’s when I see it in the travel section. A headline over a picture of a pristine, alluring and uncrowded beach are the words,”Roatan: The New Murder Capital of the World.” The article proceeds to tell the world about its growing problem with drugs, robberies, and killings.
We called the cruise line immediately. They assured us that they would not take their passengers to any dangerous places. Too many cruise lines have been in the news lately describing illnesses on board, ships getting stuck on sand bars, and pirates overtaking ships: or was that a Tom Hanks’ movie?
There are no sure things, and nothing is without risk. So onward we shall go, and hope for a safe, uneventful vacation.
Why didn’t the Farmers’ Almanac predict this turn of events?
MorristownMemos 
Comments on: "FARMERS’ ALMANAC PREDICTION" (23)
I always found the FM to be an accurate predictor of weather when living in the Northeast!
There’s nothing like Trouble in Paradise to make you yearn for winter’s bitter chill and a warm fireplace. Enjoy, Ronnie. Wish you could pack me up with you.
Have a lovely trip Ronnie! Don’t forget to have fun! 🙂
You’re right; worry can stifle fun, can’t it? But it won’t happen to me…
As we do in Mexico, heads up, be careful and if the hair on the back of your head stands up, stop. Have fun.
Yes, and don’t drink the local water!
The good old Farmer’s Almanac is more often right than wrong, Ronnie. Even professional weather forecasters consult it from time to time (just to be sure). As for the other stuff…, did you check the fine print or the footnotes???
So you’re a “Jersey Girl” ! My darlin’ wife is a Jersey Girl. It’s been said that you can take the girl out of Jersey, but you can’t take Jersey outta the girl…, and it’s true. She grew up in Ft. Lee and Point Pleasant. We get out there quite often to see family.
Enjoy the trip and don’t worry too much about the “dangers”…, and PULEEEEZZE bring back some warm with you. Have a great time!
Thanks so much; we will go and enjoy and NOT stay on the ship when it reaches Roatan, as some have suggested. I’m channeling my “Wonder Woman” persona and taking my NJ attitude into the wilds. Those murderers haven’t a chance!
I will expect to see mug shots of all the heros and murderers when you get back 🙂 Ha!
Forget the beautiful scenery and amazing fish: I’ll be looking for humans “packing,” as law enforcement folks refer to people being armed.
How lucky you are to escape this torturous winter, Ronnie! Safe travels. Please bring some warm weather home to NJ with you. I’m desperate for this winter to be over and it looks like we’re going to get another dose of it this week.
Yes, you’ll be in school making up snow days until the summer solstice or later.
That’s looking more and more like a possibility.
We LOVE going on cruises. You’ll have a wonderful time, I’m sure. No murders, overwhelming diarrhea, or sinking ships allowed! 🙂
Eeegad; I didn’t even THINK of diarrhea. Thanks a bunch, Carrie.
Oh NO! I am sorry but that is too funny. I have never been on a cruise, just don’t wear your jewels when you go to town!! c
On Tue, Feb 11, 2014 at 4:08 AM, morristownmemos wrote:
> morristownmemos by Ronnie Hammer posted: “The Farmers’ Almanac was > right. It announced almost a year ago that all of the northeast would > experience a colder than normal winter with snow, ice and other weather > weapons assaulting us. With this forecast in mind, did we rush to buy > airline tickets an”
Why don’t you join us and we can laugh together?
Jewels? Trips? They are incompatible.
So… I have to ask, what was the murder capital of the world, before Roatan. And who knew there was a murder capital of the world? Bet number two is happy to be out of the spotlight!
I’m sure it will be an amazing trip! What an adventure — and a good idea. Enjoy!
Newspapers love captions and love pigeonholing. I have no idea who number 2 is, but that’s a good topic to research. Maybe we can ask the reporter who wrote the article…
A little bit of adrenalin never hurt anyone… so go enjoy and nothing will happen… I do not believe half of what I hear about dangerous places…
When we visited the USA we were told to avoid certain places, we ended in one by mistake, the people were helpful in giving us directions and never once did we feel the least bit scared… that says it all…
It’s wonderful to have met such kind helpful people. We had the same experience in Paris, the city reported to have the rudest people. We were lost in a train station, and a stranger came up to us and went out of her way to lead us through the station to the correct track.
Funny— we looked at the Farmer’s Almanac when we planned our outdoor wedding in June, 1982. It was meant to be on my parents’ lawn. Well two days before, a hurricane (don’t remember her name) blew through, toppled the tent and flooded the state. (CT). We had the ceremony in the house- large living room,and the reception at the VFW hall– friends went the day before and dusted, etc. There are photos of us cutting the challah in front of gun rack. Have a great trip! Bring back some sun.
On Tue, Feb 11, 2014 at 5:08 AM, morristownmemos wrote:
> morristownmemos by Ronnie Hammer posted: “The Farmers’ Almanac was > right. It announced almost a year ago that all of the northeast would > experience a colder than normal winter with snow, ice and other weather > weapons assaulting us. With this forecast in mind, did we rush to buy > airline tickets an”
Anyone who plans an outdoor wedding has unbelievable strength of conviction, and optimism beyond belief! You figured it all out in split second time and are left with a great story of your special day!’Love the image of you cutting the Challah in front of a gun rack, but it should have the caption, “This is not a shotgun wedding!”