Cold is relative term! Folks visiting from Canada or the Midwest find Tybee absolutely balmy whereas I know it's freezing outside!
Of course I'm barefoot, wearing black running shorts and ... a long sleeve tee shirt.
"DO NOT TURN ON THE HEAT," Sarah tells me. "PUT ON PANTS."
I lovingly adore my wife but I swear sometimes ... she says crazy stuff!
I am firm believer the weather should always suit the clothes ... NOT the other way around.
Sarah and the girls love clothes! The more the better as far as they're concerned! They say I have issues which I don't deny.
It is telling though that virtually every plastic clothes hanger in my closet holds a tee shirt.
But I got dressed up last night ... an honest to God sweater, long Kaki pants, red underwear and flip flops.
Right before sunset, we gathered on the South Beach Gazebo to say goodbye to Cupcake ... a true island character with the biggest of hearts ... and ... had she been physically present ... I think she would have laughed her ass off at the way I was dressed!
To make it better, I wore my black preacher's robe over the clothes ... Sarah calls it "layering" ... because I'm partially responsible for the funeral.
A crazy collection of islanders ... Tybidiots ... are dressed in every conceivable manner ... causal business attire or camouflage fatigues under cut off blue jeans, tie-dye shirt and crocks under a yellow "Bass Pro Shop" cap.
When Davy Cahill sees ... dressed in yellow jams, dirty black tee shirt and flops ... he points at me and burst out laughing.
I flip him the finger.
Then Cupcake's service begins.
God finger paints a glorious sunset after calming the waters of the Ocean and blowing the winds somewhere else.
We celebrate the gift of Debbie Cochran's life to each of us.
Laughter mixes with tears.
Baby breath floats away on the Sea.
Julia Pearce is the first to recognize the Holiness of it all ... puts out her cigar ... lights her incense ... and carries on a private conversation with God while the rest of us check out to see who's wearing what.
I don't think Cupcake could have planned a better funeral if she tried.
As if she was ready to.
I'm sorry she missed it though.
Her funeral is as good as Tybee Island gets.
